§ 158-28. Policy, purpose and intent.

It is the policy of the city that there shall be no net loss of trees within the boundaries of the city. The purpose of this article is to establish the standards necessary to assure that this policy will be realized and that the city will continue to enjoy the benefits provided by its urban forest. The provisions of this article are enacted to:

(1)

Establish and maintain the maximum amount of tree cover on public and private lands in the city by prohibiting the destruction and removal of trees except in accordance with the standards set forth in this article;

(2)

Maintain trees in the city in a healthy and nonhazardous condition through professionally accepted arboricultural practices;

(3)

Establish and revise as necessary standards for the planting and maintenance of trees so as to improve the economic base of the city by improving property values, to enhance the visual quality of the city and its neighborhoods and to improve public health by lessening air pollution and the incidence of flooding;

(4)

Minimize hazards and damage to streets and sidewalks and lessen public rights- of-way maintenance costs;

(5)

Provide for the designation of historic and specimen trees; and

(6)

Promote efficient and cost-effective management of the urban forest through the development of a comprehensive long-range urban forest master plan.

(7)

Provide latitude in the interpretation and application of city administrative rules, standards and guidelines when reasonable and necessary to minimize the destruction of trees.

(Code 1977, § 10-2033; Ord. No. 2001-102, § 2, 12-11-01; Ord. No. 2003-03, §§ 1, 2, 1-13-03)