Tree Ordinance

CITY OF WINDY HILLS

ORDINANCE NO. 12-04

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A TREE BOARD, AND RELATING TO THE PLANTING, MAINTENANCE, AND REMOVAL OF TREES AND SHRUBS WITHIN THE CITY OF WINDY HILLS IN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY ADJACENT TO STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, AND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

(See Appendix A for Definitions) 

WHEREAS, the City finds as public policy that trees and shrubs are an important natural resource that contributes to the aesthetic appeal and beneficial enjoyment of all lands in the City; and

WHEREAS, trees in the city provide air, water, and soil protection, filter pollutants, and provide for habitat and biological diversity; and

WHEREAS, well selected and maintained trees contribute to significant increases in property values for residential, commercial and public lands; and

WHEREAS, the City resolves to have a Community Forestry Program meeting the standards of The Tree City USA® program, as sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters,

NOW THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City of Windy Hills:

  1. REPEAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ORDINANCES

Windy Hills Ordinance No. 94 Series 1975 and Ordinance No. 89-01 are hereby repealed and replaced by this ordinance.

  1. APPLICABILITY

This ordinance provides full power and authority over all trees and shrubs located within street rights-of-way, parks and public places of the City of Windy Hills; and to trees, and shrubs located on private property adjacent to street rights-of-way that constitute a hazard or threat as described herein.

  1. TREE BOARD
  1. Establishment

There is hereby established a Tree Board for the City of Windy Hills, which shall consist of five voting members who are citizens and residents of this city, and a sixth non-voting member who is a member of the City Council. The six members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. Members of the board shall serve without compensation.

  1. Term Of Office

The term of the six Tree Board members shall be three years, except that the term of two of the members appointed to the first board shall be for only one year and the term of two members of the first board shall be for two years. In the event that a vacancy shall occur during the term of any member, his or her successor shall be appointed by the Mayor for the unexpired portion of the term. The Tree Board may also organize and recruit committees of non-board members to implement the board’s programs.

c. Operation

The Tree Board shall choose its officers and make its own rules and regulations. It shall meet monthly and keep a record of its proceedings.  A majority of the five voting members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. The Tree Board reports to the Mayor and the City Council.

d. City Arborist

The City shall retain the services of a certified licensed arborist to advise and assist the Tree Board with their duties and responsibilities described in this ordinance, with a cost not to exceed $3,000 per year.  The arborist shall be certified through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA), or the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA). This arborist or any company associated with him shall not perform any trimming, pruning or removals for the City.

e. Annual Tree Work Plan

The Tree Board shall study, develop, update annually and administer a written Annual Tree Work Plan with an estimate of its cost. The plan shall address species diversity, planting needs, hazardous trees, insect and disease problems, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas, and a pattern of regular care such as pruning and watering. The plan will be presented annually to the City Council for their review, acceptance and approval.

  1. Other Assignments

The Tree Board may be assigned by the City Council to research, investigate, consider, make findings, report and recommend upon any other matters of question coming with the scope of its work.

  1. g. Arbor Day

The City of Windy Hills shall have an annual observance of Arbor Day, for which the Tree Board shall make a proclamation and hold a celebratory ceremony such as presentation of award or planting of a tree.

  1. Budget

The Annual Tree Work Plan and Arbor Day observance shall be carried out with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita according to the most recent census. The cost of a city arborist shall not be included in this budget.

i. Review by City Council, Right To Appeal

The City Council may review the conduct, acts and decisions of the Tree Board.  Any owner has the right to appeal any ruling or order of the Tree Board to the City Council, who may hear the matter and make a final decision.

  1. LANDSCAPING

In new developments within the city, the Tree Board and the City Council shall review landscaping plans and may require street trees to be planted in any of the streets, parking lots, parks and other public places abutting lands henceforth developed and/or subdivided. Landscaping of new developments shall follow the Metro Louisville Land Development Code.

  1. TREE PLANTING, MAINTENANCE, TRIMMING, TOPPING
  1. Public Tree Care

The City shall have the right to plant, trim, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the right of way of all streets, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds, as may be necessary for public safety or preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds.

  1. Owner Planting of Street Trees

The planting of Street Trees by adjacent property owners is encouraged providing that the selection and distance between trees is in accordance with this ordinance.

