Aberdeen Township City Zoning Code
§ 25-5.10
Natural Features and Landscaping.
[Ord. No. 11-2002 § 4]
a.
Natural features such as trees, hilltops and views, natural terrain, open waters, critical areas and natural drainage ridge lines shall be preserved to the maximum extent reasonably possible in designing any development containing such features. The development plan should clearly reflect the avoidance of unnecessary alteration of existing topography or the removal of vegetation and should propose development that will otherwise respect the established natural conditions of the site and its surroundings.
b.
In conjunction with uses other than single-family dwellings, all areas of the site not occupied by buildings, pavement, walkways, or other required improvements shall be suitably landscaped with trees, shrubs, ground cover, seeding or plantings and maintained in good condition. The proposed landscaping shall be designed and located to benefit pedestrian and vehicular traffic circulation, provide delineation of parking areas, provides shade, screen unwanted views and enhance site aesthetics to the satisfaction of the Board.
c.
For the purpose of approving the quantity, locations and species of trees, the Board shall consider safety of vehicular and pedestrian traffic including visibility and sight distance; tree foliage, canopy, typical habit, growth characteristics and cultural requirements; potential interference with utility lines and poles and consistency with the general character of the area.
d.
A minimum of twelve (12) shade trees, or the equivalent dollar value of evergreen trees, ornamental trees and shrubs, shall be required for every disturbed acre of land for all nonresidential and multi-family development. Landscaping should provide a variety and mixture of plantings. The selection should consider susceptibility to disease, colors, season, textures, shapes, blossoms and foliage.
e.
All deciduous trees shall be of nursery stock and shall have a minimum caliper of two and one-half (2 1/2) inches in diameter measured six (6) inches above the top of the root ball. All trees shall comply with the current American Standards For Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) and shall be balled and burlapped. All deciduous trees shall be staked, guyed and wrapped with a biodegradable tree wrap from the first branch to the ground. Acceptable methods for staking and guying shall be determined by the Township Engineer.
f.
Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height, shall be balled and burlapped, and shall have a full and uniform canopy habit at time of installation. All evergreen trees should be treated with an anti-desiccant/wilt-proof at the beginning of the first fall season following installation to ensure protection from drying winter winds. All evergreen trees shall be staked and guyed. Acceptable methods for staking and guying shall be determined by the Township Engineer.
g.
All ornamental trees and shrubs shall be at least a maximum mature distance, but not less than two (2) feet, from a foundation wall or fence. All ornamental trees shall be installed at a minimum one and one-half (1 1/2) inch in caliper, measured six (6) inches above the ground, and a minimum six (6) feet in height. All shrubs shall be installed at a minimum height of two (2) feet or a minimum spread of eighteen (18) inches, as measured in compliance with ANSI Z60.1. All shrubs shall conform to the height restrictions of subsection 25-5.20c of this section, as applicable. Varieties shall be selected and specified as appropriate to sun and wind exposures and shall be suitable in mature size for the location to be planted.
h.
Street trees are required along all public and private street rights-of-way. The species selection and location shall be subject to the review and approval of the Township Engineer and the Board. Street trees shall be selected and located to create site uniformity, enhance microclimate and improve site aesthetics. Street trees shall be installed with the same species on both sides of the road in groupings not to exceed forty (40) trees of one (1) species to ensure site diversity and to reduce species related disease and insect infestations associated with a monoculture planting. Street trees shall comply with the following requirements:
Type of Tree | Planting Interval (Ft.) | Minimum Caliper |
|---|---|---|
Large and Medium Trees | 40 to 50 ft. | 3"-3-1/2" |
Small and Ornamental Trees | 20 to 40 ft. | 2"-2-1/2" |
i.
All landscaping required by the approved plan shall be in a healthy and vigorous growing condition at time of installation. No plant shall remain unplanted at a site for more than three (3) days after delivery without being properly healed in. No tree with a damaged central leader shall receive final acceptance by the Township. All dead and damaged plant material shall be replaced by the developer prior to any bond release or final acceptance by the Township. Said replacement shall be within sixty (60) days following written demand for such replacement from the Township or for such extended periods as may be specified.
j.
