§ 2.25. Protection of existing trees and landscaping requirements.

2.2501
Purpose. Existing trees, because of the beneficial qualities and character they add to a community, shall be retained to the maximum feasible in any development.

2.2502
Land clearing or protected tree removal permit required. Any land clearing or protected tree removal undertaken within Slidell shall require a permit. Permit for land clearing or protected tree removal shall only be issued in relationship to a specific development proposal or the removal of dead or diseased trees or trees which pose a safety hazard to buildings. The permit fee shall be waived for trees which pose a safety hazard. Land clearing or protected tree removal is defined as follows:

(1)

Removal of more than five trees per platted lot, with said trees being greater than six inches in diameter, as measured 24 inches above grade;

(2)

Removal of any of the trees larger in diameter than those identified in section 2.2503(2)(b);

(3)

A combination of number (1) and (2) above.

(4)

Permits shall be required for the removal of all trees as defined above.

A land clearing or protected tree removal permit will be granted under the following conditions:

(1)

Necessity to remove trees which pose a safety hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic or threaten to cause disruption of public services.

(2)

Necessity to remove trees which pose a safety hazard to buildings.

(3)

Necessity to remove trees weakened by disease or insects.

(4)

Necessity to remove trees weakened by age, storm, fire or other injury.

(5)

Necessity to remove trees in order to construct proposed improvements as a result of need for access to the building site for construction equipment, essential grade changes, surface water drainage and utility installations, or location of the proposed structure so as to avoid unreasonable economic hardships.

(6)

Necessity to remove trees to observe good tree maintenance practices which will strengthen and protect existing trees as is determined necessary by the department of planning.

2.2502(a)
Special restrictions for removal of pine trees on developed residential lots or parcels.

(1)

All regulations specified under section 2.2502 shall apply except on a developed residential lot the applicant shall be given a one-time permit to remove three protected pine trees that do not conform with any of the conditions specified in section 2.2502 provided that each tree removed is replaced with a hardwood or evergreen tree having a minimum height of three feet. Said replacement may be anywhere on the premises.

(a)

Penalty. A penalty of up to $100.00 per tree may be assessed for failure to comply with the provisions of this section.

(2)

A protected pine tree may be removed if:

(a)

Its branches overhang any principle structure, accessory building, driveway, or swimming pool;

(b)

Its roots are damaging or threatening to cause damage to the principle structure, sidewalk, driveway, patio, or other immovable structure;

(c)

Its roots are causing damage or threatening to cause damage to sewer or drain lines;

(d)

It is interfering with the proper maintenance of hardwood trees.

2.2502(b)
Tree removal policy for city construction projects. The City of Slidell shall attempt to design construction projects that will avoid damage or require the removal of trees, especially hardwood trees, larger than four inches DBH (diameter breast height). The department of engineering and department of planning shall decide if the construction activity will cause severe damage to the trees and determine the need for their removal. If the tree is removed from the city's right-of-way, easement, or servitude, an appropriate species of tree shall be replaced if space is available. The city shall not pay monetary compensation for the loss of trees.

2.2503
Application requirements. Application for a land clearing permit shall include the following items:

(1)

A plot plan of the proposed development.

(2)

A landscape plan which identifies:

(a)

Existing stands of trees on the development site.

(b)

The specific location of live oak and magnolia trees 12 inches in diameter and other trees 15 inches in diameter as measured 24 inches above grade.

(c)

Trees or stands of trees proposed for retention on the site.

(d)

The intended method for marking reserved trees prior to land clearing shall be identified in the application. The preferred method of marking is stapling all-weather plastic tape to trees. The use of spray paint for this purpose is specifically prohibited.

2.2504
Application review. Within ten days after acceptance of land clearing permit application, the director of planning shall either cause the permit to be issued or provide the applicant in writing with his reasons for rejecting the permit application as presented.

2.2505
Preclearing inspection required. The party issued a land clearing permit shall notify the building official in writing 24 hours before starting the land clearing activity. The building official or his designated representative shall inspect the clearing site prior to the start of clearing to ensure that the protected trees are identified on site as indicated in the land clearing permit application.

2.2506
Techniques for protection of trees. The following efforts shall be utilized to retain existing trees:

(1)

Parking areas and building sites shall be located to preserve existing trees.

