RaftIslandRightofWayVegetationandTreeManagementPlan
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
formanyofourroadwayspathsandrightofwayshasbeenencroachedtothepointwherethe
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 rightofway while providing a safe and
efficientroadsystem.
RightofWayandRoadSurfaceDesignation
The roadway rightofway 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 rightofway,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 rightorway.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)SetbacksandSightDistances.Nostructureofanytype,fence,wall,hedgeorshrub
plantingmaybeplacedorpermittedtoremainclosertotheRaftIslandroadsthanis
permissibleunderthePierceCountyZoningCodeandBuildingOrdinance,norshallany
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structure,fence,wall,hedgeorshrubplantingbeplacedinsuchamannerthatit
obstructssightlinesalongroadsinamannerimpermissibleunderPierceCountyCode
requirementsregardingroadapproachdistancesandstoppingdistances.
VegetationManagement
Vegetationandtreesalongroadwayscanposeapublicnuisanceand/orposesariskto
pedestrian or vehicular safety. Managing our rightofway vegetation and trees reduce soil
erosion, stabilize roadsides, and are aesthetically pleasing without compromising vehicle
operations.
Many propertieshave vegetation,privacy hedgesorothersuch plantingsthat arewell
maintainedbutatmanydifferentdistancesfromtheroadway.Itisimportanttohavetheright
ofways along the shoulder of the roadway clear of vegetation and debris to allow the safe
passageofvehiclesinbothdirectionsandallowproperdrainage.Thiswouldincludelineofsite
ofour streetsigns,properclearanceofexistingoverheadelectricallines,cornervisibility,mail
boxesandaddresssigns.
Ifyouareconsideringlandscaping,theparticularmethod(s)chosenshouldbebasedon
a variety of factors to establish an easily maintainable, stable plant population that will not
interferewithvehiclesorpedestrians. Emphasisshouldbe givento thecontrol tacticthat will
address the vegetation problem in the most environmentally sound manner and in a way to
minimize vegetation control in the long term. The method chosen for a given vegetation
problem should attempt to achieve a long term, low maintenance vegetation management
program,minimizingitsimpactonpedestriansandvehiclepassage.
Roadwayvegetationmanagementinvolvesmechanicalmethods(handcutting,selective
trimmingandmowing).Insome casesourrightofwaydrainagehasbecomefilledwithdebris
from neglectorinappropriately dumping oftrimmingsfrom other locations.Inmany of these
casesdebrishasblockedroadwaydrainageandcontaminatedrunoff.Insomecasesmowingor
trimming cannot completely remove the problem debris requiring digging to remove the
offensivedebrisorblockage.Areaswhichinterferewithtraffic,obscuresigns,impedetheflow
of water or divert water from drainage structures are not considered maintained until the
vegetationhasbeenremovedfromthedesignatedareas.
Many property owners on Raft Island already perform regular vegetation and debris
removalfromtherightofwayshelpingintheeffortstokeepourroadwayssafeandrunofffree
ofcontaminatingdebris.Forthosewhodonotcurrentlyhelpmaintaintherightofways,these
areaswillbeincorporatedintothe
annualrightofwayvegetationmanagementorasnecessary
to maintain safe conditions of our roadways and rightofways. Successful management of
encroaching vegetation helps maintainourroadways and rightofways clear, allowing proper
drainage, runoff and open space for safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians within our
roadways.Allareasbeingmaintained willstaywellwithintherightofwaysasprovidedinthe
RaftIslandCovenants,ConditionsandRestrictions.
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TreeManagement
Trees along roadways can pose a public nuisance and/or poses a risk to pedestrian or
vehicular safety. Managing our rightofway treesreducesoil erosion, stabilize roadsides, and
areaestheticallypleasingwithoutcompromisingvehicleoperations.
Tree management, is a necessary part of providing a complete road system. The
removalofdeadorhazardoustreesandthepruningofyoungtreesareimportant.Keepingthe
rightofway clear and free of hazards allow for the safe passage of vehicles, including
emergencyvehiclesandpedestrians.
Trees should not be placed where their mature height or spread will interfere with
utilities or encroach on travel lanes. Visibility of oncoming traffic is important to the safe
travel of vehicles entering intersections. Visibility also applies to other safety features
including road way corners, signs and driveways.
