The standards contained herein shall apply to all parcels requiring site plan review, special land use review, administrative review, subdivision plat review, plot plan review or land divisions/reconfigurations.

For legal lots of record which are not located within a new development, trees located within 10 feet of the building footprint and a fifteen-foot-wide driveway area are exempt from the requirements of this article. Replacement of all other trees shall be in accordance with the requirements contained herein.

Issuance of a grading permit shall prohibit clearing or grading within 50 feet of a property line prior to site plan or administrative approval.

Tree tagging is only required for portions of the site where development is proposed and where the development area is supported by clearly defined clearing limits. Trees with driplines that extend into the area to be developed shall be included in the tree survey, even if the trunk of the tree is not in an area that will be disturbed.

Trees eight inches DBH or greater must be identified.

Tree locations must be provided on a topographic survey, and the base elevation of all trees proposed for preservation shall be identified.

The tree survey shall clearly identify which trees will be preserved, removed or transplanted.

Trees must be identified in a tabular format by tree tag number, size, common name, genus, condition and classification. Classifications include: regulated, nonregulated, landmark, or exempt, as regulated by this article.

Tree replacement calculations shall indicate the total caliper inches of regulated and landmark trees being removed, as well as any trees being considered for exemption. The total number of replacement trees and caliper inches shall be provided in written form and graphically illustrated on the tree survey.

Tree identification tags shall consist of 19-gauge aluminum or similar corrosion-resistant material. Tags shall be a minimum of 1 1/2 inches in diameter and be permanently stamped or engraved with a number that corresponds to a number designation defined on the tree survey. Numbers shall be a minimum of 1/2 inch high. Tags shall be attached to trees by way of galvanized roofing nail or other similar method.

The tree survey must be prepared and certified by a registered forester, or other individual possessing related qualifications, with the assistance of a land surveyor or registered engineer. If there are discrepancies in the tree survey information or if the applicant requests that a landmark or protected tree be exempted due to its health/condition, the Township reserves the right to review the situation or engage the services of an independent reviewer.

"Protected trees" are defined as all trees eight inches DBH or greater, provided they are not classified as landmark trees.

Landmark trees are defined by size and species, as listed in the chart below:.

Landmark trees must be replaced at a rate of 100% of the total DBH removed.

Protected trees must be replaced at a rate of 50% of the total DBH removed.

Replacement trees shall be at least 2 1/2 caliper inches for deciduous trees and seven feet in height for evergreens. Replacement for evergreens shall be equivalent to one inch equals 2.8 feet in height. Consideration may be given to allow smaller trees if they are part of a replacement plan that specifies a mixture of sizes and is intended to simulate as natural woodland habitat.

Deciduous trees shall be replaced with deciduous trees, and evergreen trees shall be replaced with evergreen trees. Where all of the trees being removed are entirely deciduous or evergreen, the Planning Commission may approve substituting up to 10% evergreen for deciduous or deciduous for evergreen. Alternatives may be based on site-specific conditions.

The proposed location of transplanted trees and required woodland replacement trees must be provided on the landscape plan. Transplanted and replacement trees shall be clearly distinguished from landscape elements required per Article 24, Landscape Standards.

All replacement trees shall satisfy American Association of Nurserymen standards, including:

Where it is not reasonable and desirable to relocate or replace trees on site, relocation or replacement may be made at another approved location within the Township.

Where the Planning Commission finds it is not reasonable, practical and desirable to relocate or replace trees on site or at another approved location within the Township, the Planning Commission may direct the applicant to pay into the Township's Woodlands Trust Fund.

The preservation of wooded areas, individual trees, woody vegetation and related natural resources shall have priority over development when there are other on-site location/design alternatives. The Planning Commission may impose conditions on the method and extent of the proposed activity/use as necessary to ensure it will be conducted in a manner that will minimize damage, encroachment or interference with regulated trees.

Because natural systems do not occur in isolation, the location of regulated trees with respect to topography, water features and other significant natural features shall be viewed as having a high priority in terms of preservation value.

The removal of regulated trees and wooded areas shall be limited to the following:

The integrity of wooded areas shall be maintained even when such woodlands cross property lines.

Existing trees, wooded areas and understory vegetation shall be preserved within the required landscape greenbelt or buffers, unless removal is approved by the Planning Commission. Preserved vegetation may be credited toward landscape requirements contained in Article 24, Landscape Standards.

When a designated wooded area abuts a corridor identified as a natural beauty road, as authorized by Wayne County, existing vegetation shall be maintained for an average width of 100 feet, and a minimum of 50 feet, beyond the future right-of-way.

The clearing limits and locations of tree protection barriers shall be clearly identified on a plan.

Transplanted trees may be counted toward replacement trees, provided trees meet the minimum size and quality requirements of Article 24, Landscape Standards.

For deciduous trees over 10 caliper inches and evergreens greater than 30 feet tall, a statement regarding the method of transplanting shall be included, and the work shall be performed by a qualified individual.

A Township representative shall review the trees prior to commencing transplanting. The trees shall be reviewed again at their final location to ensure the transplanting operation has been successfully completed.

Before development, land clearing, filling or land alteration, a tree protection fence must be installed at the approved clearing limits, and tree protection measures shall be inspected by the Township.

Protective fencing shall be located 10 feet outside the tree dripline.

Posts for fencing shall be staked at least two feet into the ground, with posts spaced a maximum of 10 feet on center.

Tree protection shall remain in its approved location until removal is authorized or directed by the Township.