  1. City Tree Planting Program

The City will contribute $100 per tree towards the planting of up to two (2) new trees per property, provided that the following conditions are met. The tree(s) must be placed in a right of way, or in a private front or side yard, so the tree(s) can be seen from the street. For properties backing up to I-264, the tree(s) may be placed in the back yard also. The tree(s) must be purchased from and planted by the designated nursery with which the City has negotiated a large discount and a guarantee.   The nursery gives the discount to the property owner and then deducts the City’s contribution. The property owner pays the nursery a planting fee based on size of the tree(s), and agrees to take care of the tree(s). After the nursery determines the final cost of the tree considering the sale price, the discount, the City’s contribution, and the planting fee, the property owner will write a check for the resulting amount payable to the City of Windy Hills. The nursery will replace a tree if it dies within a year, the owners may plant the replacement tree themselves or pay the nursery’s planting fee, but the replacement tree is not guaranteed.

  1. Trimming and Pruning

Any tree or shrub or other plant on right of way or private property shall be trimmed or pruned when it interferes with walking or traffic, or the proper spread of light along the street from a streetlight, or with visibility of any traffic control device or sign. The person owning or occupying the property on or adjacent to which the tree, shrub, or other plant is located shall be responsible for trimming or pruning it to maintain the clearances for pedestrians and vehicles in accordance with this ordinance.

  1. Topping

It shall be unlawful as a normal procedure to top any Street or Park Tree. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this ordinance at the determination of the Tree Board.

  1. Distances And Clearances for Planting of New Trees 

(1) Distance from Street Corners and Fireplugs: No street tree shall be planted closer than 35 feet of any street corner, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curb lines.  No street tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet of any fireplug.

(2) Distance from Utilities: No street trees other than those species listed as Small Trees in the “Windy Hills Street Tree Listing Of Trees Acceptable For Planting” may be planted under or within 10 lateral feet (10’) of any overhead utility wire, or over or within 5 lateral feet (5’) of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission line or other utility.

(3) Distance from Sidewalk, Curb or Edge of Pavement: The distance that trees may be planted from sidewalks, curbs or edge of uncurbed street pavement depends on the three size classes of trees listed in the “Windy Hills Street Tree Listing Of Trees Acceptable For Planting”. Trees shall not be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following distances:

Small trees, 2 feet.
Medium trees, 3 feet.
Large trees, 4 feet.

(4) Distance Between Trees: The distance between trees depends on the three size classes listed in the “Windy Hills Street Tree Listing Of Trees Acceptable For Planting”. Trees shall not be planted closer to each other than the following distances:

Small trees, 30 feet.
Medium trees, 40 feet.
Large trees, 50 feet except in special plantings designed or approved by a landscape architect.

(5) Clearances: Trees shall be trimmed to maintain these clearances:

Above the surface of a sidewalk, eight feet (8’).
Above the surface of a street, twelve feet (12’).
Between any part of tree and adjacent sidewalk or pavement, at least one foot (1’).

  1. REMOVAL OF TREES AND SHRUBS
  1. Responsibility of Owners

Owners are responsible for removing from the right of way adjacent to their property any living, dying or dead tree or limb or shrub if it obstructs street lights, traffic signs, or the free and safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles, or poses a hazard to life or property, or is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements, or if such tree or shrub harbors an infestation or fungus or disease.

  1. Notice to Remove Tree or Shrub

Upon the discovery in a right of way of any problematic tree or shrub such as described in Paragraph 6.a. above, the Tree Board shall serve written notice upon the owner of the property adjacent to the right of way upon which such diseased or infested tree is situated, requiring the owner to prune, remove or otherwise remedy such condition at his own expense within thirty (30) business days.

  1. Replacement of Removed Street Tree

At the owner’s request, the City will replace a Street Tree after the tree and stump have been removed by the owner, and will pay for both the tree and a qualified arborist to transplant it, up to a limit of $300.  The owner shall pay any cost over $300.  The owner must choose a tree that is on the “Windy Hills Street Tree Listing Of Trees Acceptable For Planting”, and that is approved by the City Arborist for the location.

