CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: JUNE 1, 2016
PREPARED BY: Andrew Crabtree, Director/Community Development
APPROVED BY: City Manager
TITLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENT (ZA-16-04: STREET TREES) AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 12, CHAPTER 12.23 RESTRICTIONS ON REMOVAL OF SIGNIFICANT TREES TO ADD SEPARATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF STREET TREES
END
RECOMMENDATION(S)
RECOMMENDATION
1. Open/Close Public Hearing;
2. Waive the First and Second Reading of the Ordinance; and
3. Introduce Ordinance.
BODY
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES:
Ongoing Priorities
Protecting the environment
Preserving and cultivating public trust
REPORT NARRATIVE:
Morgan Hill has adopted within its Municipal Code "Restrictions on the Removal of Significant Trees" with the goal of preserving trees as part of the natural environment, recognizing that trees make a positive contribution to a variety of environmental, aesthetic and economic factors within Morgan Hill. The Planning Division administers a Tree Removal Permit process to implement this section of the Municipal Code.
The proposed Ordinance would amend the Municipal Code provisions to provide greater clarity and address concerns that staff has observed through administration of the Tree Removal Permit process, including comments received from members of the Morgan Hill community. Specifically the Ordinance would add a definition for "street tree", allow replacement of a street tree with a "suitable" street tree as a finding to issue a Tree Removal Permit, and make other clarifying text changes that would align with existing City practices. The goals for these changes are to provide greater clarity for applicants, staff and community members, ensure that street trees are subject to the Tree Removal Permit process, allow removal of non-suitable street trees, and clarify that replacement trees are required.
Staff also proposes to maintain a list of "Suitable Street Trees". A draft of this lis...
Click here for full text