Planning construction on your house? You must file a street tree management plan to receive permits to move forward with your project. Here’s why:
Trees are killed by soil compaction over their roots; not right away, but within a few short years. Most people are surprised to learn that 90% of the fine roots that absorb water and minerals are in the upper 6-12 inches of soil and extend far beyond the tree’s canopy. These roots need space, air, and water. Piling rocks, soil, heavy machinery, or using this area as a roadway for heavy machinery will compromise a tree’s root system beyond repair. After a year or two the tree will start to lose branches, decline and eventually die. Often the death of the tree does not seem to be associated with the construction because it doesn’t happen right away.
Borough Ordinance Article VII sections 102-33 through 102-37 mandates that all borough trees in the right of way adjacent to residents’ property be protected during construction from heavy machinery and heavy materials being stored where they will impact the roots of those trees. A “tree protection zone” must be mapped and fenced off so roots will not be disturbed during construction. The formula used for the tree protection zone is one foot of distance from the tree in all directions for every inch of tree truck diameter.
While the Borough ordinance requires that borough trees be protected, the Borough also strongly encourages residents to look at all the trees on their property prior to construction, make a conscious decision which ones they want to keep, and make use of the same formula to protect those trees. Many resident have found after construction that one or more of their beloved but unprotected trees withered within a few short years. Don’t let is happen to you!
Related information: Did you know that the trees in the borough rights-of-way are protected by ordinance?
From the Home and School Bulletin, March, 2004
