From the Town web site:
A public information session about tree protection and updating the
Tree Protection Ordinance will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan.
19, at Chapel Hill Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The
ordinance revision is linked to a Town-wide commitment to
sustainability with the potential to reduce carbon emissions and
decrease the urban “heat-island” effect. The proposed update to the ordinance would establish a new vision
statement that calls for a balanced approach to protecting Chapel
Hill’s trees without overregulation of residential properties and
property owners. Draft language proposes a permitting process for tree
removal on private property, including some residential lots. The process for changing the ordinance is as follows. After the
public information sessions (and earlier session was held on Oct. 26,
2009), Town staff will provide options to the Planning Board and Town
Council for review. The Planning Board’s recommendation will be
provided to the Town Council on Feb. 22, when a public hearing is
scheduled for additional public comment. If you are unable to attend the public information meeting, please submit comments to treeprotection@townofchapelhill.org.
These comments will receive the same consideration as those from the
public session. For more information, call 919-968-2728 or visit www.townofchapelhill.org/trees
where all materials including the draft update to the ordinance,
information presentations including a Frequently Asked Questions guide,
and public comments are posted.