Source: https://ecode360.com/9794707
Timestamp: 2017-11-24 14:32:05
Document Index: 62870245

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 4', '§ 370', '§ 66', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 1', '§ 370', '§ 4', '§ 370']

Village of Mazomanie, WI Trees and Shrubs
§ 370-1 Statement of policy; applicability.
§ 370-3 Appointment of Forester; right of entry.
§ 370-4 Abatement of tree nuisances.
§ 370-5 Assessment of costs of abatement.
§ 370-6 Permit for planting, maintenance and removal.
§ 370-7 Planting of trees and shrubs.
§ 370-8 Trimming.
§ 370-9 Obstruction of intersections or traffic signs.
§ 370-10 Removal of trees and stumps.
§ 370-11 Prohibited acts.
§ 370-12 Appeals.
§ 370-13 Adoption of state statutes.
Chapter 370: Trees and Shrubs
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Mazomanie 6-28-1988 as Title 4, Ch. 4 of the 1988 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Chapter 370 : Trees and Shrubs
Intent and purpose. It is the policy of the Village to regulate and establish policy for the control of planting, removal, maintenance and protection of trees and shrubs in or upon all public areas and terrace areas of the Village to eliminate and guard against dangerous conditions which may result in injury to persons using the streets, alleys, sidewalks or other public areas; to promote and enhance the beauty and general welfare of the Village; to prohibit the undesirable and unsafe planting, removal, treatment and maintenance of trees and shrubs located in public areas; and to guard all trees and shrubs, both public and private, within the Village against the spread of disease, insects or pests.
Whenever the following words or terms are used in this chapter, they shall be construed to have the following meaning:
The land between the normal location of the street curbing and sidewalk. Where there is no sidewalk, the area four feet from the curbline shall be deemed to be a boulevard for the purpose of this chapter. "Boulevard" shall have the same meaning as "terrace." Where there are only sidewalks, the area four feet from the curb shall be deemed a boulevard area under this chapter.
Any woody plant normally having one stem or trunk and bearing foliage in the form of needles and crowns which extend from ground level throughout entire height.
A person, firm, association or corporation.
Any tree or shrub or part thereof which by reason of its condition interferes with the use of any public area; is infected with a plant disease; is infested with injurious insects or pests; is injurious to public improvements; or endangers the life, health, safety or welfare of persons or property.
Any woody plant, normally having one stem or trunk, bearing its foliage or crown well above ground level to heights of 16 feet or more.
The person designated by the Village as authorized to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
The Village Board may designate a municipal employee or citizen to perform the duties of Forester under Ch. 27, Wis. Stats., and may authorize such Forester to perform the duties and exercise the powers imposed on the Village Board by this chapter. The Village Forester shall annually be appointed by the Village President, subject to Board confirmation, at the Board's organizational meeting.
Editor's Note: Original § 4-4-4, Interference with the Village Forester prohibited, which immediately followed this section, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). See now § 370-11C.
Dutch Elm and other tree diseases a public nuisance. Whereas the Village Board has determined that there are many trees growing on public and private premises within the Village, the loss of which would substantially depreciate the value of public and private property, impair the use and enjoyment of public and private premises and erode the tax base of the Village, and that the health and life of such trees are threatened by fatal diseases such as Dutch Elm disease, which is spread by the elm bark beetle Scolytus multistriatus (Eichb.) or Hylurgopinus rufipes (Marsh.), the Village Board hereby declares its intention to control and prevent the spread of such disease and the insect pests and vectors which carry such disease and specifically declares Dutch Elm disease and the elm bark beetles which carry such disease to be public nuisances.
Definitions. As used in this section, unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context, the following terms have the meaning indicated:
A person, firm or corporation.
Elm bark beetles Scolytus multistriatus (Eichb.) or Hylurgopinus rufipes (Marsh.)
Any tree or part thereof which by reason of its condition and location is hazardous or dangerous to persons and property using or upon any public street, sidewalk, alley, park or other public place, including the terrace strip between the curb and lot line.
The Village Forester shall inspect or cause to be inspected all premises and places within the Village to determine whether any public nuisance exists thereon. He shall also inspect or cause the inspection of any elm tree reported or suspected to be infected with the Dutch Elm disease or any elm bark bearing materials reported or suspected to be infested with elm bark beetles.
