Section 13. Protection of Municipal Trees.
All public trees shall be protected during construction.
1. All trees on any street or other publicly owned property near any excavation or construction of any building, structure, or street work, shall be guarded with a good substantial fence, frame, or box. The "Construction Tree Guard" shall be not less than four (4) feet high and eight (8) feet square, or at a distance in feet from the tree trunk equal to the diameter of the trunk at breast height (D.B. H.) in inches, which ever is greater. All building material, dirt, or other debris shall be kept outside the Construction Tree Guard.
2. No person shall change natural drainange, excavate any ditches, tunnels, trenches, or lay any drive within a radius of ten (10) feet from any public tree without first obtaining a written permit from the City Arborist.
http://www.greenlaws.lsu.edu/modeltree.htm#ordinanceoutline
Saturday, March 26, 2011
History of Parish Landscape Regulations
From City-Parish Planning Commission "Information Bulletin" Number 7 (March 2010):
A Guide to Parish Landscape Regulations
Hundreds of communities across the country have adopted landscape ordinances, or “green laws,” which enhance the environment and improve the quality of life. East Baton Rouge Parish joined these progressive ranks in 1994 with adoption of landscape regulations and minimum landscape requirements. The regulations, included in the Unified Development Code (UDC), are consistent with objectives stated in the Horizon Plan -- the comprehensive land use and development plan approved by the citizens of the Parish as the guide to the future. The Horizon Plan calls for the adoption of a green law “to preserve both natural and planted vegetation, to enhance the natural and man-made landscape character.” Besides the obvious aesthetic benefits, landscape regulations help maintain air and water quality, control erosion and drainage, and preserve sensitive environmental areas. Ordinance 12692, known as the “Landscape Ordinance,” was adopted by the Metropolitan Council on July 16, 2003. The ordinance has been incorporated into the UDC as Chapter 18, "Landscape, Clearing and Trees."
http://ci.baton-rouge.la.us/dept/planning/pdf/bulletins/bull07.pdf
City-Parish Planning Commission
1755 Florida Street, Third Floor
P.O. Box 1471
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Telephone: (225) 389-3144 Fax: (225) 389-5342
email: planning@brgov.com
web page: http://www.brgov.com/dept/planning/http://ci.baton-rouge.la.us/dept/planning/pdf/bulletins/bull07.pdf
Job Descriptions for DPW Landscape Architect and DPW Urban Forestry & Landscape Manager
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
LOCATION OF WORK
Department of Public Works
ESSENTIAL WORK TASKS
Designs and reviews proposed project plans; estimates implementation cost. Inspects construction work in progress to ensure compliance with landscape specifications, approves quality of materials and work, and advises construction personnel. Represents the Department of Public Works at interagency and public meetings on matters involving landscape design and environmental design. Assists in the review of landscape ordinance plans for Planning Commission and building permit purposes. Attends meetings of and performs support activities for the East Baton Rouge Tree and Landscape Commission. Reviews the work of lower level employees and/or consultants to ensure accuracy and compliance with proposal objectives.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture or educational equivalent, supplemented by one year experience in landscape architecture.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
http://ci.baton-rouge.la.us/dept/HR/jobdesc.asp?GetTitle=LANDSCAPE%20ARCHITECT
URBAN FORESTRY AND LANDSCAPE MANAGER
LOCATION OF WORK
Department of Public Works
ESSENTIAL WORK TASKS
Directs the Urban Forestry and Landscape operations. Develops an orderly process for identifying public tree and landscape needs, including maintenance, removal, planting, replacement, and inventorying existing tree resources. Identifies problems such as damaged, diseased, and stressed trees; formulates corrective measures to address such problems. Assists architects, landscape architects, developers, builders, contractors and the general public in preventing damage to trees and other natural resources during construction. Directs and manages the East Baton Rouge Adopt-A-Spot program and coordinates the permitting of planting projects on public property. Attends all meetings of the City-Parish Tree Commission as a nonvoting ex-officio member; attends all meetings of the City-Parish Beautification Commission as a nonvoting ex-officio member; attends meetings of the Metropolitan Council and Planning Commission, as necessary, to participate in issues involving arboriculture, beautification and natural resources management. Provides public education and coordinates special projects such as Arbor Day ceremonies, awards programs, cleanup events, festivals and other events as required. Works with local officials, beautification groups, other organizations or individuals interested in community pride and environmental responsibility. Develops and proposes policy and procedures for City-Parish tree workers.
CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES
Attainment of a Louisiana State Landscape Architect's license and/or a Louisiana State Arborist's license, and attainment of a Louisiana Pesticide-Herbicide license at the time of appointment.
http://brgov.com/dept/HR/jobdesc.asp?GetTitle=URBAN%20FORESTRY%20AND%20LANDSCAPE%20MANAGER
LOCATION OF WORK
Department of Public Works
ESSENTIAL WORK TASKS
Designs and reviews proposed project plans; estimates implementation cost. Inspects construction work in progress to ensure compliance with landscape specifications, approves quality of materials and work, and advises construction personnel. Represents the Department of Public Works at interagency and public meetings on matters involving landscape design and environmental design. Assists in the review of landscape ordinance plans for Planning Commission and building permit purposes. Attends meetings of and performs support activities for the East Baton Rouge Tree and Landscape Commission. Reviews the work of lower level employees and/or consultants to ensure accuracy and compliance with proposal objectives.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture or educational equivalent, supplemented by one year experience in landscape architecture.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
http://ci.baton-rouge.la.us/dept/HR/jobdesc.asp?GetTitle=LANDSCAPE%20ARCHITECT
URBAN FORESTRY AND LANDSCAPE MANAGER
LOCATION OF WORK
Department of Public Works
ESSENTIAL WORK TASKS
Directs the Urban Forestry and Landscape operations. Develops an orderly process for identifying public tree and landscape needs, including maintenance, removal, planting, replacement, and inventorying existing tree resources. Identifies problems such as damaged, diseased, and stressed trees; formulates corrective measures to address such problems. Assists architects, landscape architects, developers, builders, contractors and the general public in preventing damage to trees and other natural resources during construction. Directs and manages the East Baton Rouge Adopt-A-Spot program and coordinates the permitting of planting projects on public property. Attends all meetings of the City-Parish Tree Commission as a nonvoting ex-officio member; attends all meetings of the City-Parish Beautification Commission as a nonvoting ex-officio member; attends meetings of the Metropolitan Council and Planning Commission, as necessary, to participate in issues involving arboriculture, beautification and natural resources management. Provides public education and coordinates special projects such as Arbor Day ceremonies, awards programs, cleanup events, festivals and other events as required. Works with local officials, beautification groups, other organizations or individuals interested in community pride and environmental responsibility. Develops and proposes policy and procedures for City-Parish tree workers.
CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES
Attainment of a Louisiana State Landscape Architect's license and/or a Louisiana State Arborist's license, and attainment of a Louisiana Pesticide-Herbicide license at the time of appointment.
http://brgov.com/dept/HR/jobdesc.asp?GetTitle=URBAN%20FORESTRY%20AND%20LANDSCAPE%20MANAGER
Ask Baton Rouge Green to Protect Staring Lane Live Oaks under their Green Light Beautification Program
Baton Rouge Green is a non-profit organization dedicated to the enhancement of our urban forest by inspiring the residents of the greater Baton Rouge area to conserve, plant and sustain our community’s trees.
Founded in 1987, Baton Rouge Green’s goals have been to help Baton Rouge area citizens better understand, preserve, plant & maintain trees & forests as an important community resource. During its 22 years, BRG has accomplished the following with the vigilant support of over 300 members and scores of dedicated volunteers:
Founded in 1987, Baton Rouge Green’s goals have been to help Baton Rouge area citizens better understand, preserve, plant & maintain trees & forests as an important community resource. During its 22 years, BRG has accomplished the following with the vigilant support of over 300 members and scores of dedicated volunteers:
- Helped develop Baton Rouge’s first landscape & tree ordinance in 1991. Click here to view the current Landscape Ordinance
- Kept citizens informed about opportunities for continual improvement of the ordinance through representation on the EBR Tree & Landscape Commission.
