Coweta County's

residents got a first glance this week at a proposed new landscape ordinance

that will help toughen requirements for future developments.

The county

already has a landscape ordinance in place, but Commissioner Leigh Schlumper

asked the county staff to take another look at the ordinance, because

she was concerned at the lack of some landscaping at new developments.

The revised

ordinance devotes a lot of attention to preserving existing trees. The

ordinance would prohibit the removal of specimen trees, which have a diameter

of 30 inches, from any area of any parcel or lot without a removal permit,

regardless of the number of said trees. The ordinance indicates that if

any specimen tree is removed from a planting area it must be replaced

on an inch-by-inch basis.

For example,

10 three inch caliper trees must be planted for every 30 inch tree removed.

Specimen trees may be removed from the buildable area of a parcel or lot

without replacement if a proper permit has been filed with county planning

staff.

The ordinance

also requires that every off-street parking area maintain a ratio of two

large canopy trees for every nine parking spaces.

In a unique

twist, the ordinance establishes the Coweta County Landscape Bank. The

bank will be used to purchase, install, and maintain trees throughout

the County's public areas, including parks, green spaces, rights-of-way,

and government building sites.

If a property

owner cannot meet the minimum point standards for landscaping for a lot

under development, a

fee for each

tree removed but not replaced will be paid to the landscape bank. Money

collected from permit fees and fines for violation of this Ordinance also

will be deposited into the bank.

If a developer

or landscaper removes trees without obtaining a permit, he could be facing

hefty fines under the ordinance.

For every tree

up to 12 inches removed, the developer would pay a $100 penalty, plus

a $1,200 per tree mitigation fee.

If the tree

removed is greater than 24 inches, the penalty increases to $200 per tree

and $1,800 mitigation fee.

County planners

are still tweaking the ordinance and it will be discussed by the County

Commission later this summer.