Whenever necessary to determine the existence of Dutch Elm disease or elm bark beetles in any tree, the person inspecting such tree shall remove or cut specimens from the tree in such manner as to avoid fatal injury thereto and deliver such specimens to the Forester who shall forward them to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection at Madison for analysis to determine the presence of such nuisances.[1]
The Forester shall order, direct, supervise and control the abatement of public nuisances as defined in this section by spraying, removal, burning or by other means which he determines to be necessary to prevent as fully as possible the spread of Dutch Elm disease fungus, other deleterious tree diseases or the insect pests or vectors known to carry such diseases.
Whenever the Forester after inspection or examination shall determine that a public nuisance as herein defined exists on public property in the Village, he shall immediately abate or cause the abatement of such nuisance in such manner as to destroy or prevent as fully as possible the spread of Dutch Elm disease, other deleterious tree diseases, or the insect pests or vectors known to carry such disease fungus.
When the Forester shall determine with reasonable certainty that a public nuisance exists upon private premises, he shall immediately serve or cause to be served personally or by registered mail upon the owner of such property, if he can be found, or upon the occupant thereof, a written notice of the existence of such nuisance and of a time and place for a hearing, not less than 14 days after service of such notice, on the abatement action to be taken. Such notice shall describe the nuisance and recommend procedures for its abatement and shall further state that unless the owner shall abate the nuisance in the manner specified in the notice or shall appear at the hearing to show that such nuisance does not exist or does not endanger the health of trees in the Village, the Forester shall cause the abatement thereof at the expense of the property served. If the owner cannot be found, such notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village.
If after a hearing held pursuant to this section it shall be determined by the Village Board that a public nuisance exists, it shall forthwith order the immediate abatement thereof. Unless the property owner abates the nuisance as directed within five days after such hearing, the Forester shall proceed to abate the nuisance and cause the cost thereof to be assessed against the property in accordance with the procedures provided in this section. The Forester may extend the time allowed the property owner for abatement work but not to exceed 10 additional days.
Whenever the Forester shall determine that any tree or part thereof is infected with a deleterious or fatal tree disease or is in a weakened condition or harbors elm bark beetles, he may cause all trees within a one-thousand-foot radius thereto be sprayed with an effective disease-destroying concentrate or other insecticide.
In order to facilitate the work and minimize the inconvenience to the public of any spraying operations conducted under this section, the Forester shall cause to be given advance public notice of such operations by newspaper, radio, television, public service announcements or other effective means and shall also cause the posting of appropriate warning notices in the areas and along the streets where trees are to be sprayed at least 24 hours in advance of spraying. When any residue or concentrate from municipal spraying operations can be expected to be deposited on any public street, the Forester shall also notify the Chief of Police, who shall take all necessary steps to make and enforce temporary parking and traffic regulations on such streets as conditions require. Temporary "No Parking" notices shall be posted in each block of any affected street at least 24 hours in advance of spraying operations.
The entire cost of abating any public nuisance or spraying trees as defined herein shall be charged to and assessed against the parcel or lot abutting on the street, alley, terrace, boulevard or parkway upon or in which such tree is located or the parcel or lot upon which such tree stands in accordance with § 66.0627 or 27.09, Wis. Stats. The cost of abating any such nuisance or part thereof which is located in or upon any park shall be borne by the Village.
The cost of abating a public nuisance or spraying elm trees or elm wood located on private premises when done at the direction and under the supervision of the Forester shall be assessed to the property on which such nuisance, tree or wood is located as follows:
Upon receiving the Forester's report, the Public Works and Properties Committee shall hold a public hearing on such proposed charges, giving at least 14 days' advance notice of the time, place and purpose of such hearing to interested persons by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality and by mail to the owner of each property proposed to be charged. Each property owner shall be notified of the amount proposed to be assessed against his premises and the work for which such charge is being made.[1]
After such hearing, the Public Works and Properties Committee shall affirm, modify and affirm or disapprove such assessments by resolution and shall cause a copy thereof to be published. Upon adoption and publication of such resolution, assessments made thereby shall be deemed final.[2]
The Village Clerk-Treasurer shall mail notice of the amount of such final assessment to each owner of property assessed at his last known address, stating that unless paid within 30 days of the date of the notice, such assessment will be entered on the tax roll as a tax against the property, and all proceedings in relation to the collection, return and sale of property for delinquent real estate taxes shall apply to such assessment.
The Village hereby declares that in making assessments under this section, it is acting under its police power, and no damages shall be awarded to any owner for the destruction of any diseased or infested tree or wood or part thereof.
