HB279.html

To amend Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding public property, so as to require that the state, when engaging in certain development activities, must provide for landscape plans to retain or replace trees on the development site; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding public property, is amended by adding at the end a new Code section to read as follows:
"50-16-19.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'development activity' means the construction of a structure having an area occupied and defined by the exterior of such structure of at least 1,000 square feet or of a parking lot, other than roadway, street, or bridge construction.
(b) Any project for development activity by the state on or after December 31, 2001, shall be designed in such a manner so as to minimize the loss or destruction of trees on the site of such construction and shall include a landscape plan providing, to the greatest extent practicable, for the retention of trees located on the site, for the replacement of trees lost with trees indigenous to the region, and for the planting of new indigenous trees."