RESOLUTION NO. 137
ESTABLISHING A TREE PRESERVATION POLICY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ALBANY COUNTY OWNED PARCELS
Introduced: 04/11/22
By Messrs. Reinhardt, Perlee, Mss. Lekakis, Plotsky, Mr. Grimm, Ms. Lockart, Messrs. Cleary and Peter:
WHEREAS, Trees play an essential role in the survival of our planet by sequestering carbon in the atmosphere and at the same time also serve a variety of other beneficial functions, including - among many others - mitigating temperature fluctuation, preventing soil erosion, and providing buffer areas between developed parcels and undisturbed areas, and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Policy to require a tree inventory where there is a proposal to cut and/or remove one half acre or more of non-invasive trees greater than four inches in diameter on any parcel owned by Albany County, and to require replacement of such trees by means of either planting a tree sapling or placing replacement funds into an account created for the purpose of furthering permanent carbon sequestration within the County, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature, that it shall be the Policy of Albany County that:
Where there is a proposal to cut and/or remove more than one-half of an acre of non-invasive trees of four inches or greater in diameter on any Albany County owned parcel as part of a single project, cutting and/or removal of such trees is prohibited until the following conditions have been met:
(a) the County shall prepare or cause to be prepared an inventory of trees to be cut and/or removed which indicates the species and diameter of all non-invasive trees (as invasive trees are designated by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) four inches or greater in diameter; and
(b) the County Executive shall cause the planting of a non-invasive tree sapling as a replacement on a parcel owned by Albany County, or alternatively, shall place an amount equal to two time...
Click here for full text