webadmin posted on March 17, 2011 05:53
Yes Statesville, there is a Tree Ordinance and it could affect you!
It is the new Unified Development Code (UDC). In many cases this ordinance will not involve private residencies. It does address new development, commercial property and city trees.
First let’s take a look at why the ordinance is needed. As our city continues to grow and expand, we are losing trees to pavement and buildings. A recent study in Mecklenburg County showed urban sprawl was gobbling up approximately two acres of trees a day. This information, even though it is not in our county, is useful for our growth plans.
Secondly, trees play a vital role in our environment. They provide oxygen, clean carbon from the air, help to keep a cooler climate and are great waste water filters. The aesthetic and financial benefits to real estate values are proven. All these benefits and investments need to be nurtured and protected.
The ordinance is designed to help retain a percentage of the existing canopy. In some situations, trees will be required to be planted to bring stocking levels up to meet ordinance requirements. Plant health and plant survival will be monitored. This is the area where maintenance standards are addressed.
The old ordinance and the new Unified Development Code require pruning and tree care to be performed in accordance to the American National Standard A300. One of the most important statutes of this standard is that “topping, rounding over, lions tailing and heading cuts are considered unacceptable pruning methods”. If you are hiring a contractor to do tree work for you make sure he is knowledgeable of the ANSI A300 standard. If you have any doubt about the ordinance or ownership of a tree call the City Planning Department before you cut. Another good source for information on city ordinances is The City of Statesville Tree Commission web site at www.statesvilletrees.org/.
If you are a developer, or business owner or manager, resident or property owner in the city’s zoning jurisdiction, you need to be aware of the ordinances and your obligations. You need to know if the tree you are about to work on belongs to you or the city. As a general rule if a tree is between the sidewalk and the curb it belongs to the city. In some cases ownership is dictated by specific right of way footage. A simple call to City Hall, the Planning Department will get you pointed in the right direction.
Being unaware of the ordinance does not relieve you of responsibility and could cost you. Currently the city is operating under an older code. This code has fines that can be levied up to fifty dollars per day until the situation is brought back into compliance. In the new Unified Development Code fines will be drastically increased.
Let’s work together to keep Statesville beautiful and the best place to work and live.
If you have questions, contact Shawn Cox at 704-878-3419 or
email him.