06-18-15 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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“Sec. 106-801. Tree preservation. (a)It is the intent of this section to encourage the preservation of existing trees within the city and to prohibit their unwarranted destruction. The city encourages site planning which furthers the preservation of trees and natural areas by the following methods: To protect trees during construction; to facilitate site design and construction which contributes to the long term viability of existing trees; and to control premature removal of trees; require on-site replacement of trees that must be removed andrequire off-site replacement of trees that cannot be replaced on-site, either by direct planting as outlined in section 106-803802 (Tree replacement)or through a contribution to the tree fund established insection 106-803(Tree fund) of this chapter. It is the further intent of this section to achieve the following objectives: (1)Protect healthy trees and preserve the natural, environmental, and aesthetic qualities of the city to the degree possible. (2)Protect and increase the value of residential and commercial properties within the city. (3)Discourage premature clear-cutting of property. (4)Maintain and enhance a positive image for the attraction of new developments to the city. (b)It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit the destruction of any healthy native tree within the city if such tree has a trunk which exceeds six inches in diameter (or 18.84-inch circumference) at a point 18 inches above the natural ground level. Provided, however, it shall not be a violation of this provision if a tree is removed and/or destroyed if the tree is obviously diseased or determined to bediseased by an arborist or in the opinion of the planning director or his designated representative, said tree constitutes a hazard to pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic along any such right-of-way. (c)No person, firm or corporation desirous of developing or improving any parcel of property, shall remove or cause the removal of any tree from said property without first obtaining a clearing permit which would allow clearing of buildable areas only. (d)The provisions of this section are not required on individual single family lots.” Section 4 : That Chapter 106, “Zoning,” Article VII. “Signs”, Section 106-877 “Temporary Signs”, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows: “Sec. 106-877. Temporary signs. (a)Subject to the provision of this section, temporary signs are prohibited except in the following instances: (1)Temporary signs shall be a maximum of 18 inches by 24 inches in size and constructed of all- weather corrugated plastic sheeting with a wooden stake or greater as support. (2)Temporary signs may only be placed between the hours of 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 7:00 p.m. on the following Sunday. (3)Temporary signs shall be free of balloons, banners, or streamers. (4)In the Main Street District with Overlay, temporary sandwich board signs are permitted provided such signs are removed at the close of business each day. (b)Location of temporary signs: (1)Temporary signs shall not be placed in a manner that will interfere with a sitevisibility triangle or otherwise create a traffic hazard as referenced in section 106-805 (Visibility triangles).