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Home My WebLink About2021-11-04 Tree_MIN Ashland TreeCommission Minutes November 4, 2021 Call to Order Commission Chair Chris Johncalled the meeting to order at 6:02pmvia Zoom, Ashland, Oregon, 97520. Commissioners Present:Council Liaison Christopher JohnStephen Jensen-Absent Asa Cates Vacancy(3)ParkLiaison Eric SimpsonPeter Baughman Vacancy (5) Cat Gould Staff Present: Vacancy (7)Aaron Anderson: Associate Planner Members of the Public: Amy Gunter David Waldron Approval of Minutes CommissionersCatGould /Eric Simpson m/s to approve the minutes ofOctober 7, 2021. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed Public Forum There was no one in the audience wishing to speak. Liaison reports Parks & Recreation Liaison–the APRC has been working with the Ashland woodland trail assoc. on an improvement on the waterline trail. The ice rink is being prepared, however there is a concern about interested volunteers to operate. There was additional conversation about watershed trail maint. Community DevelopmentLiaison –Anderson noted that the covid emergency ordinancecontinues to remain in effect and that the city offices are still closed to the public.The Council will be reviewing the emergency ordinance again in early December.” TYPE I REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION:PA-T1-2021-00162 SUBJECT PROPERTY:192 Clear Creek Drive APPLICANT/OWNER:Rogue Planning & Development Services for Anasazi West LLC DESCRIPTION:A request for a Minor Modification of Subdivision to adjust existing and dedicate new easements as well as to receive Site Design Review approval to construct a 7,893 square foot, three-story, mixed-use building consisting of commercial tenant space on the ground floor, 2 residential units on the second and third floors for the property located at 192 Clear Creek Drive. The proposal seeks to modify the five-foot public pedestrian access easement along the east property line by adding a public utility easement and providing a 10- foot wide, 8-foot stamped concrete centralized pedestrian walkway betweenthesubject lot and the adjacent lot to the west. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Employment;ZONING: E-1;MAP: 39 1E 09 AB;TAX LOT #: 6603 Staff briefly presented the application and introduced the applicants. Amy Gunter and David Waldron presented a brief power point presentation highlighting the landscaping requirements and the proposed plan. Gould asked about the presence of bark mulch on the plan and its compatibility with wildfirestandards. Simpson remarked that the building is concrete sided. John said that the plan overall looked good but remarked that the pear trees were a problematic species selection and said instead should consider a native oak rather than a maple. Cates asked about the tree located in the SE corner. Gunter replied that thattree location will need to be modified due to the location of a power vault that has since been installed. Gunter remarked that the species for the parking lot shade trees will be changed to a larger shade tree. There was additional conversation about themodification of the easements. The public comment period was closed,and the tree commission discussed what the motion should be with regard to the species selection without being too specific. It is understood that they will see the landscape plan againat building permit. Cates stated that there are too many Raywood Ash. Both John and Cates suggested that native oaks would be ideal. Commissioner Chris John/AsaCatesM/S to approve application with the condition that the tree selection be altered to not include the pear trees and consider larger stature long lived species and that the final plan shall be reviewed by the TC at the issuance of building permit.Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed PLANNING ACTION:PA-TREE-2021-00172 SUBJECT PROPERTY:545 Holly St. OWNER/APPLICANT:Eric Recors / Quality Tree Service DESCRIPTION:A request to remove one large cottonwood tree at the property located at 545 Holly St. The tree is estimated to be 16 inches DBH and stands 50’ tall. The application states that the tree has a significant lean towards the residence. While the property is single family and is small enough to be exempt because the tree is in an identified Water Resource Protection Zone / Flood Plain Corridor Land a permit is required. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5;MAP: 39 1E 09 DB; TAX LOT: 8900 Anderson gave a brief background on the removal and the reason for the permit. Cates made a site visit and remarked that the tree clearly had a significantlean to the house. It appears healthy but the lean is problematic. The only prune which could help is very problematic. John remarked he would have a hard time living underneath a leaning cottonwood. Gould remarked that she didn’t think its removal would have a significant impact on the canopy. Commissioners AsaCates/Eric Simpson M/S to approve Applicationas submitted. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed TYPE II REVIEWS–None STREET TREE REMOVAL PERMITS PLANNING ACTION:TREE-2019-00055 SUBJECT PROPERTY:119 N. Third St. OWNERS/APPLICANTS:Michael Hoyt DESCRIPTION:A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove one approximately six-inch diameter Acer / Maple tree at 119 Third St. The applicant is proposing to remove the Maple tree out of concern that at maturity, it will conflict withoverhead power lines, and proposes to replace it with a tree less likely to be in conflict with overhead lines, a Paperbark Maple. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Low Density, Multi-Family Residential;ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09BA; TAX LOT: 3700 Cates stated that a paper bark maple would havethe same problem. Cates also remarked that the tree is very vertical and doesn’t lend itself to pruning into a v to clear under the line, so no matterwhat this tree will have problems in the future. Cates felt that if theyare going to do this right they need to relocate the tree. Anderson asked if two smaller stature trees would be acceptable. Cates stated that it ought to be a relatively small tree. Gould said her paper bark is about 20’. Gould stated she would be open toreviewing this application again. There was discussion about requirements for irrigation of street trees. Anderson stated that the municipal code does not specificallystatethatstreet trees must be watered.Gould would like to discuss potential code amendments –irrigation, invasivetrees,andsidewalk etc. Discussion Items Oneemergency tree removal approved:675 East Main St.,COA Electrical / Streets Gould had a question about the Zelkova holding on to their leaves, and for Peter about a maple in Lithia. General agreement that it has been a late autumn. Adjournment:Meetingadjourned at7:17p.m. Next Meeting: December 09, 2021 Respectfully submitted byLiz Hamilton