Many of the Island trees have overgrown
theroadway,blockedsigns,preventedclearviewofoncomingtrafficatcornersortwovehicle
passage and due to lack of proper tree maintenance have encroached on existing overhead
power lines. Due to personnel safety, no trimming will be performed on trees within safety
zonessurroundingexistingoverheadutilitypolesorlines,unlessprovidedbytheutility.Itisthe
property owner’s responsibility for seeing that proper safety zones are maintained for their
existing utility poles and lines. For further information regarding overhead utilities please
contactyourlocalutilityprovider.
Roadway tree management will involve mechanical methods (hand cutting, selective
trimmingandremoval)anddoneinaccordancewiththeInternationalSocietyofArboriculture
guidelines, taking into account suchfactors as trees speciesand growth characteristics.Many
property owners on Raft Island perform regular pruning helping in the efforts to keep
our
roadways safe. For those who do not maintain the adjacent rightofways including the
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overheadcanopies,currentmanagementpracticeisnecessary,trimmingtreesatselectedareas
withintheroadrightofwaythathavefallenorobstructtheroadway.Thishelpsmaintainright
ofways, clearing to an open space for safe movement of vehicles within our roadways. This
wouldincludelineofsiteof
ourstreetsigns,cornervisibility,mailboxesandaddresssigns.The
placementofplantmaterialintherightofwayisofcriticalimportancebecauseofitspotential
effectondriverandpedestriansafety.
Maintainsafesightdistances.
To successfully manage the encroaching trees, pruning will be performed along all
roadway rightofways. The areas being maintained will stay well within the rightofways as
providedintheRaftIslandCovenants,ConditionsandRestrictions.
Streetrightofways shouldhave avertical clear zoneof 14feet above theroadway to
allow safe passage of vehicles including emergency vehicles. Due to the increasing volume of
treesthat needpruned throughoutRaft Islandroadways, itis notalways possiblefor theRaft
Island Managementto contacteach individualproperty owner concernedaboutthetrimming
operations.Ifyounoticebranchesfromtreesonyourpropertyoverhangingintotheclearzone
ofthe Island’srightofway, youmaywant toconsiderhaving thesetreestrimmed yourselfor
byanarboristofyourchoice,elsetheymaybetrimmedasnotedabove.
Inpartduetopoormaintenance,hazardoustrees
existwithintheRaftIsland’srightof
ways. A hazard tree is defined as a tree that has structural defects in the roots, stem, or
branches that may cause the tree or tree part to fail, where such failure may cause personal
injuryorpropertydamage(target).Adefectmaybecausedbyaninjuryordisease.Thesetrees
needtoberemovedbeforetheycausebodilyinjuryandpreventvehiclepassage.
Summary
While certainly lack of regularmaintenancehas led to some of the problems, and the
growing numbers of trees and vegetation have impacted our roads and rightof
ways, many
improvements have been made by many of the Island residences. Trees along roadways can
pose a public nuisance and/or poses a risk to pedestrian or vehicular safety. Managing our
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rightofwayvegetationandtreesreducesoilerosion,stabilizeroadsides,andareaesthetically
pleasingwithoutcompromisingvehicleoperations.
While we would all prefer it to be otherwise, the roadside is not a kind place for
vegetation or trees and, quite frankly, we are fortunate to have so many trees that
are in as
goodofaconditionastheyare.Still,wedostriveformoreandplantoseetheoverallhealthof
ourroadwaysanditsrightofwaysimproved.
GeneralGuideforVisualImpedimentstoSafeRoadUse
Raft Island Property owners and Island Management should not allow any of the
following things to exist on or in the road rightofway, including intersecting corners, that
abuts property s/he owns or occupies, or on property that abuts a road, or in the airspace
above a road, if the thing obstructs the view necessary for safe operation of
motor vehicles
upontheroad,orifitcausespotentialdangertothepublicthatusestheroad:
1.Trees;
2.Shrubs;
3.Hedges;
4.Anyvegetation;
5.Projectingoverhanginglimbsofvegetation;
6.Temporaryorpermanentstructures;
7.Fences;
8.Berms;
9.Naturalormanmadeobjects.
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AppendixI:RaftIslandPlot
Map