In New York City, tree planting is now a requirement because new building and enlargement filings must comply with zoning regulations. For every 25 feet of street frontage, 1 tree must be planted. If your lot has a frontage of 80 feet, you would divide that by 25. This calculation determines the number of trees required. In this example, you’d be required to plant three trees.
How to comply
Tree planting application is filed with the Dept. of Parks and Recreation. A Registered Design Professional (RDP) will need to generate a site plan referencing the Parks Dept. Plan Review Checklist. The Parks Dept. will review the site plan and plans filed with the Dept. of Buildings (DOB). This is to ensure the protection of existing trees. They check if tree bed sizes are correct before construction is completed. This is all part of the New York City tree planting process.
For expedited plan review, a Certified Arborist Report must be submitted with your filing. It is important to start your tree filing early in the planning stages. The DOB requires proof of filing with the Parks Dept. before issuing construction permits for New York City tree planting. You only need a receipt from the Parks Dept. stating that the plans have been submitted for review to apply for the DOB permits. However, the Parks receipt is not a permit to do tree work. After the plan exam is complete and Parks approves the plans, those are submitted to the DOB. This submission is for authorization of the Builders Pavement plans. It also proves that the location of the new tree(s) has been approved by Parks.
Do it the right way
If you need to plant a tree or trees to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the DOB, you must comply with the Planting Requirements for New Buildings. If you need to plant a tree but it is not feasible on your lot, you can pay into the Parks Tree Fund to satisfy tree planting requirements. Thus, New York City tree planting can be adapted to your situation.
If you have any questions about tree planting, give S&M Expediting a call.