(2)

Grates or other pervious surfaces shall be utilized within the dripline (outermost limit of horizontal branch extension) of existing trees to allow water and air to reach the tree roots.

(3)

Fill shall be prohibited in areas under the dripline of existing trees.

(4)

Drastic changes in drainage patterns which might negatively affect existing trees shall be avoided.

(5)

All trees to be retained shall have a perimeter fencing at the extreme outer edge of the tree canopy. The fencing shall be flagged with yellow caution tape or yellow pennants, and shall remain in place throughout the construction period. There shall be no activity of any kind inside the perimeter other than hand brush clearing. No land clearing or building permits shall be issued until the perimeter of all protected trees and tree stands have been properly fenced.

(6)

Any person who intentionally damages a protected tree shall be in violation of section 2.25 and subject to the penalties prescribed in section 2.2509.

2.2507
Permit fee established. A land clearing permit fee of $10.00 per acre or part thereof is hereby established.

2.2508
Waiver of application resubmittal fee. There shall be no fees assessed for resubmittal of a land clearing permit application if the application is resubmitted within six months of the original application rejection.

2.2509
Violation. Any person who violates the provisions of section 2.25 of the Slidell zoning ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punishable by a maximum fine of $500.00 per tree illegally removed.

2.2510
Landscaping requirement. The landscaping requirements are set forth in the following subsections 2.2511 through 2.2518.

2.2511
Purpose. The purpose of these provisions is to prescribe standards for landscaping and screening within Slidell. The existing street trees by the character they give to established streets should be preserved. The general appearance of the community through the use of plant material as a unifying element should be improved. Materials should define spaces and articulate the use of specific areas. The effects of climate should be mitigated by the provision of shade and shelter and these materials should also aid the conservation of energy by the provision of shade during the summer months and by buffering winds during the winter.

2.2512
Applicability. Developers or landowners are responsible for providing and maintaining the landscaping herein required. These standards shall apply to new high density residential, (ten or more units per acre) commercial and industrial development.

2.2513
Ten-foot wide planting area required. A planting area ten feet in width shall be established off public rights-of-way between the public rights-of-way and parking areas or structures. Materials installed should achieve a balance between low lying vertical and horizontal shrubbery and trees.

2.2514
Parking lot planting required. Parking lot interior shall be designed to provide at least one tree for every 12 parking spaces. Each tree shall be located in a landscaped island at least 200 square feet and tree trunks shall be placed at a minimum of five feet from all curbs or wheel guards. Trees will be distributed uniformly throughout the parking lot so as to provide a canopy effect.

2.2515
Pedestrian access planting required. Landscaped areas must be provided between the building face and the parking lot. Such areas should provide 200 square feet of landscape open space for each 50 feet of linear building face. No planting areas shall be a side less than five feet long and planting materials should achieve a balance between low lying and vertical shrubbery and trees.

2.2516
Trees . Trees selected shall have a minimum maturity height of at least 20 feet. The following list identifies trees suggested for planting and the minimum sizes acceptable for planting:

Trees	Height in feet	Caliper Diameter in inches
River Birch (multi-trunk)	8	1½*
Chinese Elm	8	1½
Red Maple	8	1½
Sweet Gum	8	1½
Water Oak	8	1½
Sweet Bay Magnolia	8	1½
Sycamore	8	1½
Slash Pine	6	1
Crepe Myrtle (multi-trunk)	6	1
Holly	4	1
Foster I
Howard I
Savannah
or equivalent
*Caliper diameter measured four inches above planting container.

 

2.2517
Landscape installation. All trees shall be installed with adequate support staking.

2.2518
Required inspections. The landscaping will be inspected by the permit office and approved prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

2.2519
Camellia Bush Requirement. Installation of minimum of three camellia bushes for the first five acres and minimum of two camellia bushes for each acre over five acres. Any genus of the Camellia is acceptable. The camellia bush can be planted in the perimeter, parking, or pedestrian planting zones, but shall be planted in a prominent location visible from the public right-of-way or near a main entrance.

(Ord. No. 1086, 9-26-1978; Ord. No. 1574, 12-14-1982; Ord. No. 1731, 7-10-1984; Ord. No. 2144, 11-24-1987; Ord. No. 2171, 3-22-1988; Ord. No. 2390, 7-23-1991; Ord. No. 2472, 10-13-1992; Ord. No. 2495, 4-27-1993; Ord. No. 3805, 3-22-2016)