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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-12 CC Meeting Packet Enclosure Re Tree Removal Request ENCLOSURE 13 Oak Park Heights Request for Council Action Meeting Date September 12th. 2005 Agenda Item Title: Boulevard Tree Removal Request - Gillen 14935 56th Street Time: 3 minutes Agenda Placement New Business Originating Department /Requestor Kathy Widin, Arborist Requester's Signature Action Requested Decision on Tree Blvd. Tree Removal and Cost Responsibility. Background /Justification (Please indicate if any previous action has been taken or if other public bodies have advised): Summary From: Kathy Widin email of 9/7/05: Tom & Stephanie Gillen of 14935 56th St. N. received a permit recently to build a class 5 pad by their garage this summer for their travel trailer. A boulevard tree is blocking their access to the pad. They have requested removal of the boulevard tree. I have inspected the tree and it has no defects or risk factors and is in good health. Therefore, the city would have no reason to remove the tree. When residents request removal of a boulevard tree, it is usually for "nuisance" reasons, such as surface roots which are interfering with lawn growth or maintenance, or cracking of a driveway surface. In such a case, the city's policy is for the resident to pay a $100. co -pay to have the tree removed and replaced. This situation is different in that the tree has to be removed in order for the Gillens to be able to use the pad they received a permit to build, (TO PARK A LARGE TRAVEL TRAILER, CANNOT MAKE THE TURN INTO THE PAD). The Gillens have offered to remove the tree and replant a new one themselves. The city does not usually allow residents to remove boulevard trees, but rather hires a tree service to do that. The city also contracts with a local nursery to plant replacement trees each year. The city will be hiring a tree service to remove another group of trees this fall and will be having new trees planted next August. The easiest, and most cost effective, way to have the tree removed and replaced in a manner consistent with usual practice, in accordance with city standards, would be for the city to add this tree to the removal and re- planting lists and then bill the Gillens for the cost of removal and re- planting. The estimated cost of this work would be approximately $400. The Council should decide if the Gillens should pay the $100. co -pay and consider this a regular "nuisance tree" situation or, in this instance, since the tree is in the way of a structure which they constructed, have them pay the full cost of removal and replacement. - City of Oak Park Heights Policy Regarding Removal/Re- Planting of Boulevard Trees Trees growing in the boulevard right -of -way will be removed by the City under the following conditions: 1. The tree is dead. 2. The tree is diseased (with a fatal disease such as oak wilt, Dutch elm disease or an invasive trunk canker) 3. The tree is hazardous due to decay, storm damage or poor branch/trunk unions 4. The tree blocks sight lines of a driveway or intersection and cannot be pruned to correct the situation. 5. The tree has large roots which are interfering with curbing, driveway, sidewalk, sewer lines and corrective work needs to be done to the disturbed hardscape or utility 6. The tree's roots are causing major damage to the property owner's lawn and all other remedies have failed to correct the problem. In some circumstances, a property owner may want to have a boulevard tree removed and conditions 1 -6 do not apply. In these situations the following will apply: 1. The property owners) should apply to the City for permit to remove the tree, stating the reasons why they want the tree removed. 2. The Arborist will assess the situation and determine whether or not the tree should be n removed. 3. If, at the Arborist's discretion, a removal permit is granted, the City will have the tree removed and the property owner will pay a fee of $100.00 to share the cost of removal and re- planting. In cases where boulevard trees are dead or dying due to damage caused by a lawnmower, week whip or other tool or vehicle run either by the property owner, or a lawn care firm hired by the property owner, the boulevard tree will be removed and replaced by the City and the property owner will pay a fee of $100.00 per tree to share the cost of removal and re- planting. In all cases where boulevard trees have been removed, a new one will be planted in accordance with the following provisions: 1. There is sufficient room on the boulevard for the new tree to grow to a healthy maturity 2. The tree species will be chosen based on the approved boulevard tree species list 3. The adjoining property owner will be responsible for watering the new tree. Passed: 2/27/01 2005 - Sep -07 11:42 AM 3M 6517367721 1/1 . September 7, 2005 • City of Oak Park Heights • 14168 Oak Park Blvd. North P. O. Box 2007 Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 To: Oak Park Heights City Council We are requesting that we get put onto the council agenda regarding the removal of a boulevard tree in our yard. Earlier this summer we pulled a permit to have a Class 5 Pad put in along side ow garage for our travel trailer. We had the pad put in and went to put out trailer on it and with the length of the trailer and the truck together we can't get the trailer in far enough on the pad to level and make it safe. We have tried to modify our entrance of the pad to accommodate the tree but to no avail. With the removal of the tree it would be a straight shot from the street on to the pad. Furthermore, the tree is within 3 feet of the driveway, the roots are already at the driveway edge. In another year the roots will lift the driveway. Kathy Widin, who came out and inspected tree, stated that eventually the class 5 would kill the tree. My husband and I have already agreed that we would plant another tree somewhere on . the boulevard to replace this one. We as homeowners would remove the tree at no expense to the city. We appreciate your response to this matter. Thank you. ›k Tom & Stephanie Gillen 14935 56 Street North . Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 651 -430 -2174