Permit required. No person, except upon order of the Village Forester, shall plant or remove, or do major alterations as determined by the Forester on, a tree or shrub in the public right-of-way terrace area or cause such act to be done by others without first obtaining a written permit for such work from the Village Forester as herein provided. The applicant shall comply with the planting standards of § 370-7.
Permit exemptions. No permit shall be required to cultivate, fertilize or water trees or shrubs or for work by Village personnel on park properties. No permit is necessary to plant trees inside the property line.
Permit requirements and conditions. If the Village Forester determines that the proposed work or planting described in an application for a permit is necessary and in accord with the purposes of this chapter, taking into account the safety, health and welfare of the public, location of utilities, public sidewalk, driveways, and streetlights, general character of the area in which the tree or shrub is located or proposed to be located, type of soil, and characteristics and physiological need of the genus, species and variety of tree or shrub, he shall issue a permit to the applicant.[1]
Permit form; expiration; inspection. Every permit shall be issued by the Village Forester on a standard form and shall include a description of the work to be done and shall specify the genus, species and variety, size, nursery grade and location of trees or shrubs to be planted, if any. Any work under such permit must be performed in strict accordance with the terms thereof and the provisions of this chapter. Permits issued under this section shall expire six months after date of issuance. There will be no charge for this permit.
Permits to public utilities.
Whenever a permit is issued under this section to a public utility to remove, trim, prune, cut, disturb, alter or do surgery on any public tree or shrub, the Village Forester shall limit the work to be done to the actual necessities of the utility and may assign an inspector to supervise the work done under the provisions of the permit. The expense of such inspection or supervision shall be charged to the utility at the usual Village rate.
A public utility may secure an annual working agreement with the Village Forester's office which gives the Village Forester the authorization to supervise and direct work done associated with trees and shrubs.
Purpose. The Village Board hereby states its determination that the planting, care, and protection of the trees within the Village is desirable for the purposes of beauty, shade, comfort, noise abatement, and economic betterment and hereby encourages all persons to assist in a program of tree planting, care and protection.
Tree planting program. The Village Forester shall recommend to the Village Board a program for tree planting, care, and protection for public parks. The Board shall also encourage the planting, care and protection of trees and shrubs on private premises within the Village.
The size and genus, species and variety of trees and shrubs to be planted in public areas and boulevards and the manner of planting shall be submitted to the Village Forester for approval before commencement of such work. The permit application process is required in § 370-6.
There shall be a minimum distance of 16 feet and a recommended distance of 25 to 50 feet between terrace area trees depending upon the size of tree and other factors. Terrace trees shall be planted equal distance between the sidewalk or proposed sidewalk and back of the curb or proposed back of curb. In terrace areas less than three feet wide planting will not be permitted. Terrace area trees shall be a minimum of 25 feet from an intersection.
It shall be unlawful to plant or maintain shrubbery, ground cover, or other plants not considered to be a deciduous leaf tree within terrace areas whose growth is in excess of eight inches in height above the top of the nearest curb.
Unlawfully planted trees. Trees, plants or shrubs planted within any terrace or planting easement without the authorization and approval of the Forester may be removed. The Forester shall notify the abutting owner in writing, listing the unlawfully planted trees, plants or shrubs, ordering their removal, and establishing a reasonable time within which such removal shall be accomplished. In the event that removal is not accomplished within the time specified, the Village may remove such trees, plants or shrubs and assess the costs thereof to the owner.
Frames. Any person, adjacent to whose land any shade or ornamental tree or shrub is growing in any street, may, for the purpose of protecting such tree or shrub, surround the same with a suitable box or frame for protection, but all such work shall be performed under the supervision and direction of the Village Forester.
Trees and shrubs standing in or upon any boulevard or public area or upon any private premises adjacent to any public right-of-way or public area shall be kept trimmed so that the lowest branches projecting over the public street or alley provide a clearance of not less than 14 feet. The Village Forester may waive the provisions of this section for newly planted trees if he determines that they do not interfere with public travel, obstruct the light of any streetlight or endanger public safety.
Clearance from sidewalk to lower branches shall not be less than 10 feet. All trees standing upon private property in the Village, the branches of which extend over the line of the street, shall be trimmed so that no branch shall grow or hang over the line of the sidewalk lower than 10 feet above the level of the sidewalk. No tree shall be permitted to grow in such a manner as to obstruct the proper diffusion of light from any public lamp.