- Partners with the Mayor's office and the Department of Public Works in the management of the Green Light Landscape Program
Facts About the Green Light Beautification Program
- East Baton Rouge Parish voters extended a half-cent sales tax through 2030 to fund The Green Light Plan
- Baton Rouge Green provides professional management services to assist the City-Parish in project management of The Green Light Beautification Program
Baton Rouge Green's "Living Roadway Program" http://roadways.batonrougegreen.com/
Currently 61 signs at 23 locations. Map shows details of each site including sponsors, sponsorship availabilities, tree counts, traffic counts. If interested in becoming a site sponsor, call (225) 381-0037. Current sponsors http://stage.redstick.com/content_brgreen/content.cfm?id=55
Interestingly, "Program Friends" include DOTD.
DPW States Protection of Registered Live Oaks is Responsibility of Property Owner
From: William Daniel [mailto:WDaniel@brgov.com]
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 8:29 AM
To: rallen@theadvocate.com
Cc: John Carpenter; John Snow (jsnow@consultssa.com); Songy, Michael; CPL70600@aol.com; Steve Shurtz
Subject: FW: Please call Friday
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 8:29 AM
To: rallen@theadvocate.com
Cc: John Carpenter; John Snow (jsnow@consultssa.com); Songy, Michael; CPL70600@aol.com; Steve Shurtz
Subject: FW: Please call Friday
Rebekah,
I wanted to elaborate on few items. As I said, we make every effort to spare valuable trees on every Green Light project. We completely moved the Lobdell project alignment to spare 12-15 nice live oaks. However, Staring Lane was too tight to provide the programmed road improvements in the limited space available without affecting some trees.
There are no areas in EBR parish with any tree protection. We have various means of identifying trees, and we do attempt to preserve as many as possible. However, no property owner is ever required to protect any tree, with the exception of the almost nonexistent case of a tree on the National Register. No ordinance has ever been passed by the council to protect a tree, and I'm fairly certain it would conflict with private property laws. Not even historic trees recognized by the City-Parish are protected. We do have a number of “special” planning overlay districts with some language that stresses the importance of existing trees. Many require developers to inventory or catalog the existing native trees on their sites, but none carry any mandatory tree preservation components. Tree preservation is entirely voluntary. Even on DOTD projects, tree protection is based upon inspection and cost/benefit analysis and is not mandatory.
In summary, there is no local ordinance or state law protecting any tree on private property anywhere in EBR Parish. There are policies which strive to protect them, but ultimately protection is up to the owner of the tree.
If you have any additional questions, please let me know.
William Daniel
From: Allen, Rebekah [mailto:rallen@theadvocate.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 05:29 PM
To: William Daniel
Subject: Please call Friday
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 05:29 PM
To: William Daniel
Subject: Please call Friday
Hi William,
Sorry to keep bugging you on this, I know you referred me to Michael Songy and John Snow, but they have stopped responding to me. I want to know how common it is for oak trees to be removed in the Green Light Project. And I also want to know about how districts get protection. I understand that the Staring Lane area does not have any protections for the Oaks, but there are some districts that do. What are these districts and how did they get these protections? My deadline is Friday, please respond at your earliest convenience. Thanks.
THE ADVOCATE | |
Rebekah Allen | |
Reporter | |
Tel: (225) 388-0099 | |
Cell: (225) 229-8766 | |
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Thursday, March 24, 2011
Live Oaks Treasured in Garden District, Why Not on Staring Lane?
Excerpts from Advocate article dated January 17th, 2007: "Tree City Marks Arbor Day Events - People Learn How to Care for Live Oaks":
Steve Shurtz, city-parish landscape and forestry manager, gives a public seminar Saturday at BREC’s City Park Gallery on live oak care.
