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PTC eyes $25 fee to permit residents to trim their own trees

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Peachtree City residents would be able to remove up to five trees per year without paying a $25 permit fee, if they’re doing the work on their own and the trees’ diameters added together total no more than 30 caliper inches in size, according to the latest proposed version of the city’s tree preservation ordinance.

More than that, and a new $25 permit fee will be required, according to the latest proposed tree preservation ordinance, which will be considered by the City Council at its regular meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

The ordinance will not limit how many or what type of trees a resident can remove, said City Planner David Rast.

Although tree removal permits are currently free, the $25 fee would help compensate the city for the staff time involved in the tree removal permit process, which includes an on-site visit by a code enforcement officer, Rast said.

“We still will allow people to take down the trees they want to take down,” Rast said.

A requirement for all tree pruning to be performed by tree professionals has been eliminated from the previous version of the ordinance.

The idea behind the ordinance change is so the city can keep better track of the private companies providing tree services in the area, Rast said. Several unscrupulous companies have caused problems in the past by failing to remove limbs and other debris while hauling away valuable timber, and by removing trees that have fallen on homes without proper insurance, Rast said.

So far this year, the city has approved permits for the removal of 4,818 trees, up from 3,281 in 2000, according to city figures.

The latest version of the ordinance sets a $50 fine for anyone who removes trees on their property without a city permit. It also requires all tree removal contractors to be licensed, bonded and insured and keep a current occupational tax certificate with the city. Safety standards for tree contractors are also outlined in the ordinance.

Currently, the city requires a tree removal permit for the removal of any vegetation on residential lots, Rast said. The new ordinance would eliminate the need for a permit when clearing trees under three caliper inches in size or any underbrush or vines, Rast noted.

The original proposed ordinance required the $25 permit fee to be assessed regardless of the number of trees that would be cut down. Under the latest proposal, that fee will be waived for homeowners wanting to remove up to five trees with a total size of no more than 30 caliper inches.

The fee waiver will not be allowed if a private company is removing the trees, the ordinance states.