Friday, June 28, 2002
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Friday, June 28, 2002 |
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County looks to get tougher on landscape requirements By JOHN
THOMPSON
Coweta County's residents got a first glance this week at a proposed new landscape ordinance that will help toughen requirements for future developments. The county already has a landscape ordinance in place, but Commissioner Leigh Schlumper asked the county staff to take another look at the ordinance, because she was concerned at the lack of some landscaping at new developments. The revised ordinance devotes a lot of attention to preserving existing trees. The ordinance would prohibit the removal of specimen trees, which have a diameter of 30 inches, from any area of any parcel or lot without a removal permit, regardless of the number of said trees. The ordinance indicates that if any specimen tree is removed from a planting area it must be replaced on an inch-by-inch basis. For example, 10 three inch caliper trees must be planted for every 30 inch tree removed. Specimen trees may be removed from the buildable area of a parcel or lot without replacement if a proper permit has been filed with county planning staff. The ordinance also requires that every off-street parking area maintain a ratio of two large canopy trees for every nine parking spaces. In a unique twist, the ordinance establishes the Coweta County Landscape Bank. The bank will be used to purchase, install, and maintain trees throughout the County's public areas, including parks, green spaces, rights-of-way, and government building sites. If a property owner cannot meet the minimum point standards for landscaping for a lot under development, a fee for each tree removed but not replaced will be paid to the landscape bank. Money collected from permit fees and fines for violation of this Ordinance also will be deposited into the bank. If a developer or landscaper removes trees without obtaining a permit, he could be facing hefty fines under the ordinance. For every tree up to 12 inches removed, the developer would pay a $100 penalty, plus a $1,200 per tree mitigation fee. If the tree removed is greater than 24 inches, the penalty increases to $200 per tree and $1,800 mitigation fee. County planners are still tweaking the ordinance and it will be discussed by the County Commission later this summer.
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