HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-04 Tree_MIN
TREE COMMISSION - REGULAR MEETING
March 4, 2021
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Commission Chair Chris John called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. via Zoom
Commissioners Present: Council Liaison:
Chris John Stephen Jensen, absent
Asa Cates
Cat Gould Park Liaison:
Eric Simpson Peter Baughman, absent
Staff Present:
Aaron Anderson: Associate Planner
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Tree Commission regular meeting of February 4, 2021 regular meeting minutes.
Commissioner Cates/Gould m/s to approve the minutes as presented. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion
passed.
III. LIAISON REPORTS
Council Liaison - None
Parks & Recreation Liaison - None
Community Development Liaison
Aaron Anderson explained the Tree commission would give their annual report to the City Council during their
meeting March 16, 2021. Chair John would not be available to provide the report. Commissioner Cates volunteered
to give the report.
IV. TYPE I REVIEWS
PLANNING ACTION: PA-T1-2021-00141
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 599 East Main Street
APPLICANT/OWNER: Rogue Planning & Development Services, LLC for Livni Family Trust (Gil Livni, Trustee)
DESCRIPTION: A request for Site Design Review approval to modify the existing building at 599 East Main
Street including converting the former church to use as office space with occasional assembly uses
(convention, trade show, etc.) and adding a new entry. The application also includes requests for a Conditional
Use Permit as it involves the expansion of an existing non-conforming development where no off-street
parking is available, and Street Tree Removal Permits to remove two Callery Pear street trees (10.2-inch DBH
& 12.7-inch DBH) in the park row planting strip along East Main Street. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
DESIGNATION: Commercial; ZONING: C-1; MAP: 39 1E 09AC; TAX LOT #: 7600
Chair John read aloud the rules for electronic public hearings.
Staff explained the main element of the planning action was the request to remove two street trees. Amy Gunter
spoke in favor of the application. Commissioner Simpson asked how tall the trees were and their health. Ms. Gunter
responded the trees were approximately 20 to 25 feet tall. Neither had good form, the species was invasive, and one
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tree had a pronounced lean. There was a power drop to the building. The overhead lines were on the other side of
Main Street.
The public portion of the hearing was closed.
Commissioner Cates did not think the removal request met the criteria for street removal. He thought a shade tree
would be a good replacement. Commissioner Gould agreed. They discussed appropriate tree species.
Commissioner Cates/Gould m/s to approve the application as submitted with the following
recommendations, that they plant a tree that is large stature at maturity with an appropriate caliper at least
two inches at the time of planting, with the recommendation of planting a Red Flame Maple or Autumn
Blaze Maple, or a Asocola tree, with appropriate irrigation. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion passed.
PLANNING ACTION: PA-TREE-2021-00140
SUBJECT PROPERTY: Near 947 Mountain Meadows (Subject tree is located between two buildings)
OWNER: Mountain Meadows Parkside Condominium Association Inc
APPLICANT: Southern Oregon Tree Care
DESCRIPTION: A request for approval to remove one red maple (Acer rubrum) at Mountain Meadows. The
application, prepared by an ISA certified arborist, indicates that the tree is 14”-DBH and stands
approximately forty feet tall. The application explains that the tree is not well rooted based on the rocky
nature of the ground, and that the height of the tree now exposes it to wind loads above the building. The
concern is that a wind event may cause the tree to fail and potentially cause damage to the building. The
application states the intent to mitigate the tree with a species better suited to the environment.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Health Care; ZONING: HC; MAP: 39 1E 04 AD; TAX LOT: 88000 &
40000
The Commission discussed the request. Many of them were unable to locate the subject tree due to the number of
trees between the buildings. There were no photos of the subject tree. The arborist report stated the tree was
healthy. The application had indicated the area would be relandscaped. Chair John was not prepared to approve the
removal.
Commissioner Gould/John m/s to deny the application based on the lack of evidence or an ability to locate
the subject tree. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion passed.
PLANNING ACTION: PA-TREE-2021-00142
SUBJECT PROPERTY 549 B St.
OWNER/APPLICANT: Robert Lombardi
DESCRIPTION: A request for approval to remove two Black Locust trees (robinia pseudoacacia L.) at the
property located at 549 B Street. The application includes a report prepared by an ISA certified arborist,
indicates that the trees are 43” and 24”. The application explains that the trees are both in poor health with
splitting branches posing a hazard to the surrounding development. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
DESIGNATION: Employment; ZONING: E-1; MAP: 39 1E 09 AB; TAX LOT: 6301
Mr. Anderson explained the arborist wanted an emergency removal, but the hazard would be mitigated by pruning the
broken branch. Commissioner Cates had conducted a site visit and the trees did not appear healthy. Chair John
stated the crown was mostly dead and the tree had previously been cabled. Commissioner Gould thought the tree
should be removed.
