17.05.050 Plants and animals.
The city presently has an ordinance which regulates clearing, Ordinance No. 1035, codified in Chapter 21.08 LMC. It requires a permit for clearing, and criteria to be used in evaluating permits, but does not explicitly require that trees be preserved. It is the policy of the city that:
A. Clearing permits and other administrative actions may be conditioned or denied in the case of absolute, unselective clearing which is not for immediate development or any of the exempted actions stated in LMC 21.08.060, or otherwise condoned or required in the interests of health, safety and welfare.
B. Unnecessary disruption to the landscape is to be avoided. Vegetation must not be cleared until shortly before construction begins.
C. The city shall discourage clearing of vegetation and removal of groundcover which maintains slope stability, reduces erosion, shades shorelines, and provides aquatic habitat.
D. The city shall identify all areas of biological significance. Such areas shall be classified as environmentally sensitive areas. Mitigative measures shall be required of developments, which could cause irreversible damage to such areas. (Ord. 1416 § 2, 1984)