guide to Street tree removal The following identifies the process of removing a public tree. City of Oregon City, Community Development Department, 221 Molalla Avenue, Suite 200, P.O. Box 3040, Oregon City, OR 97045, (503) 722.3789 www.orcity.org The first step to tree removal is to decide if the tree is located on your property or if it is located on City property. Trees located on City property (including most trees within planter strips) are street trees, which are owned by the public and require approval by the City to remove. If the tree is not a street tree, approval by the City is needed only if your property is historic, commercial, currently in land use review, and/or near a stream or slope. If you would like to remove a tree that is not a street tree or you have any questions regarding the street tree removal process, please contact the Planning Division at 503.722.3789. Step 1: Determine the Number of Replacement Tree(s) Now that you have determined the tree you would like to remove is a street tree, it is time to think about replacement. If a letter is submitted to the City from a certified arborist stating that the tree you would like to remove is dead, diseased or hazardous, the tree may be removed and replaced one for one with a single tree. or If a letter is not submitted to the City from a certified arborist determining that the tree is dead, diseased or hazardous, the tree may be removed but must be replaced with multiple trees. The number of replacement trees is based on the caliper (diameter) of the tree that you would like to remove. If you do not have enough space to plant the number of replacement trees adjacent to your property, alternative locations may be approved. Replacement Schedule for Trees Not Determined to be Dead, Diseased or Hazardous by a Certified Arborist Diameter of tree to be Removed Number of Replacement (Inches of diameter at 4-ft height) Trees to be Planted Less than 6” 1 Tree 6” to 12” 2 Trees 13” to 18” 3 Trees 19” to 24” 4 Trees 25” to 30” 5 Trees 31” and over 8 Trees or In some rare situations, an entire subdivision was planted with an inappropriate tree species, chosen by the developer. Since this time the City has adopted a street tree list of appropriate species for each planter strip width. The Community Development Director at the City may approve a one for one replacement for subdivisions planted with inappropriate tree species. or If your planter strip is two feet in width or less, the Community Development Director may approve a one for one replacement with an appropriate species designed for the planter strip width or a donation of $375 into the Oregon City Tree Bank (described in Step 3). Step 2: Determine the Species of the Replacement Tree(s) To assure the replacement tree(s) do not lift or cause damage to adjacent sidewalks, we adopted a list of appropriate tree species for each planter strip width. The replacement tree(s) must be either from: The Street Tree Planting List – A list created to assure that the tree is not fruit bearing and that the root systems do not lift nearby sidewalks. You may plant a tree species identified for your planter strip width or a narrow planter strip width. or Street Tree Removal Process An Arborist Letter – You may plant a tree species which is not listed on the Street Tree Planting List, if a letter from a certified arborist is submitted to the City specifying an alternate species that does not bear fruit and which the roots will not damage any nearby curbs, sidewalks, etc. when the tree is full grown. The replacement tree(s) must be a minimum of 1.5-inches in diameter measured 6 inches above the root crown and installed to City specifications. Step 3: Determine the Location of Replacement Trees The replacement tree(s) should be planted on the City property adjacent to your home. If there is not enough room to plant the replacement tree(s) in the public property next to your home, the City can provide you with alternative planting locations to choose from. You many want to consider installing a root barrier or planter box to limit the spreading of the roots of your new tree. In order to prevent a future problem, please assure that the tree(s) are not planted within: Fifteen feet from streetlights; Five feet from fire hydrants; or Twenty feet from intersections. Where tree replacement is dangerous or hazardous, the Community Development Director may approve a donation of $375 into the Oregon City Tree Bank rather than replanting a tree. The City will subsequently utilize the tree bank funds to purchase and plant a tree on public property. Step 4: Submit your Proposal to the City Once you know the species and location of the replacement tree(s) please submit the following to the Planning Division, located at 221 Molalla Avenue, Suite 200: - A map of your property identifying the tree to be removed; - Either: A letter from an arborist determining that the tree is dead, diseased or hazardous, or A letter identifying the diameter of the tree you would like to remove and the associated number of replacement trees; or Written approval by the Community