Trees shall be planted along both sides of all streets as approved by the Land Development Board and recommended by Shade Tree Commission.

All planted trees shall have a minimum diameter of 2.5 inches measured six inches above the ground and be of a species approved by the approving authority. The standing height shall be a minimum of 12 feet. All trees shall be brought to the site balled and burlapped or other acceptable means, free of insects and disease and true to species and variety.

Trees shall be planted no more than 40 feet apart in a planting easement. In the alternative, if applicable, an equivalent number of trees shall be planted in an informal arrangement.

Street trees shall be planted between the curb and the sidewalk. Attention to tree selection should be based on providing trees that will not contribute to severe buckling of the sidewalk. The planting bed shall be at least eight feet in width. A polyurethane root barrier shall be installed to depth of 18 inches between the planting bed and sidewalk or curb if the planting bed is less than the required eight feet width.

Stripping trees or filling more than six inches around trees shall not be permitted unless it can be shown that construction requirements necessitate removal of trees, in which case those lots shall be replanted with trees to reestablish the tone of the area and to conform with adjacent lots.

Planted trees that do not live shall be replaced by the developer during the next planting season.

Parking lots shall be planted as required in Subsection 12-5.10.

All trees shall be installed in accordance with the American Nurserymen Guide.

The recommended tree list for Southampton Township in all non-Pinelands areas is as follows:

Red Maple (Acer rubrum).

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea).

Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii).

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris).

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos).

Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata).

Golden Raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata).

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum).

European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus "fastigiata").

Magnifica Hackberry (Celtis x occidentalis "magnifica").

White Ash (Fraxinus americana).

Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica).

Ginko (Ginkgo biloba).

"Starburst" Amur Maackia (Maakia amurensis "Starburst").

Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima).

Swamp White Oak (Quescus bicolor).

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa).

Zelkova (Zelkova serrata).

Landscaping provided as part of any development plan should provide for a variety and mixture of plantings. The selection should consider susceptibility to disease, soil characteristics, season, textures, shapes, flowers, and foliage. The site plan and/or subdivision plan shall show the location, species, and size at planting and quantity of each plant. The applicant is encouraged to utilize native plant material as indicated in paragraph d. below. A conscious effort shall be made to preserve the existing vegetation on-site during the design, planning and construction of any development.

Where new landscaping or lawn area has been provided for nonresidential uses, underground irrigation of the area shall be provided, where practicable and feasible, except where the Board determines that underground irrigation may be unreasonable.

Trees designated to remain on the construction sites are to be protected with a physical barrier as follows:

The grade of land located within dripline or six feet which ever is greater of a tree shall not be raised or lowered more than six inches unless compensated by welling or retaining methods described herein. In situations of specimen trees with shallow surface rooting, grading shall not occur within a twelve-foot radius of the tree trunk.

Tree wells are to be constructed around each tree or group of trees prior to an increase in grade. Wells are to be constructed of stone, block or any other suitable material without the provision of a bonding material such as cement. The well should be a minimum of three feet in diameter for four inches or less caliber trees. For trees with more than a four inch caliber, an additional one foot should be added to the diameter of the well for each additional inch of caliper measured 12 inches above the natural ground level. The maximum well size shall not exceed eight feet in diameter.

Retaining walls are to be constructed around each tree or group of trees immediately after grade is lowered. This retaining well shall be constructed of pressure treated timber or any other suitable material as approved by the Land Development Board.

Any clearing within six feet of tree trunks must be done by hand. No equipment shall operate within this area and no building materials shall be stacked against the trees or within the area of the barrier.

Topsoil shall be stockpiled in an area at least eight feet or beyond the dripline, whichever is greater from any tree designated to remain.

Every effort should be made to preserve trees that are determined to be of significant value as indicated by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Refer to Subsection 19-4.2 for the appropriate standards to be used.