All newly installed landscaping shall be set plumb in the planting pit and backfilled in lifts not to exceed eight (8) inches with a backfill mix consisting of three (3) parts native topsoil, three (3) parts screened topsoil and three (3) parts peat. A moisture absorbent polymer shall be included in the amended backfill on well and excessively drained soils and on earthen terms to ensure soil moisture availability. All landscaped beds shall be underplayed with a suitable water permeable weed fabric and shall receive a minimum four (4) inch application of shredded hard wood mulch or other acceptable material. Untreated wood chips shall not be used. Plant material arranged in groupings shall be contained in one (1) continuous mulched bed to reduce possible plant damage caused by maintenance equipment. A single mulched bed around one (1) shrub is not acceptable. The landscape bed shall extend to the branch limits of the newly installed plantings.
k.
Landscaping of the area of all cuts, fills or terraces shall be sufficient to prevent erosion and shall be approved by the Board. All roadway slopes steeper than one (1) foot vertically to three (3) feet horizontally shall be planted with suitable ground cover plants combined with grasses and/or sodding. Grasses or sodding alone shall not be acceptable. No cut or fill slopes shall go unstabilized for more than thirty (30) days.
l.
Except in conservation easements and areas specifically designated to remain in their natural state, existing wooded areas shall be selectively thinned, and dead or diseased vegetation, either standing or fallen, undesirable trees, and any other undesirable growth and stumps shall be removed.
m.
Existing trees should be saved by not varying the grade around the trees by more than six (6) to twelve (12) inches. Proposed grading exceeding more than six (6) to twelve (12) inches shall require the construction of tree wells, as necessary, to preserve the identified tree(s). A temporary tree protection fence shall be required to be erected at the drip line of all existing woodlands to remain undisturbed. The temporary tree protection fence shall be a minimum of four (4) feet in height and be a wood snow fence, orange plastic construction fence or other suitable material, as determined by the Township Engineer.
n.
Specimen trees, which are defined as those trees that have a diameter or circumference of eighty (80%) percent of the State record for the individual species, shall be identified on all subdivision and site plans. If a specimen tree exists on site, it shall not be removed nor shall the soil within ten (10) feet of the drip line be disturbed, unless the applicant can substantiate an outstanding need to the Board as to why the removal or soil disturbance is necessary. A waiver from this requirement may be granted in the event the subject tree is dying or diseased.
o.
All site plan and subdivision applications which propose to remove any existing trees equal to or greater than six (6) inches Diameter Breast Height (DBH), as measured at a point four (4) feet above the ground, shall submit a "Tree Removal And Replacement Plan" in the set of construction plans for review and approval.
1.
The "Tree Removal And Replacement Plan" shall contain the following:
(a)
The name and address of the applicant and the property owner of the property from which the tree(s) are to be removed.
(b)
Total acreage of the property, total acreage of the existing woodlands on the property, and total acreage of the woodlands to be removed from the property.
(c)
Location of the trees to be removed as identified on a survey of the property.
(1)
The plan shall indicate all existing trees equal to or greater than six (6) inches DBH to be removed and to remain within twenty-five (25) feet of the proposed limit of clearing, specifically by an assigned number.
(2)
A listing of the assigned tree numbers shall be clearly shown on the plan and shall include the tree species and size (DBH).
(3)
Location of the limit of existing woodlands and the proposed limit of clearing where the temporary tree protection fence shall be installed.
(4)
For any clearing greater than one (1) acre, a sample plot of a representative five (5%) percent of the woodlands to be removed shall be inventoried. The location(s) of the sample plot shall be identified and dimensioned on the plan and flagged in the field for verification. All pertinent tree removal information from the sample plot shall be identified on the plan.
(5)
All specimen trees greater than sixteen (16) inches DBH shall be specifically identified on the plan.
(d)
Dead and diseased trees are not to be included in the tree removal calculations.