  1. REMOVAL OF STORM-DAMAGED TREES

The City will perform and pay for the partial removal of any tree, whether in right of way or not, that due to a storm or other natural condition has been damaged so as to block a public roadway or sidewalk. The obligation of the City shall extend only to the clearing of the public roadway or sidewalk, and any further restoration or complete removal of the tree and its cost shall be borne by the homeowner.

  1. STUMPS, WEEDS, VINES, CURBS
  1. Stump Removal

Stumps of Street and Park Trees shall be removed so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface of the ground.

  1. Removal of Weeds from Sidewalks and Drainage Swales

It shall be unlawful for the owner or his agent of property abutting any public ways to permit noxious weeds or vegetation to grow or remain in the area between his pro­perty line and the paved portion of the street and it shall be the duty of such abutting owner to maintain the grass in the unpaved portion of the public way adjacent to his property and to keep sidewalks and drainage swales adjacent to his property free from obstruction.

  1. Removal of Tree Vines

Vines are detrimental to the health of trees and can obscure their condition. The owner shall remove any vines growing on the trunk(s) of their Street Tree(s) in order to allow a visual assessment of the condition of the tree(s).

  1. Curbs and Curb Stones

The owner of property may take reasonable steps to protect the right of way adjacent to his property from damage or harm, inclu­ding the maintenance of curbs, curb stones or similar devices no closer than one-inch to the paved portion of the roadway in areas subject to continued abuse.

  1. HEIGHT LIMIT IN RIGHT OF WAY

No shrub, tree, or other plant shall be permitted that is over 3 feet in height above the established elevation of the curb level within the right of way of any street (including sidewalk area), provided, however the trunk of trees (exclusive of branches) shall be permitted within such area where otherwise in compliance with the terms of this ordinance.

  1. PUBLIC NUISANCE TREES AND SHRUBS
  1. A living, dying or dead tree or limb or shrub on a right of way, or adjacent to a right of way but on private property, may be declared a public nuisance by the City if it obstructs street lights, traffic signs, or the free and safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles, or poses a hazard to life or property. A representative of the Tree Board may meet with the property owner to discuss such a tree, and the City may give notice to the property owner to remedy such nuisance at the owner’s expense.
  1. A living, dying or dead tree or limb or shrub on a right of way, or anywhere on private property, that harbors an infestation or fungus or disease which the City Arborist determines is a contagious communicable threat to other trees within the City, may be declared a public nuisance by the City.  Owners are encouraged to report such nuisances to the City. A representative of the Tree Board may meet with the property owner to discuss such a nuisance. The City may give notice to the property owner that it intends to remediate such nuisance for the owner at City expense, and proceed to do so. The owner shall cooperate with the City’s remediation. Remediation may include various measures as determined by the City Arborist, such as spraying, injecting, trimming, or removing.
  1. ENFORCEMENT

If a property owner does not comply with a notice from the City about a provision of this ordinance, the Mayor, at recommendation of the Tree Board and the direction of City Council, may hire and send specialists or contractors upon a property, accompanied by the City Code Enforcement Officer, to carry out the requirements of the notice. If the owner is responsible for the cost according to this ordinance, the City may then bill the property owner for the cost, and if not paid, file a lien to recover the cost.

  1. LIABILTY, FINES, LIENS AND APPEALS
  1. Liability

An owner is liable to the public for failure to trim or remove trees and shrubs within his street right of way to the requirements contained herein.

  1. Fines

A property owner that is determined by the Tree Board as being in violation of this ordinance shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500 for each offense. The amount of the fine shall be recommended by the Tree Board and approved by the City Council.

  1. Notification and Appeal

No person shall be fined for any violation of this ordinance without first having been notified in writing by the City of the violation, and having been given thirty (30) business days to correct the violation or to appeal the fine.

  1. Right to Lien

Upon the failure of the owner of the property to com­ply with any notice specified herein, the City of Windy Hills may file a lien against the property for any unpaid fines, for the actual cost   of remedying the situation, and for any attorney costs and filing fees.   The claim shall be in the form of an affidavit signed by the Mayor and shall be recorded in the Jefferson County Court Clerk's Office and which lien shall bear interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum thereafter until paid.

