§ 27-448. Champion and heritage trees.

(a)

Champion trees are those trees that have been identified by the state division of forestry as being the largest of their species within the state or by the American Forestry Association as the largest of their species in the U.S. The current list of champion trees in the city and the county which have been identified is on file in the department of planning and development.

(b)

Heritage trees. The following species are heritage trees:

(1)

Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) twenty (20) inches in diameter or greater.

(2)

Cedar (Juniperus silicicola) (Southern red cedar), J. virginiana (Eastern red cedar) twenty (20) inches in diameter or greater.

(3)

Elm (Ulmus alata) (winged elm), Ulmus american floridana (Florida elm) thirty (30) inches in diameter or greater.

(4)

Heritage oaks (Quercus alba (white oak), Q. austrina (bluff oak), Q. geminata (sand live oak), Q. prinus (swamp chestnut or basket oak), Q. virginiana (live oak)) thirty (30) inches in diameter or greater.

(5)

Hickory (Carya illinoensis) (pecan), C. tomentosa (mockernut), C. glabra (pignut hickory) thirty (30) inches in diameter or greater.

(6)

Loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus) twenty (20) inches in diameter or greater.

(7)

Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) (Southern magnolia), Magnolia virginiana (sweetbay magnolia) twenty (20) inches in diameter or greater.

(8)

Maples (Acer rubrum) (red maple), A. barbatum (Florida maple) twenty (20) inches in diameter or greater.

(9)

Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) thirty (30) inches in diameter or greater.

(10)

White ash (Fraxinus americana) thirty (30) inches in diameter or greater.

(c)

Champion and heritage trees shall be considered regulated trees in all areas of the city, and their removal shall be strongly discouraged.

(d)

Any permission given for the removal of any heritage or champion tree that is healthy and that is not causing structural damage, whether this permission is through an approved development plan or through the issuance of an arbor permit, will require replacement on an inch-for-inch basis, measured per specifications of section 27-445. Trees may be planted on-site or off-site, or given to the city for planting on public property.

(e)

The removal, relocation or replacement of any champion or heritage trees shall be by community development board approval. The city council will approve the removal, relocation or replacement of any heritage or champion tree when such removal, relocation or replacement is proposed as part of the subdivision approval process.

(Ord. No. 2004-10, § 1, 10-4-04; Ord. No. 2006-02, § 3, 3-6-06; Ord. No. 2010-14, § 42, 9-7-10)