(e)
Any other information, which may reasonably be required to enable the application to be properly and thoroughly reviewed.
2.
Replacement trees shall be provided at a one (1) to one (1) ratio for each tree six (6) inches DBH or greater to be removed, as follows:
(a)
All replacement trees shall be clearly depicted on the plan and identified in the proposed planting schedule for review and approval.
(b)
Required buffer screening plantings shall not be considered in the replacement tree calculations.
(c)
Where site spatial constraints do not permit the installation of the required replacement trees on the site, the replacement value for all trees to be removed as per the plan shall be calculated as follows:
Trees To Be Removed (DBH) | Replacement Tree Value |
|---|---|
6" up to 12" | $200 ea. |
Greater than 12" up to 18" | $400 ea. |
Greater than 18" up to 24" | $600 ea. |
Greater than 24" | $800 ea. |
(d)
The value of proposed evergreen trees and deciduous and evergreen shrub material shall be deducted from the calculated amount for replacement trees required in subsection 25-5.10m2(c) hereinabove. The value of the proposed landscape material shall be calculated based upon average plant material cost in the area.
(e)
All fees collected from the replacement calculation shall be deposited in a Tree Escrow Fund for the Township of Aberdeen. The fund shall be utilized to promote and administer environmental enhancement programs such as tree planting, tree preservation, park development, landscaping of public spaces and or other related projects on or within municipally owned properties or facilities.
3.
Where the preservation of stands of ten (10) or more trees, each greater than four (4) inches DBH, are proposed, a one (1) to one (1) replacement tree credit shall be applied for each tree greater than four (4) inches DBH within said stand.
4.
Tree removal applications shall be subject to the same time limits associated with the development application approval.
5.
Any person violating any provisions of this section or failing to perform in compliance with the requirements of the Board for which the application has been submitted shall be subject to penalties and fines of up to one thousand ($1,000) dollars per day for each illegal tree removal offense. Violations of any terms of this section shall be abated within five (5) days after written notice has been served, either by certified mail or personal service. Each day that the violation continues thereafter shall constitute a separate offense.
The Township Engineer or his/her designee will enforce violations and penalties. In addition to other remedies, the Code Enforcement Officer or other municipal official may institute any appropriate legal action to prevent a continuing violation of the terms of this section.
p.
The Board may waive the requirements of this section in heavily wooded areas, in areas unsuitable for plantings, or because of other exceptional conditions.
q.
No land disturbance or removal of any trees, shrubs, grasses or other existing vegetation is to occur within twenty-five (25) feet of the top of bank of any naturally occurring water course in the absence of acid producing deposits, or within fifty (50) feet of the top of bank of any naturally occurring watercourse where acid producing deposits are present. The location of the top of bank shall be verified by the Township Engineer, unless such a determination has been made by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Flood Plain Management. Any exception or mitigation shall be in conformance with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
r.
Tree Removal Prior to Major Subdivision or Site Plan Approval.
1.
The purpose of this paragraph is to promote the preservation of woodlands to reduce soil loss, erosion, arid flooding; to increase the quality and quantity of water being recharged; to purify air; to provide wildlife habitat; and to maintain visual appeal.
2.
For purposes of this paragraph, a "tree" shall mean any woody perennial plant having a trunk or main stem with a diameter of three (3) inches or greater measured four (4) feet above the ground.
3.
Any application for major subdivision or major site plan approval shall have all trees plotted and identified on the plat or plan, and shall contain a detailed description of planned vegetation removal and regeneration, including all measures and materials necessary to reestablish the natural landscape.
4.
Existing trees shall be utilized as buffers along all lot lines and streets.
5.
No trees shall be removed from an area exceeding one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet per lot for any purpose unless the applicant:
(a)
Demonstrates the absence of alternative development options which will reduce the need for the removal of trees;
(b)
Identifies the area to be disturbed; and
(c)
Replants an area of comparable density and species composition for that portion of the disturbed forested area that exceeds the permitted impervious coverage limitation for the zoning district in which the lot is located.