  1. APPENDIX, SEVERABILITY 

Appendix A (Definitions) is part of this ordinance. The provisions of this ordinance are severable, and the invalidity of any part of this ordinance shall not affect the remaining provisions.

  1. EFFECT

This ordinance shall take effect upon its adoption and publication as required by law.

First reading held:  September 10, 2012

Second reading and adoption:  October 8, 2012

________________________________________

Louis A. Philips, Mayor

ATTEST:

____________________________________

Sandra A. Moore, City Clerk

Approved as to form and legality:

__________________________________________

James Hodge, Attorney for City


APPENDIX A – DEFINITIONS

City:  The City of Windy Hills, Kentucky

Right of Way:  The total width of a street and its easements. For an individual owner, the space between their property line and the street pavement.

Arborist: An individual engaged in the profession of arboriculture who, through experience, education and related training, possesses the competence to provide for or supervise the management of trees and other woody plants.

City Arborist:  A certified licensed arborist retained by the city for the purpose of advising and assisting the Tree Board, Mayor and City Council.

Owner: A person who is the owner of record of a dwelling in the city.

Remove or Removal:  The actual removal of a tree by digging up, cutting down, or the effective removal through damage.

Tree: A self-supporting, woody plant of a species that normally, in the area, grows at maturity to an overall height of a minimum of 15 feet.

Street Tree:  A tree located within the public street right-of-way.

Park Tree:  A tree located within the city's parks, open areas, landscaped areas, open lawn areas, and recreational areas.

Public Tree: A street tree or a park tree.

Public Shrubs or Bushes: Any any low vegetation located within the public right-of-way, within the city's parks, open areas, landscaped areas, open lawn areas, and recreational areas.

Utilities: Public utility, commercial, and private lines and pipelines, including, but not limited to: overhead electric wires, television and communication cables, guy wires, underground water, gas, sewer drainage, communication and power lines and pipelines.

Trim:  To cut a tree, shrub or bush to alter its shape or volume.

Prune:  To trim a tree, shrub, or bush by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems for the health of the plant.

Topping: The severe cutting back of limbs to stubs within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree.

Swale: A depression or shallow ditch in a right of way, for drainage of water.

 

 


20121008

WINDY HILLS STREET TREE LISTING
OF
TREES ACCEPTABLE FOR PLANTING,
TREES NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR PLANTING,
AND
INVASIVE TREES & WOODY PLANTS DESGNATED FOR CONTROL AND/ OR REMOVAL

The following list constitutes the official Street Tree species for Windy Hills, Kentucky. No species other than those acceptable according to this list may be planted as Street Trees without written permission of the Tree Board.

TREES ACCEPTABLE FOR PLANTING

Bold = Native to Kentucky 

LARGE TREES (75 feet high and up)
Basswood
Beech, American
Beech, European
Birch, Sweet (aka Birch, Black; aka Birch, Cherry)
Birch, Yellow
Buckeye, Ohio
Buckeye, Yellow
Catalpa
Cherry, Black
Coffeetree, Kentucky (seedless cultivars or males only, the Kentucky State Heritage Tree)
Cucumber-tree (Magnolia Acuminata)
Cypress, Bald
Cypress, Pond
Elm, American   (Dutch Elm Disease Resistant cultivars only)
Elm, Chinese
Fir, White
Gingko (males only should be planted)
Gum, Black (aka Tupelo, Black)
Hickory, Bitternut
Hickory, Mockernut
Hickory, Shagbark
Hickory, Shellbark
Holly, American
Locust, Black
Maple, Norway (High Pollen Potential)
Maple, Sugar (Use discretion in planting due to area over-planting)
Oak, Black
Oak, Bur
Oak, Cherrybark
Oak, Chestnut
Oak, Chinkapin
Oak, English
Oak, Northern Red
Oak, Pin (Pin Oak) (not recommended because locally over-planted)
Oak, Post
Oak, Scarlet
Oak, Shingle
Oak, Shumard
Oak, Southern Red
Oak, Swamp White
Oak, Water
Oak, White
Oak, Willow
Persimmon
Pine, Eastern White
Pine, Shortleaf
Planetree, London
Poplar, Yellow (a.k.a. Tulip Poplar, the Kentucky State Tree)
Sassafras
Spruce, Blue
Spruce, Oriental
Spruce, Serbian
Sweetgum (Rotundiloba or Platanus occidentalis - seedless cultivars or males only)
Sycamore (High Pollen Potential)
Tupelo, Black (aka Gum, Black; previous national "Tree of the Year")
Walnut, Black
Zelkova