Trimming or pruning of more than 2/3 of the crown shall be considered to be a major alteration and shall require a permit from the Village Forester.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no person shall maintain, plant or permit to remain on any private or public premises situated at the intersection of two or more streets or alleys in the Village any hedge, tree, shrub, or other growth which may obstruct the view of the operator of any motor vehicle or pedestrian approaching such intersection.
It is unlawful for any person to plant, cause to grow, allow to grow, or maintain any trees, bushes, shrubbery or vegetation of any kind which is an obstruction to the clear and complete vision of any traffic sign or driveway approach to a street in the Village. It shall be the duty of every owner of such tree, bush, shrubbery or vegetation to remove such obstruction.
Any shrub, tree or other plant which obstructs the view at an intersection or the view of a traffic sign shall be deemed to be dangerous to public travel, and the Village Forester may order, by written notice, the owner or occupant of any private place or premises on which there stands a tree or shrub which unreasonably interferes with or encroaches upon the street or sidewalk to take such steps as are necessary to remove such interference. If such owner or occupant fails, within 10 days of receipt of notice, to take such necessary steps, the Village Forester and/or Public Works Department employees shall order the Village employees to remove the interference. The cost of removing the interference shall be levied and collected as a special tax upon the property upon which or in front of which such tree or shrub stands.
Any person who is an owner or occupant, or firm or corporation, failing to obey the written notice of the Village Forester as specified in Subsection C above shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a forfeiture as established in Chapter 1, § 1-3 of this Code.
§ 370-10 Removal of trees and stumps. [1]
Removal standards. In cutting down trees located in public and terrace areas, the tree must be removed with the root stump grubbed out or ground out to a depth of at least nine inches below grade measured in a straight line, normal grade of sidewalk to top of curb. All wood and debris must be removed from the street prior to the end of each working day and all holes shall be filled to normal grade level with topsoil as soon as practicable.
Private removal. No person, firm, organization, or corporation shall plant, injure, trim, remove, or destroy any tree or shrub located in or upon any public place until a permit shall have been issued by the Village Forester. Such permit shall be issued only when the removal, trimming or cutting of the tree or shrub is necessary, as determined by the Village Forester, because of disease, damage, hazardous condition, and/or location, or its location is such that substantial detriment is done to the property upon which the tree or shrub stands, or property abutting the same. Such permit shall expressly state the premises upon which the tree stands and the location of the tree thereon.
Editor's Note: Original § 4-4-11(a), Dangerous, obstructive and infected trees, which appeared at the beginning of this section, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). See now § 370-4, Abatement of tree nuisances.
Damage to public trees. No person shall, without the consent of the owner in the case of a private tree or shrub, or without written permits from the Village Forester in the case of a terrace area tree, public tree or shrub, do or cause to be done by others any of the following acts:
Secure, fasten or run any rope, wire, sign, unprotected electrical installation or other device or material to, around, or through a tree or shrub.
Permit any toxic chemical, gas, smoke, oil or other injurious substance to seep, drain, or be emptied upon or about any tree or shrub, or place cement or other solid substance around the base of the same.
Attach any sign, poster, notice, or other object on any tree, or fasten any guy wire, cable, rope, nails, screws, or other device to any tree, except that the Village may tie temporary "No Parking" signs to trees when necessary in conjunction with street improvement work, tree maintenance work, or parades.
Excavations. All trees on any parkway or other publicly owned property near any excavation or construction of any building, structure, or street work shall be sufficiently guarded and protected by those responsible for such work as to prevent any injury to said trees. No person shall excavate any ditches, tunnels or trenches or install pavement within a radius of 10 feet from any public tree without a permit from the Village Forester.
Interfere with or prevent any acts of the Forester or his agents or employees while they are engaged in the performance of duties imposed by this chapter.
Refusal to abate nuisance. No person shall permit any public nuisance to remain on any premises owned or controlled by him when ordered by the Forester to abate such nuisance.
Any person who receives a determination or order under this chapter from the Village Forester and objects to all or any part thereof shall have the right to appeal such determination or order, subject to the provisions of Ch. 68, Wis. Stats., to the Village Board within seven days of receipt of the order, and the Village Board shall hear such appeal within 30 days of receipt of written notice of the appeal. After such hearing the Village Board may reverse, affirm, or modify the order or determination appealed from and the grounds for its decision shall be stated in writing. The Village Board shall by letter notify the party appealing the order or determination of its decision within 10 days after the hearing has been concluded and file its written decision with the Village Clerk-Treasurer.