1998 Tree Ordinance - Laserfiche WebLink

New Search

FACT SHEET \ EUGENE Public Works Maintenance City of Eugene 1820 Roosevelt Blvd. / Eugene, OR 97402 Proposed Revisions to Eugene s (541) 682 -4800 Tree Removal Permit Program One of the budget- cutting strategies adopted by the City 2. Permittees (property owners) would be required to ob- Council last year was to reduce funding for the City's urban tain certification from a certified arborist or licensed land - forestry services for trees on private property. Revenue for scape architect that any planned tree removals comply with this service comes primarily from the General Fund, which the code requirements. was directly affected by Measure 50. As a result of the $60,000- per -year reduction, funds no longer are available for 3. City staff would review applications for professional cer- staff to administer permits, investigate complaints, or en- tification but would not inspect sites, investigate complaints force current City Code requirements pertaining to the re- or enforce violations. People receiving tree felling permits moval of trees on private property. from the City would be required to post all trees to be re- moved. The posting must include the name and telephone How is the Tree Ordinance number of the permittee or the permittee's representative. Currently Administered? 4. If citizens believe tree felling violates or would violate Eugene Code (sections 6.300 to 6.330) currently requires de- the Code, they may ask the courts for relief in the form of velopers or property owners to obtain a permit to remove temporary restraining orders, preliminary or permanent in five or more trees within 12 consecutive months from large ne fees. unctions or declaratory judgments, plus reasonable attor- lots (20,000 square feet or more) or any tree from unoccu- pied smaller parcels that do not have approved building City staff would continue to administer tree removal per - permits. Tree removals for planned unit developments are mits and enforce code violations for street trees located in not covered under this section but are addressed through public rights -of -way. The provisions relating to street trees environmental preservation requirements in Chapter 9 of would be moved to Chapter 7 of the City Code to make the City Code. clearer the distinctions between trees on public property and Due to staffing constraints, it has not been possible to re- trees on private property. view all building permits for tree issues. When applicants request a tree- felling permit as required in the code, reviews and inspections have been performed on a case -by -case ba- FOR MORE sis, typically concentrating on projects with significant is- INFORMATION sues. Staff has not been available to investigate alleged ille- gal tree removals since August 1997. City of Eugene Urban Forestry Program What Are the Proposed Revisions? (Public Works Maintenance) 682 -4800 Public hearing information If adopted, the revisions to Chapter 6 of the Eugene Code (Office of City Manager) 682 -5010 will continue to regulate tree felling on private property but will place additional responsibilities on developers, prop- On the Internet (includes online erty owners, and private citizens to ensure that the provi- City Code and draft proposed sions in the code are followed. Here's how the revised pro- revisions to tree code) www.ci.eugene.or.us cess would work: _ 1. The City would continue to prohibit felling more than Public Works Maintenance ill 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard five trees a year on large lots and any tree felling on lots EUGENE Eugene, OR 97402 smaller than 20,000 square feet without a permit. A permit would be available only when: March 1998 • The tree felling is the minimum necessary to imple- ment an approved development proposal, or • The tree felling is necessary to remove or alleviate a danger to life or property.