Council considers resizing city tree ordinance

The big trees in North Charleston are about to get a little smaller.

City Council is considering a rework of the tree ordinance to give more protection to more trees. Any tree 8 inches or more around at the bole would have to be identified in landscaping plans submitted for approval and mitigation required for removal of the tree. The current regulation is 10 inches or more.

The size of "grand" trees, the trees that can't be cut unless inspected and permitted by the town, would be reduced to 24 inches from 25 inches; pines are exempted. The revision also includes further restrictions involving the "drip line" of trees, or the span under which rain from trees falls and other measures.

A three-tiered penalty would be put in place to keep property owners from simply cutting the trees and paying the fines, said Bill Gore, city planner: A fine of $190, a potential jail term and a required inch-for-inch replacement.

The revision was given a first reading at City Council earlier this month and sent to a council committee to be reviewed.

Commercial developer Jason Ward, of Mount Pleasant, told council the new regulations would be a burden; he hoped there would be enough flexibility in the rule to allow developers to place a building with regard to the size and shape of the property, not the trees.

Councilman Kurt Taylor said he wanted to make sure the new regulation protected trees without being too big a burden on people developing properties; he asked that copies be distributed to arborists and developers for their input.

"Eight inches might be burdensome, but it might be just what we need," he said.

Councilwoman Phoebe Miller said the city should make sure the regulations, if adopted, are distributed throughout the city.

"There are homeowners who don't have a clue," she said.

The revision would bring the city more in line with the protection given by other, nearby governments, Gore said.