Upper Saucon alters tree removal restrictions

UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. -

The Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors Monday eveningunanimously passedthree ordinances regulating tree removals, soliciting and peddling, andthe speed limit on Curly Horse Drive in the township.

According to township solicitor Thomas Dinkelacker, the amendment to the currentUpper Saucontree cutting ordinance allows every Upper Saucon resident to cut downthree healthy trees on their property per year without a permitin place ofthe current one-tree limit requiring no permit.

In addition, the new ordinance specifies if a residential lot is larger than two acres, a property owner is permitted to cut down one additional tree per each additional two acres of land or "a fraction thereof," not to exceed a maximum of seven additional trees per lot.

The ordinance explains, for example in a single calendar year, a landowner with a two-acre lot may remove up to four trees with a permit.

For a resident owning more than two but less than four acres up to five trees may be cut down with a permit.

However, the tree limit ordinance does not apply to dead, diseased, hazardous, or smaller trees with a trunk diameter of less than six inches. Residents can remove "unlimited" problem and smaller trees, Dinkelacker remarked.

To note, owners of propertydesignated as part of the South Mountain conservation district are permitted without obtaining a zoning permit, to remove one treeper year and no moreon such classified land.

After considerable discussion, the supervisorsagreed to monitor the effectiveness and practicality of the new tree removalordinance , and amendit as necessary in the future.

In other business, the board passed an ordinance regulating sales and solicitations on the streets and at the doorsteps of township residents.

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Upper Saucon alters tree removal restrictions