Suzanne Schexnayder moved into Baton Rouge’s Garden District about 13 years ago. Now, she’s helping lead an effort to protect the live oak trees for which the 80-year-old neighborhood is known. “I tell people, ‘I want you to get emotionally involved with your trees,’” Schexnayder said to a group of about 10 gathered in The Gallery at City Park Saturday morning for a seminar on live oaks. The seminar was sponsored by the East Baton Rouge Tree and Landscape Commission as an Arbor Day event.
“Live oaks are a signature tree in Baton Rouge,” Davis [Peggy Davis, member of EBR Tree & Landscape Commission] said. “Live Oak TLC” was the topic of the talk by Steve Shurtz, city-parish manager of landscape and forestry.
Schexnayder talked about efforts underway in the Garden District neighborhood association to protect the district’s trees through a program that includes tree adoption. Eventually, she said, district members hope to establish a trust for care of the trees. “I have no background in anything green,” she said. A Vermilion Parish native, Schexnayder lived in Tallahassee, Fla., in the 1960s where already there were ordinances enacted to protect the city’s trees. “That impressed me,” she said. The other thing that impressed her was the attachment people had toward trees in the Garden District. The neighborhood was built in the 1920s and the live oaks that grace the area aren’t there by accident. “There was a foresighted contractor who planted them. Now, almost 100 years later, we have these huge, old trees,” she said. Since the association started its tree adoption program two months ago, already 61 have been adopted. “We haven’t had to twist anybody’s arm,” Schexnayder said.
Steve Shurtz, city-parish landscape and forestry manager, gives a public seminar Saturday at BREC’s City Park Gallery on live oak care.
Suzanne Schexnayder moved into Baton Rouge’s Garden District about 13 years ago. Now, she’s helping lead an effort to protect the live oak trees for which the 80-year-old neighborhood is known. “I tell people, ‘I want you to get emotionally involved with your trees,’” Schexnayder said to a group of about 10 gathered in The Gallery at City Park Saturday morning for a seminar on live oaks. The seminar was sponsored by the East Baton Rouge Tree and Landscape Commission as an Arbor Day event.
“Live oaks are a signature tree in Baton Rouge,” Davis [Peggy Davis, member of EBR Tree & Landscape Commission] said. “Live Oak TLC” was the topic of the talk by Steve Shurtz, city-parish manager of landscape and forestry.
Schexnayder talked about efforts underway in the Garden District neighborhood association to protect the district’s trees through a program that includes tree adoption. Eventually, she said, district members hope to establish a trust for care of the trees. “I have no background in anything green,” she said. A Vermilion Parish native, Schexnayder lived in Tallahassee, Fla., in the 1960s where already there were ordinances enacted to protect the city’s trees. “That impressed me,” she said. The other thing that impressed her was the attachment people had toward trees in the Garden District. The neighborhood was built in the 1920s and the live oaks that grace the area aren’t there by accident. “There was a foresighted contractor who planted them. Now, almost 100 years later, we have these huge, old trees,” she said. Since the association started its tree adoption program two months ago, already 61 have been adopted. “We haven’t had to twist anybody’s arm,” Schexnayder said.
DPW Survey of Registered Live Oaks on Staring Lane Performed 3/24/11
From: William Daniel [mailto:WDaniel@brgov.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 4:34 PM
Subject: RE: RSVP: Are any of the eleven registered live oaks to be spared?
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 4:34 PM
Subject: RE: RSVP: Are any of the eleven registered live oaks to be spared?
I am attaching a survey of the 11 trees I had Mr. Shurtz do this morning. I think his comments are self explanatory, but if you have any questions, please let me know. I can also tell you that we worked to adjust the route to spare other trees and also raised the electric lines in the area 20 feet ( 30 feet to 50 feet) to help the trees.
I apologize for the delay in responding, but I wanted to have accurate information prior to contacting you.
William Daniel
William Daniel
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