Santa Ana Municipal Code § 33-188 Site plan approval

The purpose of this article is to establish policies, regulations and standards necessary to ensure that the city will continue to realize the benefits provided by its urban forest.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99)

Unless the particular provisions or the context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this section shall govern the construction, meaning and application of words and phrases used in this article.

Median trees means trees located in the planted strip in the center of a divided highway.

Parkway means the same as defined in section 36-8 of this Code.

Person means the same as defined in section 1-2 of this Code.

Public trees means any and all trees owned by the city and includes, but is not limited to, median trees and street trees.

Street trees means trees located in the public right-of-way.

Topping means the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three (3) inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99)

Editor's note— Ord. No. NS-2992, § 3, adopted September 1, 2020, repealed §§ 33-183 and 33-184. Former §§ 33-183 and 33-184 pertained to the creation, establishment, duties and responsibilities of the environmental and transportation advisory committee and derived from Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, adopted December 20, 1999; and Ord. No. NS-2910, §§ 2, 3, adopted January 17, 2017. Similar provisions can be found in ch. 2, art. IV, div. 9.

The following list constitutes the official street tree species for the City of Santa Ana. Species other than those included in this list may be planted as street trees with consent from the executive director of public works.

* 2½—4 Foot Parkways ** 4—5 Foot Parkways † 5—8 Foot Parkways ‡ 8 Foot or Larger Parkways

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99; Ord. No. NS-3097, § 10, 7-7-26)

The spacing of street trees will be in accordance with the Public Works Agency Standard Plan Code Book.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99)

The city shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants, and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, squares, parkways and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and aesthetics of such public grounds. The city may remove or cause to be removed any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric, power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect, or pest.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99)

Site plan review shall require the planting of street trees to coincide with the development, redevelopment, renovating of any tract or parcel. The site plan for development or improvement of any tract or parcel of land shall be evaluated and approved by the city's transportation and development services division and street maintenance division for the placement of street trees by the developer in accordance with SAMC sections 33-47 through 33-53 and section 34-81. The approved site plan, in addition to the usual requirements of the zoning code, contained in chapter 41 of this Code, shall show the approximate location, size, and species of all existing trees to be maintained, trees to be removed and trees required for approval of the project.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99)

The City of Santa Ana shall maintain the city's urban forest on an average 4½-year trimming cycle based on species, the recommendations of a certified arborist, and the International Society of Arboricultural Tree Pruning Standards. The city shall maintain and prune any public tree with limbs or branches so that branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection so that there shall be a clear space of fourteen (14) feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99)

It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm or city department to top any public tree on public property.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99)

No person shall post or affix to any tree or shrub, tree stake or guard, in any street in the city, any bill, poster, placard, picture, announcement, notice, advertisement or sign, or cut, paint, print or mark any of the same upon such tree or shrub, tree stake or guard, or affix or attach in any manner any other thing whatsoever, including any guy wire or rope, to any such tree or shrub, tree stake, or guard, except for the purpose of protecting it or other purpose authorized by this Code. Tree stakes or guards may be placed around trees, shrubs or plants by property owners, provided the same are merely placed near a tree, shrub, or plant, for the purpose of protecting or training such trees, shrubs or plants.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 4, 12-20-99)

No person shall dump, pour or spill any oil, salt, salt water or other deleterious matter upon any tree or tree space in any street, or maintain upon any sidewalk within ten (10) feet of any such tree or tree space on any street, any receptacle from which oil or salt water leaks or drips, or pour oil or salt water onto any parking or concrete gutter, so as to injure any tree or any street.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 5, 12-20-99)

No person shall pile building material, or other material, about any tree, plant or shrub in a street in any manner that will in any way injure such tree, plant or shrub.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 6, 12-20-99)

Any person or entity aggrieved by a finding, notice, or action taken under the provisions of this article, may appeal the same pursuant to the procedures of chapter 3 of this Code.

(Ord. No. NS-2414, § 2, 12-20-99)