MUNICIPALITY OF PORT HOPE TREE POLICY

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1 Appendix 8: Example Port Hope Tree Policy MUNICIPALITY OF PORT HOPE TREE POLICY PURPOSE: To guide decisions of Municipal staff in the planting, maintenance and removal of trees located on Municipal property. COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT: The Municipality recognizes that trees beautify the landscape, reduce the impact of extremes in weather, provide habitat for wildlife, add value to property, and contribute to a healthy environment. Council encourages municipal operations that are considerate of these values and benefits through the endorsement of this Policy and through the establishment through By-Law No. 42/2011 of a Tree Advisory Committee to provide advice on the planting, preservation, care and removal of trees within the Municipality of Port Hope. GENERAL: 1. This Policy relates specifically to trees on all municipal lands. 2. This Policy shall be reviewed annually in September by the Tree Advisory Committee and recommended changes shall be submitted to Council for consideration. 3. Preservation and protection of trees shall be an important consideration in all municipal operations. 4. Municipal departments, in partnership with the Tree Advisory Committee shall develop operating and best practice guidelines for the implementation of this Policy. 5. As a general courtesy, Municipal staff shall adopt the operational practice of advising landowners with respect to proposed tree work on adjacent municipal property including tree planting and non-emergency tree removal. Where practicable, a minimum notice period of two (2) weeks shall be provided to receive public comment with regard to the proposed work. 6. The Municipality will provide options for public participation in tree planting on Municipal lands. Financial contributions for memorial and other plantings shall be accepted contingent upon the proposal meeting all provisions of this Policy. All proposals/requests shall be submitted in writing to the Tree Advisory Committee for consideration and recommendations. On an annual basis a real cost to supply and plant an individual shall be established. This cost shall be a guide for accepting tree donations. Municipality of Port Hope Page 1 of 8 adopted by Resolution 31/2013

2 7. The Tree Committee shall maintain a current list of suitable locations for tree planting which will include a choice of appropriate species and a target date for planting. This list will be based on known tree losses reported by staff, citizen requests for a tree(s), and activities of the Tree Advisory Committee. The Tree Advisory Committee shall maintain a record of all trees lost due to storm damage, natural mortality, vandalism, and other. In addition, Municipal Departments shall give reasonable consideration to the allocation of sufficient funds to replace these losses annually. 8. Property owners will not be permitted to plant trees on Municipal property. If the location is deemed suitable the Municipality will assume the responsibility and add the location to the list of suitable planting sites for future consideration. 9. Tree replacement shall generally be on the basis of a tree planted for every tree removed and as outlined in the Master Forest Plan. 10. The Tree Advisory Committee shall maintain a current active database of treerelated issues which will contain recommended courses of action, action taken, and current status of each issue. 11. All contractors involved with planting and/or tree removal shall be affiliated with an accredited organization ie. Landscape Ontario, Society of Arboriculture PLANTING: 1. All new development projects shall, where reasonable and practicable, include a tree planting component that is acceptable to the Municipality and meets the intent of this Policy. Refer to Schedule I and Schedule II of this Tree Policy. 2. All road reconstruction and construction projects shall, where reasonable and practicable, include a component for tree protection, tree planting/tree replacement. 3. Trees for planting shall be selected from an established list of species which favor native plants when site conditions and locations permit as set out in the attached Schedule I. 4. Trees shall be planted to the standards and conditions set out in the attached Schedule II. Municipality of Port Hope Page 2 of 8 adopted by Resolution 31/2013

3 MAINTENANCE: 1. IN ALL CASES, saving a tree through proper pruning and maintenance shall be the first consideration vs. tree removal. 2. Tree maintenance shall be conducted in accordance with standards normally accepted in the nursery, landscape and arborist trades. 3. Municipal Departments shall give reasonable consideration to the allocation of sufficient funds to adequately maintain existing trees and trees relative to new stock from new developments, reconstruction and other planting projects. Refer to Schedule III of this Tree Policy. REMOVAL: 1. In all non-hazard instances, alternatives to tree removal shall be the first consideration. 2. All non-emergency and non-hazardous requests for tree removal shall, where reasonable and practicable, be submitted in writing to the Tree Advisory Committee for consideration and recommendation. Costs of which shall come out of the annual tree maintenance operating budget. 3. The Tree Advisory Committee may request professional assessment on tree removal proposals. Costs of which shall come out of annual tree maintenance operating budget. 4. The Tree Advisory Committee may request a staff report relevant to safety and other related issues surrounding a tree removal proposal. 5. All tree removal projects shall contain a tree replacement component which requires the planting of a tree in a suitable location on Municipal property within one (1) year of the tree removal. Prepared by: Tree Advisory Committee Reviewed and updated: January 2013 February 2013 Municipality of Port Hope Page 3 of 8 adopted by Resolution 31/2013

4 TREE POLICY SCHEDULE I Trees Recommended for Planting Group I Deciduous (large growing species) Acer x freemanii Freeman Maple Acer ginnala Amur Maple *Acer rubrum Red Maple (suitable for damp soils) Red Sunset Red Maple *Acer saccharum Sugar Maple *Acer saccharinum Silver Maple Carya cordiformis Bitternut Hickory Carya ovata Shagbark Hickory *Celtis occidentalis Common Hackberry Cercidiphyllum japonicum Katsura Tree *Quercus muehlenbergii Chinkapin Oak *Fagus grandifolia American Beech Gingko biloba Princeton Sentry Maidenhair Tree Gleditsia triacanthos Shademaster Shademaster Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos Skyline Skyline Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos Sunburst Sunburst Honeylocust Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip Tree Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum *Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak *Quercus rubra Red Oak Tilia americana Redmond American Linden or Basswood Tilia cordata Greenspire Greenspire Littleleaf Linden Ulmus x hollandica Pioneer Pioneer Elm (Dutch elm resistant) Group II Deciduous (limited space & height) Acer platanoides Columnar Acer platanoides Globosum *Amelanchier canadensis Crataegus x mordenensis Toba Malus Varieties Pyrus calleryana Columnar Norway Maple Globe Norway Maple Serviceberry Autumn Brilliance Ballerina Robin Hill Toba Hawthorn Flowering Crabapple Columnaris (white) Profusion (red) Robinson (red & white centre) Ornamental Pear Autumn Blaze Chanticleer Municipality of Port Hope Page 4 of 8 adopted by Resolution 31/2013