MEDIUM TREES (35 to 75 feet high)
Alder, European Black (aka Alder, Black)
Birch, River (highly susceptible to ice and snow damage and recommended only for moist areas; use should be carefully considered)
Cedar, Eastern Red
Cherry, Higan
Cherry, Japanese Flowering
Cherry, Sargent
Chestnut, Horse
Corktree, Amur
Elm, Lacebark
Elm, Slippery
Elm, Winged
Falsecypress, Honiki
Filbert, Turkish
Golden Rain Tree (aka Golden Raintree)
Holly, European
Holly, Fosters
Honeylocust, Thornless
Hophornbeam
Hornbeam, American
Hornbeam, European
Hornbeam, Japanese
Katsura Tree
Linden, Littleleaf
Linden, Silver
Maple, Amur
Maple, Hedge
Maple, Red   (Use discretion in planting due to area over-planting)
Mulberry, Red (High Pollen Potential)
Parrotia, Persian
Pear, Cleveland Select Pear
Redwood, Dawn
Sassafras
Silverbell, Carolina
Sourwood
Yellowwood
Willow, Black
SMALL TREES (15 to  35 feet high)
Arborvitae, American
Arborvitae, Oriental Buckeye, Red Cherry, Hally Jolivette
Cherry, Yoshino
Crabapple (newer, resistant cultivars only)
Crapemyrtle
Dogwood, American
Dogwood, Kousa
Filbert, American
Filbert, European
Fringetree, Chinese
Fringetree, White
Hawthorn (newer, resistant cultivars only)
Lilac, Japanese Tree Lilac
Magnolia, Japanese
Magnolia, Star
Magnolia, Sweetbay
Maple, Hedge
Maple, Japanese
Maple, Paperbark
Maple, Tatarian
Maple, Trident
Pawpaw
Possumhaw
Redbud
Serviceberry
Viburnum
Whitecedar, Atlantic (aka White-Cedar, Atlantic)
Witchhazel

 

TREES NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR PLANTING

Bold = Native to Kentucky

LARGE TREES
Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven)
Coffee Tree, Kentucky (Female)
Elm, Siberian
Gingko (female)
Maple, Silver (aka Maple, Water)
Paulonia, Royal

MEDIUM TREES
Boxelder
Honeylocust, Wild
Mimosa
Olive, Autumn
Olive, Russian
Olive, Thorny
Olive, Autumn
Pears (Flowering)   (except Cleveland Select Pear)
Pine, Virginia
Privet, Chinese European

SMALL TREES
Burning Bush, Winged
Cherry Plum
Honeysuckle, Amur (invasive)

 

INVASIVE TREES & WOODY PLANTS DESIGNATED FOR CONTROL AND/OR REMOVAL

Bold = Native to Kentucky

 

Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven)
Burning Bush, Winged
Honeysuckle, Bush
Mimosa
Olive, Autumn
Olive, Russian
Olive, Thorny
Paulownia, Royal
Privet, Chinese
Privet, European
Non-Native Rose

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 3.a. OF THE CITY TREE BOARD ORDINANCE

CITY OF WINDY HILLS, KENTUCKY

ORDINANCE # _________, SERIES                  

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 3.a.
OF THE CITY TREE BOARD ORDINANCE

WHEREAS, the City has become aware that there is growing interest in the current tree board and thus wishes to increase the number of tree board members;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF WINDY HILLS, KENTUCKY:

Section 1.

Section 3.a., is hereby amended to read as follows:

There is hereby established a Tree Board for the City of Windy HIlls, which shall consist of five seven voting members who are citizens and residents of this City, and a sixth an eighth non-voting member of the City Council. The six eight members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. Members of the board shall serve without compensation.

 Section 2

This ordinance shall be effective upon adoption and publication as required by law.

 

First Reading:

Second Reading:

_________________ Adopted this ___ day of           , 2014.

______________

______________________________

Mayor

ATTEST:

________________________

Clerk

 

 

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