Schuylkill Township's Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) is going beyond tree appreciation and urging an ordinance to protect the trees and make it harder for property owners to cut down vegetation. 

The proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance has been discussed and presented at a number of meetings throughout the past couple months, and is designed to protect trees in the township from mass clearing. The ordinance will regulate tree removal and plan for replacement. The ordinance is currently being modified, but it includes a possible fine for homeowners who cut down trees and those who harm township trees. Special designation will be placed on trees with a diameter of ten inches or larger. The amount of trees a landowner is allowed to cut also depends on the density of the area in which they live. A tree manager would enforce the ordinance, and work through the EAC. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17657271&BRD=1673&PAG=461&dept_id=17915&rfi=6 

F. X. Browne, Inc. has designed a number of protective environmental ordinances for our clients, including tree protection ordinances, steep slopes ordinances, riparian buffer ordinances, stormwater ordinances, and others. For more information on developing ordinances or other municipal planning documents, contact info@fxbrowne.com .