1996 Local Street Tree Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

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Street Trees Applicable Planning Principle: * Large scale, high- canopy street trees should be planted on local streets to create attractive and healthy neighborhood environments. Damage to street trees resulting from utility line placement and repair, and from new home construction, should be minimized. Discussion: The adopted Urban Forest Management Plan (policy statement #13) states: "The City will require an approved street tree plan in developments involving the creation of streets. Assure that the party obtaining the approval provides for planting the street trees, according to the approved plan, as each lot or area is developed." The Plan also states (policy statement #7) that: "The City will adopt measures intended to ensure that new trees planted on public land and along street right -of -way are of the highest quality, require low maintenance, and do not interfere with public safety ". The City Council has directed that the Eugene Local Street Plan recommend an approach and implementing ordinance for a street tree program. * *INSERT PHOTO ** The urban forest provides numerous aesthetic, ecological, and economic benefits to city residents. Street trees are an important component of the urban forest. Trees lend a human scale and comfort to the street and the built environment. The variety of leaf form and texture, flower colors, and seasonal changes afforded by trees provide visual relief and interest on city streets. The leaves of trees filter dust and airborne pollutants from the air and transform carbon dioxide into oxygen. The rustling of tree leaves in the wind masks urban noise. Economic benefits are reflected in the increased values of properties on streets with well - established trees. Street tree programs incur certain expenses. Trees require maintenance attention and costs for watering, pruning, disease and pest control and other items of standard tree care. They can cause varying amounts of leaf litter and their root growth can cause sidewalk and curb damage, requiring additional expenses. The proposed design standards for local streets considers inclusion of street trees as a primary element of street design. The new street standards include provisions for setback sidewalks allowing room for planting strips between the sidewalk and curb for larger scale, large canopy street trees. The proposed standard for a 8' minimum planting strip width on most local street types allow large canopy trees to be planted and will eliminate or minimize root damage to sidewalks and curbs. * *INSERT PHOTO ** 1 s