5 Group II Deciduous (limited space & height), continued Quercus alba White Oak Quercus robur Fastigiata English Oak Sorbus aucuparia Rossica Russian Mountain Ash Sorbus thuringiaca Fastigiata Oakleaf Mountain Ash Syringa reticulata Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac Group III Coniferous (suitable for parks and other open spaces) *Abies balsamea Balsam Fir Abies concolor Silver Fir Abies fraseri Fraser Fir Chamaecyparis nootkatensis Glauca Blue Nootka Falsecypress Chamaecyparis nootkatensis Pendula Weeping Nootka Falsecypress Juniperus chinensis Fairview Fairview Juniper Juniperus scopulorum Blue Haven Blue Haven Juniper Larix decidua European Larch *Larix laricina American Larch (Tamarack) Larix kaempferi Japanese Larch Picea abies Norway Spruce *Picea glauca White Spruce Picea pungens Colorado Spruce Picea pungens glauca & var Hoopsi, Kosteri, Moerheimi, Thompson *Pinus strobus White Pine *Pinus resinosa Red Pine Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas Fir Taxus cuspidata Japanese Yew *Thuja occidentalis White Cedar Thuja occidentalis Fastigiata Pyramidal Cedar Thuja occidentalis Nigra Black Cedar *Tsuga canadensis Canadian Hemlock Above trees suitable for specimen plantings, groups, windbreaks & screening * Native species NOTE: White and green ash and varieties are removed from this list due to potential problems associated with the Emerald Ash Borer NOTE: Two year maintenance (see Schedule III for guidelines). A minimum of two weeks before planting, the contractor shall place a stake Municipality of Port Hope Page 5 of 8 adopted by Resolution 31/2013

6 TREE POLICY SCHEDULE II Planting Standards and Conditions Planted trees shall be a minimum size of 45 to 50 mm at 15 cm above the ground. Unless otherwise approved planting shall be done in early spring (mid April to mid May). Trees shall be planted to a standard that is commonly considered acceptable in the landscape trade. All tree plantings shall be in accordance with the following: STANDARDS 1. Tree shall bear same relation to grade as it bore to its condition in the nursery and must have ball root planted on undisturbed soil; 2. Cut, loosen, and roll back approved ½ of twine, burlap and wire on root ball; 3. All twine and burlap on the root ball must be biodegradable; 4. Backfill to prevent air pockets; 5. Two year survival/replacement guarantee; 6. The placement of protective guard 56 cm in height intended to prevent mechanical and rodent damage to the trunk; 7. Initial tree support staking shall consist of: i) a minimum 1.5 x 1.5 m and 6 (2m) in length planted with 4 (1.22m) above ground and 2 (0.61m) below ground; ii) all stakes shall be driven outside the ledge of the root ball; iii) galvanized wire or cable (14 gauge) with plastic hose around the tree; iv) tuck away loose ends of wire or cable into the wire wrap so that no sharp ends are exposed. 8. Fertilization; 9. Mulching 1 meter in diameter and 10 cm in thickness; 10. Initial staking and utility locates; and 11. Delivery of door hanger notification (supplied by Works and Engineering) to adjacent residence at the time of staking. Municipality of Port Hope Page 6 of 8 adopted by Resolution 31/2013

7 CONDITIONS 1. All trees shall be No. 1 Grade nursery grown stock of a grade and quality, conforming to the Horticultural Standards and grown under proper cultural practices as adopted by the Canadian Nursery Trades Association; 2. Two year survival/replacement guarantee from date of planting; 3. See #C in tender; 4. See #D in tender; 5. See #E in tender; and 6. Annual maintenance See Schedule III for details. Municipality of Port Hope Page 7 of 8 adopted by Resolution 31/2013

8 TREE POLICY SCHEDULE III Maintenance Guidelines for Newly Planted and Young Trees TIMING: Annually two years after planting when included as part of tender document(s) SCOPE OF WORK: Removal of broken, damaged, dead or hazardous branches Elevation of branches (pruning of lower branches to a height of approximately 2 meters) Proper framing of crown (including but not limited to the pruning of double leaders and crossover branches) Removal of root and trunk suckers Removal of tree support stakes, wires and ties during the second year Removal of trunk protective guards and wrapping on the day of planting Leveling of water saucers and mulch where they still exist (except where maintained by adjacent landowners) and removed at the end of the second year (in the fall) Removal of weeds and grass. Maintain or replace cedar mulch in a 1 meter circle, 10 cm thick in the form of a water saucer (except where maintained by adjacent landowner) Collection and removal from the site of pruned material, sod or other debris CONDITIONS: All pruning to be done to a standard normally accepted in the landscape and arboriculture trades or under the direct supervision of a qualified arborist. Municipality of Port Hope Page 8 of 8 adopted by Resolution 31/2013

Landscape Plan Specifications

Landscape Plan Specifications Landscape and Street Tree Plans shall conform to the specifications below. All Landscape plans are under the review of the City Forester and additional requirements may be