TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE Town of Oak Island

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND In 2015 the Town of Oak Island applied for an Urban and Community Forestry Grant from the NC Forest Service. In early 2016 the town was awarded the grant As of March 2016 all the paperwork and contracts with the NC-Forest Service and the arborist are finalized.

PURPOSE & GOAL Objective is simple and clear, the town wishes to have a Tree Protection Ordinance designed to preserve, manage and maintain the valuable resource of our trees in the Oak Island jurisdictional limits. The goal of the proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance is to have it enhance the benefits and sustainable management of Oak Island’s urban trees.

TREE SURVEY

TIMELINE AND SCHEDULE April Public Outreach Session April to May – Research and drafting proposed Tree Protection Ordinance June to July – Adoption Process ____ close out contract Note: schedule is flexible and is subject to change.

BENEFITS Once implemented the newly adopted tree ordinance will be permanent; meaning the grantor will receive a significant return on investment for many years to come. economic, aesthetic, and environmental value to the community as a whole.

EXISTING CONDITIONS In the recent past, the town has incorporated a substantial amount of land that is located on the mainland side of Brunswick County. The newly annexed area is geographically larger in acreage than the island itself, which is already substantial in size. Most of this land is undeveloped and some portions are environmentally sensitive, making it more important to protect the trees in the soon to be developed mainland tracts. The island portion of the town is projected to approach full build- out of the Island in the next few years, making the need to preserve the oaks and other tree species even more critical.

Other Mainland vs island side conditions or regulations natural area protection, watershed protection, tree protection during development, buffer requirements, and building restrictions The Tree Preservation Ordinance will be discussed at the regular Planning Board meetings as well as the monthly Environmental Advisory Board meetings. Once implemented the newly adopted tree ordinance will be permanent; meaning the grantor will receive a significant return on investment for many years to come.

ADOPTION PROCESS Oak Island is currently at the beginning phase of updating our Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The timing to incorporate a Tree Protection Ordinance could not be more advantageous. The Tree City USA board as well as the Environmental Advisory Board will be provided the draft product for review and input. The Planning Board will review the revised draft and make a recommendation to Council. Council will review and potentially adopt. The new ordinance language will be incorporated into the new UDO.

EXISTING REGULATIONS The current ordinance is written to require a specified amount of trees to be maintained during the development phase but afterwards the trees can be demolished and there are no retention requirements/regulations. 1450/Total lot size rule Hearth and diameter marking rule

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

ISSUES TO ADDRESS

QUESTIONS Jake Vares, CZO Senior Planner Town of Oak Island (910) Connie Head Arborist _________________