Town of Summerville Planning Area - BCD Council of Governments

Tree ProtectionVegetation plays a functional role in the landscape since it is an important control on runoff, soilerosion, slope stability, microclimate, air pollution, and noise. Trees and natural vegetation also providehabitat, food, and shelter for wildlife. In site planning, plants are used not only for environmentalcontrol, but also to improve aesthetics, frame spaces, influence pedestrian behavior, and controlboundaries. Tree protection has a long history in Summerville. The Town is credited for implementingthe first tree protection ordinance. This protection should be continued and enhanced.Goal: Preserve and protect important trees in the Summerville Planning Area.Objective: Enhance the Town’s Tree Ordinance in order to ensure the future protection ofSummerville’s tree canopy.STRATEGY PARTNERS IMPLEMENTATIONTOOLS FUNDING PRIORITY TIMELINEReview and revise, ifnecessary, tree protectionregulations to ensureadequate protection ofexisting trees. Provisionsshould include: Identification ofimportant trees; Specification of bestmanagement practicesduring construction toprotect trees; and Specifications for treereplacement or a fee paidto the Town for a treefund when treereplacementrequirements cannot besatisfied.Review standards for treeremoval listed in the treeprotection regulations andinvestigate whether feasiblealternatives to removal arecurrently available and are inuse in other areas.Tree AdvisoryProtectionCommittee,PlanningCommission,Town Staff, TownCouncilTree AdvisoryProtectionCommittee,PlanningCommission,Town Staff, TownCouncilZoningOrdinanceZoningOrdinanceGeneralFundGeneralFundHighHighShorttermShorttermNatural Resources Element Page 22