Tree News

Google just sent me this tip, but it looks like the proposed tree ordinance for the City of Mountain Park was posted way back in April 2008. Mountain Park has an html version on their website. Reading through the ordinance text it appears that the criteria for specimen trees is based on the City of Alpharetta 's tree ordinance. The proposed ordinance requires that a minimum tree density be retained on residential sites following tree removal activities. Density minimums are an un-grandfathered 400 inches per acre. I also found an unusual component stating that it is a violation to " Attach any sign, notice or other object to any tree or fasten any wires, cables, nails or screws to any tree in a manner that could prove harmful to the tree, except as necessary in conjunction with activities in the public interest. " The penalties section is interesting too. Illegal removal of, or damage to, specimen trees requires replacement equal to five times the value in inches.

On May 6 the Milton City Council gave a nod to a future revision of the current Tree Conservation Ordinance. When the City of Milton incorporated in late 2006, it adopted the Fulton County Tree Conservation Ordinance which was used in the area prior to the City's formation. Now, as the new city is maturing, council has approved a resolution to establish a citizens' participation group to revise or create a new Milton Tree Preservation Ordinance. The city of Sandy Springs , incorporated a year prior to Milton, successfully implemented a whole new ordinance in early 2007. When a community decides to adopt a new or revised tree ordinance in Georgia, the creation of a citizen's participation group or task force is a common procedure in Georgia.

Coweta County is the newest municipality in Georgia to adopt a tree ordinance. The ordinance, which passed earlier this Spring, made way for a new position in Coweta government: County Arborist. Just a little over a month ago, Roy Matthews took the helm. Roy has a strong background in both arboriculture and urban forestry. As graduate of Bowling Green State University, he began his municipal career as a City Forester for Sandusky, Ohio , a tree maintenance supervisor for Savannah, GA , a Superintendent of Parks and Grounds for the City of Beaufort, SC , Grounds Supervisor for the City of College Park , and Superintendent of Grounds at Fort_McPherson /Fort Gillem. I spoke to Roy Matthews over the phone, and asked him what he thought the main impetus was for the county to adopt a tree ordinance. "The primary concern was the rapid development of County," Roy commented, "There is no slowing of growth here, and there needed to be something to help conserve urban forest r...

On June 17, The Atlanta City Council made a striking modification the City's tree ordinance. Property owners will now be allowed to remove any tree that is growing within 5 feet of a house or duplex, without recompense. A permit will still be required from the City Arborist Division prior to removal, and no other tree may be removed under the same provision for 5 years. Furthermore, the exemption does not apply if the tree contributes 10 percent or more of the total tree canopy over the lot.

The Mayor and Council of Sandy Springs adopted a new Tree Conservation Ordinance, February 6, 2007, which was effective upon adoption. The Ordinance introduces concepts to protect tree canopy throughout the city, establishes a Tree Bank, and provides Administrative Standards and Best Management Practices. This new Ordinance will be the subject of two identical training sessions, conducted by the City Arborist, Michael Barnett. They are scheduled for: • Monday, February 12, 2007 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 7840 Roswell Road, building 500, and, repeated, • Thursday, February 22, 2007 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Training room adjacent to the Council Chambers of City Hall. The City of Sandy Springs is posting an open invitation to all who wish to participate.

A public meeting on Jan. 11 will give Sandy Springs citizens an opportunity to ask questions about the city's proposed tree ordinance. There will be a presentation on how the ordinance works, the minimum requirements for land disturbance permits, the definition of specimen trees, the variance process, problems typically encountered on sites and enforcement. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, located at City Hall in the Morgan Falls office park.

In what may be the most significant change to an existing Atlanta area tree ordinance,the City of Sandy Springs is drafting an entirely new tree ordinance. The new one is proposed to replace the standing ordinance, which is currently a duplicate of the Fulton County ordinance with a few administrative changes. The changes are not small. Rather than give the existing ordinance a tune-up, the proposed ordinance will dramatically change the way trees are inventoried, preserved, and replanted on construction sites and new developments. There will be an emphasis on tree canopy cover instead of trunk inches, and an improved method of accounting replacement and protected trees. Sandy Springs citizens will have more opportunities to comment on the City’s proposed Tree Ordinance in the coming months. There will be a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2007, at City Hall. The Advisory Committee will meet at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 and Jan. 22, 2007. A draft of the ordinance, which promotes conservati...