5.03.504 Permit Procedures.

(a) An application for a tree removal permit shall be made on the Town of Colma project application form and be submitted to the City Planner or designee, along with the information required in this ordinance and the application fee, which shall be established from time to time by the City Council of the Town of Colma by resolution.

(b) The application shall identify the property on which the tree is located, provide a perimeter outline of any existing or proposed building on the property, specify the location of the tree within an accuracy of one foot, state the size and species of the tree, and furnish a brief statement of the reason for the request, along with an arborist evaluation prepared by a licensed and/or certified arborist for the tree(s) desired for removal, and such other information as the City Planner or designee may require.

i. In the case of an application for a use permit or for tentative approval of the division or subdivision of property, the information required under this section shall be part of that application. ii. In the case of an application for removal of more than five trees from the same property, or an application for removal of trees that can be seen from a main public road, the applicant must also provide the City Planner or designee with a revegetation plan.

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(c) The City Planner or designee shall review the application for completeness and shall notify the applicant when the application is complete.

(d) The City Planner or designee shall inspect the tree and the site and shall consider the following factors in determining whether to issue or to deny a permit:

(1) The conditions of the trees with respect to disease, hazard proximity to existing or proposed structures, or interference with utility services;

(2) The necessity of removal or alteration of the tree in order to improve the property;

(3) The topography of the land, and the effect of tree removal or alteration on protection from wind, soil erosion or increased flow of surface water;

(4) The protection of privacy for the property on which the tree is located or for adjacent properties;

(5) The number of trees in the neighborhood, and the effect of tree removal or alteration on property values in and characteristic of the neighborhood.

(e) The City Planner or designee shall issue a tree removal permit unless the Planner or designee finds that the tree affected is of such size, type, condition and location that its removal or alteration would destroy the natural beauty of certain areas, contribute to erosion, increase the cost of drainage systems, reduce protection against wind, or significantly impair the privacy and quiet of a residential area.

(f) The City Planner or designee may attach such conditions to the permit as are reasonable and necessary to accomplish the purposes of this ordinance, including protection of the tree by grading, drainage and cut and fill restrictions, or substitution using a minimum 15-gallon size tree or shrub.

(g) Where the proposed tree removal would destroy the natural beauty of certain areas, contribute to erosion and increase cost of drainage systems, reduce protection against wind, or significantly impair the privacy and quiet of a residential area, the City Planner or designee may issue a tree removal permit on such conditions as the Planner or designee may deem appropriate, including replacement or substitution using specimen size trees.

(h) Replacement of trees that are removed shall be done on the same property as the removal unless the City Planner or designee determines that an off-site location better serves the Town’s objectives. Replacement trees shall be a 3:1 replanting ratio, 15-gallon size, and native species.

(i) Each tree to be removed or altered shall be physically marked with red tape. No tree may be removed or altered on any undeveloped parcel on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays or at any time except during the regular working hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Monday through Friday.

(j) The applicant shall post at once a copy of the permit at the property in a location where it may be read from the public street or sidewalk.

(k) The provisions of this paragraph 5.605(h) shall apply to the removal of trees in connection with the grant of a use permit or approval of the subdivision or division of lands.

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The City Planner or designee shall prepare an evaluation on the trees and views based on the developer's plans and site inspection of the land to be subdivided or divided. Such evaluation shall be maintained in a permanent Town permit file. Final approval of the project plan by the City Council shall constitute a permit to remove or alter the specified tree. No other tree removal or alteration on the property subsequent to such approval of map may be done except pursuant to a permit issued under subparagraph (a) of this section. A notice that identifies the approved subdivision or division of land map shall be posted at the property.

[History: formerly § 5.605, ORD. 292, 10/12/83; ORD. 303, 9/12/84; ORD. 479, 4/12/95; ORD. 524, 1/14/98; ORD. 638, 12/14/05]