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V. DISCUSSION <br /> A. Policy Issue <br /> If adopted, Eugene Code Chapter 6 will continue to contain limited regulatory provisions <br /> for tree felling on private parcels. A revised permit program will be established to <br /> provide application intake, review for appropriate certification, permit issuance, and <br /> permit archive. <br /> These provisions will be in addition to those within the Eugene Code Chapter 9 <br /> regulations for the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. Land development in the <br /> South Hills typically occurs within the PUD process. <br /> If adopted, staff will discontinue in -depth permit review. (Staff investigation and <br /> enforcement of alleged illegal tree removals on private property was discontinued in <br /> August of 1997.) <br /> Costs for certification of the permit application by a private professional, complaint <br /> investigation and enforcement will be borne either by the permit applicant or by the <br /> aggrieved citizen taking court action. <br /> Cost of this permit program is estimated to be approximately $ 5,000 and can be 100% <br /> offset by fees assuming no staff complaint investigation or code enforcement occurs. If <br /> adopted, additional non -fee recoverable costs necessary to respond to citizen inquires <br /> about permit and code enforcement options will be incurred. Educational materials <br /> (pamphlets & flyers) will need to be prepared to explain program changes and to <br /> minimize the non - recoverable staff counter and telephone time these inquires will require. <br /> This cost is estimated to be $10,000 annually. <br /> Adjustments to the operational budget to cover changes approved by Council would be <br /> submitted on Supplemental Budget #3. <br /> B. Background and Analysis <br /> Historically, the majority of issues of public controversy have focused on the large scale <br /> removal of trees from undeveloped parcels greater than 20,000 square feet in size <br /> immediately prior to the parcel undergoing development. Due to this, the 1994 code <br /> revision resulting in the existing ordinance focused to forestall speculative cutting of trees <br /> on these large undeveloped parcels prior to their entering into a development process or <br /> from those partially developed residential parcels greater than 20,000 square feet in size. <br /> While the removal of trees on commercial or large residential properties require a permit, <br /> a program to review building permits for tree issues on large residential or commercial <br /> properties has never been implemented. However, applicants occasionally request a tree <br /> permit review in order to ensure their activities are lawful. Such request reviews are <br />