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Home My WebLink About2022-02-03 Tree_MIN Ashland TreeCommission Minutes February 3, 2022 Call to Order Commissionchair Chris John called the meeting to order at 6:02pmvia ZOOM. Commissioners Present:Council Liaison Christopher JohnStephen Jensen Asa Cates Vacancy(3)ParkLiaison Eric SimpsonPeter Baughman Vacancy (5) Cat Gould Staff Present: Vacancy (7)Aaron Anderson: Associate Planner Members of the Public in Attendance William Stephens, Andrew Ballard Joan Holly, Jim Lewis,Amy Gunter, IanCrumme, Joseph Clarke, Kerry Kencairn, Lewis, Approval of Minutes CommissionersEric Simpson /Asa Catesm/s to approve the minutes ofJanuary 6, 2022 as written. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed Public Forum There was no one in the audience wishing to speak. Liaison reports Council Liaison -Councilor Jensen gave a brief report including how impressed he is with the new city Manager. Chair John asked about the budget, and Councilor Jensen mentioned that SOU survey that will beupcoming to getan understanding of citizen desire for services. Parks & Recreation Liaison –Peter gave a brief report on two trees that have been removed from blue bird park and the mitigation plantings that have been ongoing. He also mentioned the APRC commissioner Gardnier is retiring. Community Development Liaison –The city was awarded Tree City USA for the 36th year and,voting on Tree of the Year has begun and is available online. TYPE II REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION:PA-T2-2022-00036 SUBJECT PROPERTY:329Granite St. APPLICANT/OWNER:Rogue Planning Services for Clarke DESCRIPTION:An application for a Physical and Environmental constraints review permit (P&E) for the construction of a new single-family residential home on hillside lands with severe constraints for the vacant parcel at 329 granite street. The application for the P&E includes a request for six different exceptions to the development standards. The development also requires a limited activity and uses permit in the Water Resource Protection Zone (WRPZ) for a driveway crossing an identified waterway, two variances for anallowance of the maximum grade of a driveway and an allowance to exceed the maximum lot coverage, and finally a tree removal permit for the removal of nineteen significant trees. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:Woodland / LDR; ZONING: WR / RR-.5; MAP: 391E 08 EE,TAX LOT:704 Aaron mentioned that only trees that are defined as significant are regulated based on the size and zoning. Amy Gunter from Rogue Development then gave a presentation providing an overviewof the project and the number and locationof trees to be removed and that all trees proposed for removal are either in the path of the driveway or building envelope. She also provided an overview of the wildfire andfuel reduction plan include in the project. Kerry KenCairn discussed the replanting and mitigation plan.Amy highlighted the unique nature of the site based on the very steep terrain. Joan Holley,333 GraniteSt,had clarifying questions regarding the total number of trees to be removedand if there had been studies done to understand the impacts of removing all the trees. She also had concerns about the location of the driveway and where it will belocated on the ground. Kerry KenCairn answered several questions from Ms. Holly and offered to visit with her to answer more of her questions. After the public hearing was concluded the tree commission deliberated over the application. Asa stated that it was a lot of trees but that this is a difficult projectbased on the drainage. Asa further stated that the application materials are almost overwhelming. Eric stated that it looked like this project has been in the design process for a long time. Cat expressed frustration that with a project so far along it ishard to provide much meaningful impact. Chris stated that he felt that the development is well thought out. Asa stated that hill side development will ultimately require tree removal. Simpson suggested perhaps postponing a decision so that the tree commission could make a site visit. Commissioners AsaCates/Chris JohnM/S to recommend approval ofthe application as submittedwith the recommendation that the utmost care go into tree protection from construction impacts.Voice Votes, 3yes-1no. Motion Passes. __________________________________________________________________________________________ TYPE I REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION:PA-TREE-2021-00179 SUBJECT PROPERTY:Mountain Ranch HOA open space OWNER/APPLICANT:Doug Kay for MRHOA DESCRIPTION:Arequest to remove one Ponderosa Pine estimated to be 25” DBH and sixty feet tall. The application includes two arborist reports indicating that the tree is a hazard due to its extreme lean over two homes in the HOA with a moderate risk of failure. The report indicates that there is no pruning possible to mitigate the hazard and recommends removal. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5; MAP: 39 1E 23 BB,TAX LOT: 7800 Bill Stephens,from the HOA,owns an adjacent property and spoke in favor of the application as it is adjacent to his home and during high wind events they have become increasingly concerned. Asa felt that the there was no option to prune the tree in a way that would mitigate the hazard. Cat stated that the surrounding canopy is robust and that this loss would not be significant, and that when considering risk posedby falling tree, removal is not too big an issue. Commissioners Asa Cates/Eric SimpsonM/S to approve the application as submitted, Chris John abstains. Voice votes,all Ayes. Motion passes PLANNING ACTION:PA-TREE-2021-00180 SUBJECT PROPERTY:664 A St. OWNER/APPLICANT:Cheryl and James Lewis DESCRIPTION:A request to remove one large Elm tree at the rear of the property at 664 A Street. The tree is very large and has recently tended todrop large branches during high wind events. The application includes a letter from Mountain Tree Care LLC stating that the tree is a hazard. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:Employment; ZONING: E-1; MAP: 39 1E 09 AB,TAX LOT: 4800 Staff briefly presented the application and handed the presentation to the property owners who were representing the application.Commissioner Gould asked why pruning couldn’t be done to keep the tree. Cheryl stated that he pruning expenses have gotten very high, and that based on the large branches that have dropped and that they are afraid of the tree know. (Pruning costs ~$6k / year). Eric asked if previous branches have caused damage Cheryl replied that yes last year a branch fell and did large damage to a renter’s car, and then also damaged the roof and fence in another instance. The tree commission deliberate about whether the tree was a Siberian Elm or an American Elm and whetherit was a volunteer. Asa stated that hefelt that the tree is a penultimatestage,and that pruning is simply no longer an option. Peter statedthat it is a large awesome tree but based on the location and potential danger it may make sense,but it is regrettable based on its size and stature.Asa stated that consideringthe history of tree dropping limbs, removal may be best. CommissionersCat Gould/Asa Cates M/Sto approve the application as submittedwith regret, and hope that the applicant may consider pruning instead. Chris John abstains, voice votes, all Ayes.Motion passes. __________________________________________________________________________________________ PLANNING ACTION:PA-TREE-2021-00178 th SUBJECT PROPERTY:260 7St. OWNER/APPLICANT:Asa Cats for Ned Shaaf DESCRIPTION:A request to remove one tree 18” DBH thirty-foot-tallBirch tree at the property at 260 Seventh St. The tree has lost a number of large limbs posing a danger to the parking area and buildings. The application includes an arborist report indicating thatthetree is dying,and that removal is recommended. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:Multifamily Residential; ZONING: R-2; MAP: 39 1E 09AA,TAX LOT: 7100 Staffstatedthat the tree was obviously in decline and that there was nothing else to add. Commissioners Cat Gould/Eric SimpsonM/S to approve the application as submitted. Asa Cates abstains, voice votes, all Ayes. Motion passes. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Discussion Items •Tree of the year voting -online •Tree City USA -COMPLETE •Tree inventory project on GIS –no update Adjournment:Meetingadjourned at8:03p.m. Next Meeting: March 3, 2022 Respectfully submitted by Liz Hamilton