Planning Department
February 28, 2019
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council
Subject: (REZN-11-18-2155) Request to amend the text of the Unified Development
Ordinance (UDO) in to amend Section 4.6.12 Tree Protection and Planting Plan
Requirements to amend existing paragraph F and Section 13.1.1 New Definitions
for Sections to amend existing Definitions to read as follows:
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE REVISIONS
(Explanation of Revisions)
1. Explanation of Revisions: Amend Section 4.6.12 (F).
ORIGINAL ORDINANCE PROPOSED ORDINANCE CHANGE
N/A Section 4.6.12 (F) Tree Protection and Planting Plan Requirements
F. Removal of protected trees.
(a) It shall be a violation of this Article for any person, organization,
society, association or corporation, or any agent or representative thereof,
directly or indirectly, to cut down, remove, damage or destroy, or shall
authorize the cutting down, removal, damage, or destruction of any protected
tree, as defined in Section 13.1.1 hereof, or shall commit any act or authorize
the commission of any act which physically removes a protected tree or causes a
tree to die, such as damage inflicted upon the root system by heavy machinery,
chemicals or paving, changing the natural grade above the root system and tree
damage permitting infection or pest infestation unless such removal is
specifically permitted in accordance with paragraphs (b) below.
(b) Removal of Protected Trees: Any Beautification Plan Tree or Public
Protected Tree or Exceptional Specimen Tree may only be cut with permission of
the City Arborist or in the event of his denial, the Tree Board. Any
Beautification Plan Tree or Public Tree which poses imminent danger to the
public health, welfare or safety or any tree that needs to be removed on an
emergency basis to restore public utility service may be removed with specific
permission, authorization and approval from either the City Arborist, the
Public Works Director, City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Mayor, Chief of
Police or Chief of Fire & EMS.
2. Explanation of Revisions: Amend Section 13.1.1 (New Definitions).
ORIGINAL ORDINANCE PROPOSED ORDINANCE CHANGE
N/A
SECTION 13.1.1 New Definitions.
Protected Tree means a Beautification Plan Tree, a Public Protected Tree, or an
exceptional specimen tree.
Beautification Plan Tree is any tree or shrub planted in any one of the
following circumstances: (a) as part of the Columbus Georgia Beautification
Plan which was established by Resolution No. 576-08, as the same may be amended
by future Council?s (b) in the State right of way pursuant to a DOT Special
Encroachment permit or with the permission of GDOT;(c) pursuant to a landscape
plan which is part of a streetscape beautification program approval by the
Columbus Consolidated Government and funded by governmental or private funding
or (d) any planting done by or with the permission or acquiescence of the
consolidated government on right of way of a city street or state highway.
Public Protected Tree means any tree located on lands owned by the consolidated
government, its authorities or other constituent units (?CCG entities?) or any
land upon which easements are imposed for the benefit of CCG entities, or upon
which other ownership control may be exerted by CCG entities including
rights-of-way, parks , public areas and easements for drainage, sewer, water
and other public utilities, with a DBH of six inches or more.
Exceptional Specimen Tree means any tree which upon application is determined
by the Tree Board to be a unique and intrinsic value to the general public
because of its size, age, historic association or ecological value or any tree
designated a Georgia State Champion, United States Champion or World Champion
by the American Forestry Association. The City Arborist shall keep a record of
all specimen trees so designated and their location.
Additional Information:
N/A
Recommendations:
The Planning Advisory Commission (PAC) considered this text amendment at their
meeting on February 06, 2019. By a vote of 8-0, the PAC recommended approval.
The Planning Department recommends approval.
Sincerely,
Rick Jones, AICP
Director, Planning Department
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