HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-0108 Tree MINUTES
ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION
MINUTES
January 8, 2009
CALL TO ORDER –Chair John Rinaldi called the Ashland Tree Commission meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. on January 8, 2009 in the Siskiyou
Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR.
Commissioners Present
Council Liaison
Laurie Sager
Kate Jackson
John
Rinaldi Jr.
Zane Jones
Staff Present
Bobby Townsend
Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner
Anne Rich, Parks Department, Absent
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 6, 2008
Tree Commission Minutes – Jones/Sager m/s to approve the minutes of November 6, 2008. Voice vote: all AYES, Motion passed. The minutes of October 9, 2008 were approved as presented.
November 21, 2008 Recommended Street Tree Guide special meeting minutes – Sager/Jones m/s to approve the minutes of November 21, 2008. Voice vote: all a yes, motion passed. The minutes
of November 21, 2008 were approved as presented.
PUBLIC FORUM
Commissioner Rinaldi welcomed the new City Council liaison Kate Jackson and newly appointed Commissioner Bobby Townsend.
TYPE
I REVIEW:
PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01953
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 260 N Laurel
APPLICANT: Nathan Sanford
DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove one eight-inch in diameter
at breast height fruitless mulberry tree. This site has a standing Site Review approval for the construction of two condominium units and the tree removal is necessary to facilitate
that development.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Multi-Family Residential; ZONING: R-3; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 04CC TAX LOT #: 502
Recommendations:
1) Approved as submitted, no recommendations.
PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01971
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 990 Siskiyou Blvd. (Southern Oregon University – Plunkett Center)
APPLICANT: Southern Oregon University
DESCRIPTION: A request for
a Tree Removal Permit for to remove a 28-inch in diameter at breast height Blue Spruce located near the northwest corner of the Plunkett Center.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Southern
Oregon University; ZONING: SO; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 10CC; TAX LOT #: 5700
Recommendations:
1) Approved as submitted, no recommendations.
PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01853
SUBJECT PROPERTY:
87 West Nevada Street and 811 Helman Street
APPLICANT: Wilma, LLC (Greg & Valri Williams)
DESCRIPTION: A request for Final Plan approval for the development of Phase 1 of Verde Village
which includes all public improvements and infrastructure, riparian improvements, and the construction of the 24-unit cottage community and Lot 25. The application includes requests
for Site Review approval for the 24-unit cottage community, an Exception to Street Standards to allow the installation of 114 feet of curbside sidewalk on the west side of Almeda Drive
just north of the
intersection of Helman and Nevada Streets, and an Administrative Variance to the Site Design and Use Standards to allow Units 17 and 18 to have their primary orientation toward open
space rather than to Almeda Drive.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential and Suburban Residential ZONING: R-1-3.5, R-1-5 and R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP and TAX LOT#:
39 1E 04BB Lots 700, 800, & 900 and 39 1E 04B 800 & 1100
Site Visits: All; No ex parte
Amy gave the staff report.
Applicant Discussion:
Kerry KenCairn spoke about the project street
lay out and design, the development of the riparian buffer corridor, the bioswale parkrows and the requirements of the project developers the architects and the need to isolate the locations
of the trees due to the constraint of the solar aspects of the green development.
Tree Commission Discussion:
Commissioner Jones asked about the methodology during create a development
you create a diverse forest and thought the proposal would be very nice at implementation. He questioned the use of the river birch and Kerry responded that it is a tough tree and it
is not a native tree and that they have been bred to not have the negative impacts that the native birches are know to have. The Commission discussed the use of the caging to protect
the new vegetation. The landscape contractors have responsibility for the survivability for the plants along the streets but not for situations they cannot control (deer). Kerry discussed
the cottages and how they limited the number of trees along the south side of their developments and that meant less trees but they tried to provide more trees to shade the parking and
driving surfaces.
Recommendations:
Approved as submitted moved by Townsend / second by Sager
Voice Vote: all A Yes
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Tree of the Year
Ballots – begin the voting process
in September
Make a sign that gets staked into the ground
Write an article about the Tree nomination form available.
Tree inventory survey
Donn Todt informed Anne Rich that there
was an existing Street Tree Inventory. To update; maybe an SOU student intern would be interested in expanding the existing inventory. Amy will find whatever exists and try to determine
when it was created.
Recommended Street Tree Guide
Commissioner Townsend did some research into trees that were thought to be difficult to obtain: Kentucky Coffee tree; available.
Canyon Live Oak; make note – difficult to obtain. Raywood Ash; available, but not a good street tree – remove from guide. Quercus Kellogi; Not available – remove from guide.
Add:
Bioswale parkrow street tree list; Betchula ‘Nigra’
There was some discussion about the content of the guide – should all trees that are difficult to obtain be remove? The Commission
thought – no, even though its difficult to obtain they are still good trees and people should be encouraged to keep asking for them. The more requests for a particular tree the more
likely a nursery is to obtain them.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
Liaison Reports
Anne has copy of the Parks and Recreation report. Copies will be available in February.
Amy will contact
the Electric Department for their report – it does not need to be in writing it just needs to be done.
Old Business
Distinctive Tree List
Current Balance - $243.32
ADJOURNMENT - Commissioner
Rinaldi adjourned the meeting at 8:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner