Sec. 305.303. - Standards and conditions.

(a) The provisions of subsection 656.1205 (b) notwithstanding, any live oak (Quercus virginiana) with a caliper of six inches or more located within 20 feet of the street right-of-way line on any lot, including any property upon which a single-family dwelling or a mobile home on an individual lot is located, shall be considered a private protected tree within the meaning of Chapter 656 , Part 12, Ordinance Code. Removal of any such protected tree is prohibited except as provided in subsection 656.1205 (a), Ordinance Code, as is the taking of any action which causes such protected trees to die. Any such private protected tree, as well as any public protected tree, removed or caused to die pursuant to Section 656.1205 , Ordinance Code, shall be subject to the replacement requirements of subsection 656.1206 (h), Ordinance Code, regardless of the reason for which such protected trees are removed or caused to die. (b) Prior to issuance of a permit for the removal or relocation of a protected tree as designated in subsection (a) above, the permit application shall be forwarded to the Department of Public Works Urban Forester for comment on the criteria set forth in subsection 656.1206 (f), and the District Council Member, unless such tree poses an imminent danger to the public health, welfare or safety, and requires immediate removal without delay. In such instances, verbal authorization pursuant to subsection 656.1205 (b)(5) is still required from the Chief, Building Inspection Division. (c) Newly planted trees in the street right-of-way shall be marked by stakes, unless such trees exceed four inch caliper measurement. The City and its contractors shall, when conducting mowing operations, take all reasonable precautions to preserve such plantings and trees within the right-of-way and to protect their root systems from damage by mowing equipment. (d) All pruning of trees within the street right-of-way or of trees around the power lines on private property shall comply with standards Z133.1 and A300 of the American National Standards Institute, dated July 19, 1994. (e) In the event of installation of underground utilities within the street right-of-way, the Department of Public Works Urban Forester shall be notified. The Urban Forester shall visit the site and make a recommendation as to (i) whether the proposed installation will likely cause the tree to die and (ii) recommended techniques for conducting installation operations so as to minimize damage to root systems of public or private protected trees. The District Council Member shall be advised of any recommendations made pursuant to this subsection. (f) The JEA shall operate and maintain its existing overhead power distribution lines, to the extent possible, in a manner so as to mutually protect private protected trees described in subsection (a) above or the public protected trees and the electric distribution system. In coordination with future right-of-way projects, JEA if necessary, shall install power distribution lines underground wherever feasible, unless such installation would likely cause private protected trees described in subsection (a) above or public protected trees to die. Overhead service and street lights shall be located so as to minimize the impact on trees on the right-of-way. (Ord. 2018-371-E , § 1)