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• • <br />Staff Report <br />Tree Preservation <br />February 17, 2005 <br />City Council has directed staff to assess existing development conditions and recommend <br />future development strategies relating to tree preservation and other beautification efforts. <br />Tree preservation can aid in the conservation of vital energy resources and the <br />preservation of the City's heritage and quality of life. Trees are a valuable amenity to <br />urban environment creating greater human comfort by providing shade, cooling the air <br />through evaporation, restoring oxygen to the atmosphere, reducing glare and noise level <br />and providing more effective transition between different land uses, pre-development or <br />construction. <br />Staff discussed this item and made the following assessments based on the current <br />provisions in the zoning ordinance: <br />Existing Requirements: <br />Tree Preservation -Section 106-801 establishes the following <br />provisions: <br />a) It is the intent of this section to encourage the preservation of existing <br />trees within the City and to prohibit their unwarranted destruction. <br />b) It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit the destruction of <br />any native tree within 15 feet of any street right-of--way line or <br />easement line abutting the required front yard or within ten feet of any <br />street right-of--way line or easement line abutting the required side yard <br />within the city if such tree has a trunk which exceeds six inches in <br />diameter (or 18.84-inch circumference) at a point 18 inches above the <br />natural ground level. Provided, however, it shall not be a violation of <br />this provision if a tree is removed and destroyed where, in the opinion <br />of the Planning Director or his designated representative, said tree <br />constitutes a hazard to pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic along any <br />such right-of--way. <br />c) No person, firm or corporation desirous of developing or improving <br />any parcel of property, shall remove or cause the removal of any tree <br />from said property without first obtaining a clearing permit which <br />would allow clearing of buildable areas only. <br />