Impact
WARD: Citywide
COMMITTEE: Community Development
$ IMPACT: N/A
Title
Approval to amend the City of Smyrna's Code of Ordinances Chapter 106, Vegetation, by amending Article II Tree Conservation and Replacement
Body
ISSUE: Over the past several years, the Smyrna Tree Board, the development community and the city’s professional staff have expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the City’s current Tree Ordinance. City staff reviewed the current ordinance and determined that the document was due for revision as the last update was in 2008. Mayor and Council charged city staff with the task of revising the ordinance to address the issues and concerns raised by the Smyrna Tree Board and the development community.
The changes to the ordinance include the following major categories:
(1) Permit for residential tree removal for trees larger than 24”;
(2) Changes to definitions;
(3) Changes to specimen tree requirements;
(4) Changes to specimen tree recompense;
(5) Penalties for tree removal;
(6) Tree planting requirements; and
(7) Improved Technical Standards.
The Committee revised the ordinance by addressing these issues and concerns where applicable in the ordinance or the Technical Standards. After countless meetings and hours of work, the Committee developed a revised Tree Ordinance that all supported. The proposed revised Tree Ordinance is a well-rounded document that accomplishes all the goals established by Committee. The ordinance will promote a healthy viable community forest that will be share by the citizens of Smyrna.
BACKGROUND: The Planning and Zoning Board heard the proposed code amendments at the October 14, 2019 meeting. The Planning and Zoning Board voted to approve the code amendments by a vote of 4-1.
RECOMMENDATION/REQUESTED ACTION: The City of Smyrna has been working on the proposed revisions to the Tree Ordinance since September 2018. The proposed revisions address issues and concerns that were identified by the Tree Board, development community and city staff. The proposed Tree Ordinance is a well-rounded document that will promote a healthy viable community forest that will be shared by the citizens of Smyrna. Therefore, staff recommends approval of the attached revisions the City’s Tree Ordinance.