Chapter 18.85
STREET TREES
Sections:
18.85.000 Purposes.
18.85.010 Street plan adopted.
18.85.020 Permits.
18.85.030 Duties of director of public works.
18.85.040 Abuse of street trees.
18.85.050 Replanting and replacement.
18.85.060 Visibility blockage.
18.85.000 Purposes.
The purposes of regulations for street trees are:
A. To protect existing street trees by regulating their maintenance and removal.
B. To provide for new street trees on existing and new streets by specifying appropriate trees for particular areas, based on the following factors:
1. Traffic visibility and interference with pedestrian, bicycle or vehicular traffic;
2. Damage to utilities, streets or sidewalks;
3. Control of wind, erosion and noise;
4. Maintenance;
5. Appearance, particularly the enhancement of major city entrance points and streets, and the use of certain trees to give neighborhood areas visual identity.
18.85.010 Street plan adopted.
The Edmonds Street Plan (1982), as issued by the director of public works and approved by the architectural design board is hereby adopted by this reference and incorporated herein as if set forth in full. A copy of the Edmonds Street Tree Plan (1982) shall be kept on file with the city clerk for public inspection and use during regular city business hours. All planting of street trees and other landscaping of streets shall conform to the Edmonds Street Tree Plan (1982). [Ord. 2387, 1983].
18.85.020 Permits.
A. Required. No person shall plant, remove, prune or otherwise change a tree on a street, right-of-way, parking or planting strip or other public place without a permit from the director of public works. This permit requirement does not apply to city employees under the direction of the director of public works.
B. Application. The application shall be filed with the director of public works, containing information as required by the director.
C. Issuance. The director of public works shall issue the permit if the proposal conforms to the street tree plan, the applicant demonstrates knowledge of the proper care and maintenance of trees, and the director is satisfied that the proposed method and workmanship is adequate.
18.85.030 Duties of director of public works.
A. Enforcement. The director of public works shall enforce this chapter, inspect work done under this chapter and maintain city street trees in healthy growing conditions.
B. Improper Planting. Whenever any tree is planted contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the director of public works may remove the tree. A second violation constitutes a misdemeanor.
18.85.040 Abuse of street trees.
Unless specifically authorized by the director of public works, no person shall damage any street tree, attach any rope, wire, nails, advertising posters or other contrivance to any street tree; allow any gaseous, liquid or solid substance which is harmful to trees to come into contact with them; set fire or permit any fire to burn when such fire or the heat thereof will injure any portion of any street tree; excavate any ditches, tunnels, trenches or lay any drive within a radius of 10 feet of any street tree; deposit, place or store any materials which may impede the free passage of water and fertilizer to the roots of any street tree.
18.85.050 Replanting and replacement.
A. Required. When it is necessary to remove a street tree in connection with paving of a sidewalk, or the paving or widening of the portion of a street or highway used for vehicular traffic, the city shall replant the tree(s) or replace them. If conditions prevent replanting, this requirement may be satisfied if any equivalent number of trees are planted nearby in accord with the street tree plan.
B. Size and Cost. Replacements shall meet the standards specified in the street tree plan for size, species and placement. The permittee shall bear the costs of removal and replacement.
C. Specifications. Removal, planting and replacement of all street trees shall conform to the standards in the material labeled “Standards for Planting Street Trees Within the City of Edmonds,” three copies of which are on file with the city clerk, and which is incorporated by this reference as if set forth in full.
18.85.060 Visibility blockage.
A. Pruning Required. Any property owner who owns property on any street shall prune or otherwise prohibit private trees or other vegetation growing on his property in such manner that they will not block or shade the light from the street lights, obstruct the passage of persons on the sidewalks, obstruct vision of traffic signs, or obstruct the view of any intersection or alley intersection.
B. Enforcement.
1. If any property owner fails to prune (or take other appropriate action) trees as provided in subsection A of this section and the director of public works has actual knowledge of the condition, then the director of public works may, by written notice, order such person to prune (or take other appropriate action) such trees within 14 days after written notice is sent. The notice shall state that criminal prosecution may result from noncompliance.
2. If a person to whom a notice is sent does not comply within the specified time, in addition to any other action the city may take
under this chapter, the director of public works may prune the trees, take other appropriate action, charge the owner for the cost of the work, record the same as a lien against the property, and collect the same in court.