§ 60.210. Specimen or Historic Trees.

The Parks Official shall be authorized to officially designate certain protected trees as Specimen or Historic Trees, based on their size, age, historic association, species or unique characteristics. Trees so designated within the City jurisdiction shall be protected without regard to their location.

(a)

Specimen Trees. Specimen Trees are trees that have been identified by the Parks Official as being of outstanding mature size, excellent form, and a healthy example of the species. Specimen trees shall include Champion Trees identified by the Florida Division of Forestry and/or American Forests.

(b)

Historic Trees. Historic Trees shall be described as any healthy tree with a trunk caliper of 30" dbh or more.

(c)

Designation. Official designation as either a Specimen or Historic Tree shall require a site visit, tree evaluation, and a letter of evaluation and recommendation filed in the City of Orlando Tree Inventory. Designation as a Specimen or Historic Tree may occur in any of the following ways:

1.

A property owner may request such designation at any time. To do so, the property owner shall submit an expert evaluation by a landscape architect, horticulturalist, urban forester, arborist, historian or other horticultural expert.

2.

The Parks Official may make such designation as part of his or her review of any application for development under this Chapter, stating in writing the reasons for such designation. The applicant may appeal such designation to the appropriate reviewing authority(s) for the application in question.

3.

The Parks Official may make such designation as part of an overall tree protection program for the City. Such designation shall be subject to approval by resolution of the City Council.

(d)

Protection. The Parks Official may impose requirements for the protection of Specimen and Historic Trees.

(e)

Removal and Encroachment. The removal of or encroachment on any designated Specimen or Historic Tree is prohibited unless authorized under a valid tree removal or tree encroachment permit.

(Ord. No. 2013-74, § 1, 12-9-2013, Doc. #1312091207)