RaftIslandRight‐of‐WayVegetationandTreeManagementPlan
October13,2010
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Introduction
With the advent of underground utilities executed on the Island some 10 years ago,
cessation of power line right of way clearing and maintenance created a general lack of
maintenance for our roadway’s vegetation and treegrowth. Since that time,the right of way
formanyofourroadwayspathsandright‐of‐wayshasbeenencroachedtothepointwherethe
usable roadway allows only single car access or prevents the use of some of our designated
pathways. Driving, jogging, and strolling on our roadways has become difficult and in many
areasclearlyunsafeorimpossible duetotheencroachingvegetationand treegrowth.Drivers
not familiar with the island turns and roadway intersections many times get lost due to
obscured street signs or overgrown roadways. It is apparent that regular right of way
vegetationandtreeclearingnecessarytopreventaccidentsorlossoflifeduetopoorvisibilities
needstobemanaged.Inmanyareas,designatedpathshaveovergrowntosuchanextentthat
they are not known to many. Recently, poorly maintained vegetation and trees have
encroachedorfallenonourroadways,preventingpassageofanyvehicle,creatingpotentiallife
threatening situations should emergency vehicle traffic need to pass or falling on the
unsuspectingpassersby.
The goal of the roadway vegetation and tree management plan is to preserve the
natural beauty and environmental integrity of our right‐of‐way while providing a safe and
efficientroadsystem.
Right‐of‐WayandRoadSurfaceDesignation
The roadway right‐of‐way width varies from location to location sometime by tens of
feet. Ingeneral, for ourentire road system,the treesand vegetation within afew feet ofthe
roadway arelocated withinthe right‐of‐way,need to betrimmed back toallow safe passage.
The road system on Raft Island is clearly outlined on the Raft Island Plot map as shown in
AppendixI.
Over the years the environment, vehicle use, construction and landscaping projects
havealteredtheoriginalwidthofourroads.Roaddrainagehasfilledwithdebrisandvegetative
growth encroached onto the roadway in many
cases preventing clear delineation of the road
way, itsshoulders and right‐or‐way.Where roadsurface and shouldersare not clearlyvisible,
areaswillbe delineatedwithin reasonablelimitsfromwhere theroad andshoulder areas are
clearlyvisible.
FromRaftIsland’sCOVENANTS,CONDITIONS,ANDRESTRICTIONS:
ARTICLEV:Maintenance
andUtilityEasements
(b)
RenovationandrepairofthewalkwayeasementslocatedalongthefollowingLots:
Lots18,20,22,and24;Lots60,62,64,and66;andLots94,96,98,and100
ARTICLEVI:ProtectiveCovenants
(d)Set‐backsandSightDistances.Nostructureofanytype,fence,wall,hedgeorshrub
plantingmaybeplacedorpermittedtoremainclosertotheRaftIslandroadsthanis
permissibleunderthePierceCountyZoningCodeandBuildingOrdinance,norshallany