How does the Town’s tree ordinance relate to gas well drilling?
The Town’s tree ordinance allows the owner of any property zoned agricultural to remove up to 19 protected trees annually. There is an administrative tree removal permit required, which generally takes one week for review. A tree removal request on agriculturally zoned property does not go to a board and does not require a Town Council vote. The agricultural tree removal permit differs from the other types of tree removal permits discussed in the tree ordinance in several ways. First, this permit does not have to be associated with any type of development. Second, the only criteria necessary for approval are that the property be zoned agricultural and that the trees be protected and not specimen. The tree ordinance does not require the property owner to give any other reasons for requesting the agricultural tree removal permit. Staff verifies that all trees requested for removal are protected trees, not specimen, as referenced in the ordinance. The criteria for tree removal in a platte
