University Heights committee finalizes major edits to proposed tree ordinance, exempts single‑family homes

A joint meeting of the University Heights City Council's Building & Housing and Service & Utilities committees on Thursday completed a detailed review of a proposed rewrite of Chapter 10.72, the city's tree ordinance, and approved a motion to exempt single‑family residences from a one‑acre construction‑site replacement rule.

The action came after committee members and city staff worked through definitions, commission membership, replacement rules and enforcement options in the draft. Councilwoman Sherry Sachs, chair of the Service & Utilities committee, opened the meeting by noting the session would pick up where the prior meeting left off: finishing the tree ordinance and beginning weeds ("This is a joint building and housing and service and utilities committee," Councilwoman Sherry Sachs). The committee reviewed multiple code sections cited in the draft, including 10.72.01 (definitions) through 10.72.99 (penalty clause).

Why it matters: the draft would change who can issue citations and who can order removal of hazardous trees, set how developers or property owners must mitigate removed trees, and create administrative tools for collecting unpaid mitigation fees.

The committee approved, by voice vote, a motion to exempt single‑family residential properties from the…