Development Director indicating one for one replacement for an entire subdivision. - A map of the proposed location where the replacement tree(s) are to be planted. The map must also include the species and diameter of the replacement tree(s) 6-inches above the root crown. Once you submit your information to the Planning Division, a letter of approval will be sent to you at no charge. The existing tree may be removed and the replacement tree replanted after you receive an approval letter from the City. The Public Works Division at the City will locate public underground utilities at no cost by calling 503.246.6699. The City receives many calls regarding street trees and the approval letter provides surety to you and your neighbors that your plan was approved. Failure to replant the specified number of trees will result in court action. Step 5: Completing the Process Please contact the Planning Division at 503.722.3789 after the replacement tree(s) have been planted for a final inspection. After inspection you will receive a second letter indicating completion of the process and thanking you for hard work. Street Tree Removal Process Street Tree Removal Process RECOMMENDED STREET TREES FOR PLANTING IN 3' TO 4' PLANTING STRIPS HEIGHT TREE SPECIES STRUCTURE FOLIAGE FLOWERS, FRUIT, OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST SPREAD Trident Maple 25’ Oval to Round Glossy green turning Exfoliating bark, adaptable to varied Acer buergeranum 20’ yellow orange red conditions Vine Maple 25’ Upright Spreading Medium green turning Northwest native maple, open delicate Acer circinatum 10’ bright orange and red form, thrives in shade Amur Maple 20’ Upright Round Green turning yellow to Small fragrant flowers followed by winged Acer ginnala 20’ scarlet red fruit Rocky Mountain Glow Maple 25’ Oval Dark green turning Requires well drained soil bright red Acer grandidentatum 15’ Paperbark Maple 30’ Round Green w/silver under, Interesting cinnamon brown under Acer griseum 20’ bright red orange in fall exfoliating bark Crimson Sentry Norway 25’ Upright Red turning maroon to Smaller that most Norway maple cultivars Maple Acer platanoides 12’ bronze in fall Pyramidal Serviceberry 30’ Very Upright Dark green turning brilliant White flowers in spring, dark purple fruit Amelanchier canadensis pyramidalis 20’ red and orange attract birds Allegheny Serviceberry 25’ Upright and Oval Green turning orange in fall White flowers in spring, blue purple fruit Amelanchier laevis 15’ attract birds Lavelle Hawthorne 30’ Upright Dark glossy green turning White flowers, red persistent fruit Crataegus x lavelle 20’ bronze red Crimson Cloud Hawthorn 25’ Oval Glossy green Flowers are bright red with white center, Crataegus laevigata “Crimson Cloud” 18’ bright red fruit Columnar Hawthorn 30’ Tightly Upright Green turning yellow White flowers, small clusters of red fruit Crataegus monogyna “Stricta” 10’ Flowering Ash 30’ Pyramidal to Medium green turning Fragrant creamy white flowers Fraxinus ornus 25’ Round yellow Golden Desert Ash 20’ Round, Compact Green turns golden early Unusual gold colored bark Fraxinus oxycarpa aureopolia 18’ Goldenrain Tree 30’ Round, Open Green turning yellow Yellow flowers in summer, brown Koelreuteria paniculata 20’ persistent fruits, tolerant of poor conditions 3'-4' Planting Strips Page 1 of 2 RECOMMENDED STREET TREES FOR PLANTING IN 3' TO 4' PLANTING STRIPS HEIGHT TREE SPECIES STRUCTURE FOLIAGE FLOWERS, FRUIT, OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST SPREAD Newport Plum 20’ Oval to Round Purplish Red Single pink flowers Prunus cerasifera 20’ Japanese Tree Lilac 25’ Pyramidal Green White panicles and yellow brown fruit Syringa reticulata 15’ Skyrocket Oak 45’ Fastigate Dark green turning yellow Interesting oak for very narrow spaces Quercus robur “Fastigiata” 15’ brown 3'-4' Planting Strips Page 2 of 2 RECOMMENDED STREET TREES FOR PLANTING IN 4 ½' TO 5 ½' PLANTING STRIPS HEIGHT TREE SPECIES STRUCTURE FOLIAGE FLOWERS, FRUIT, OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST SPREAD Queen Elizabeth Hedge Maple 35’ Upright, Oval Dark green turning yellow Acer campestre “Queen Elizabeth” 30’ Paperbark Maple 30’ Round Green w/silver under, Interesting cinnamon brown under Acer griseum 20’ bright red orange in fall exfoliating bark Cleveland II Norway Maple 40’ Upright Medium green turning Acer platanoides “Cleveland” 25’ bright yellow Parkway Norway Maple 40’ Oval Dark green turning yellow Good central leader Acer platanoides 25’ Variegated Norway Maple 35’ Broadly Oval Light green with white Acer platanoides 25’ margins Columnar Norway Maple – Compact 35’ Fastigiate Dark green turning yellow Ascending branches, good for very narrow Acer platanoides 15’ spaces Olmsted Columnar Norway Maple 40’ Upright Dark green turning yellow Also good for narrow spaces Acer platanoides 20’ Armstrong Red Maple 45’ Fastigiate Light green turning yellow Acer rubrum “Gerling” 15’ orange red Gerling Red Maple 35’ Pyramidal Green turning orange red Acer rubrum “Gerling” 20’ Pacific Sunset Maple 30’ Upright Dark green turning orange Acer truncatum x A.