Commissioner Cates/Simpson m/s to approve the application with the suggestion a mitigation tree be
planted if appropriate. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion passed.
PLANNING ACTION: PA-TREE-2021-00143
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SUBJECT PROPERTY: 311 Ravenwood Place
OWNER: Larry and Ann Anderson
APPLICANT: Rosemary Murphree / Ravenwood Townhouses HOA
DESCRIPTION: A request for approval to remove a single black oak at the rear of unit 311 at the Ravenwood
Estates. The application includes a brief report by an ISA certified arborist and includes photos of the base
of the tree showing an area of significant root rot and decay. The leans significantly over the building posing
a hazard to the structure in the event of main stem failure. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:
Multifamily Residential; ZONING: R-2; MAP: 39 1E 09 BD; TAX LOT: 13300
Commissioner Cates stated the decay at the base was obvious. The Black Oak trees were strong, but the two
adjacent White Oak trees would benefit from the removal. Rosemary Murphee clarified the request would remove
both trunks.
Commissioner John/Simpson m/s to approve the application as submitted. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion
passed.
PLANNING ACTION: PA-TREE-2021-00144
SUBJECT PROPERTY: Tax Lot 6100, Oak Knoll Dr.
OWNER/APPLICANT: Frank and Kathleen Millett
DESCRIPTION: A request for approval to remove two large oak trees and one large pine on a vacant
residential parcel on Oak Knoll Drive. The application includes a site plan showing the proposed residence
and ARU location showing that the proposed structures encroach significantly into the critical root zone of
the trees necessitating their removal. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential;
ZONING: R-1-10; MAP: 39 1E 14 AD; TAX LOT: 6100
Mr. Anderson provided background on the application. Not removing the trees created a significant restriction for the
applicants. Alternately, the application material was not robust and lacked an arborist report.
Commissioner Cates stated the Black Oak was in good form and appeared very healthy. The White Oak was a
beautiful specimen. Commissioner Gould added the pine was beautiful as well. The Commission and staff further
discussed the application. The application made no attempt to preserve any of the trees.
Commissioner Cates/Gould m/s to deny the application as submitted on the basis that the site plan was too
vague and hypothetical to approve the removal of three significant trees. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion
passed.
V. TYPE II REVIEWS
PLANNING ACTION: PA-T2-2021-00028
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 364 Walker Avenue (Walker Elementary School)
APPLICANT/OWNER: HMK Company for the Ashland School District
DESCRIPTION: The Planning Commission will conduct an initial public hearing to review details of the
proposal and take public comments on a request for Site Design Review approval for a 22,450 square foot,
single-story addition to Walker Elementary School at 364 Walker Avenue. As part of the proposal, the parking
lot and drop-off lane would be relocated and expanded, with access to be taken via Hunter Court (the driveway
serving Hunter Park) and a new courtyard would be created. The application also includes requests for a
Conditional Use Permit to modify the School District’s Master Sign Permit Program (PA#2012-00899) to allow
new signage for Walker Elementary School in conjunction with the proposed addition, and Tree Removal
Permits to remove 20 trees. An existing 9,700 square foot classroom will be demolished in conjunction with
the proposal. No final decision will be made at this initial public hearing; the item will come back to the
Planning Commission for a decision at the April 13, 2021 meeting. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:
Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-5; MAP: 39 1E 10; TAX LOT #: 3600
Kerry KenCairn explained the plans before the Commission were not the most recent ones and did not show the current
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design. It would not be appropriate to review the application at this time.
The item was postponed until the next Tree Commission meeting April 8, 2021. Ms. KenCairn would draft a letter for
the Planning Commission.
Commissioner Gould left the meeting at 7:08 p.m.
VI. STREET TREE REMOVAL PERMITS – None
VII. OLD BUSINESS
VIII. DISCUSSION ITEMS
Mr. Anderson introduced Tony Mecum from the City of Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee.
Tree of the Year
Mr. Anderson discussed the Tree of the Year nominations and launching the voting phase. Since the Commission
lacked a quorum, he would follow up with each commissioner individually. They went on to discuss the nominations.
Wild Life handout
Mr. Anderson briefly shared the handout with Community Development Director Bill Molnar. Mr. Molnar’s initial
thoughts was concern citing federal law that the City was not able to enforce. He emphasized reviewing the powers
and duties section for the Tree Commission in the Ashland Municipal Code. Mr. Anderson would meet with Mr.
Molnar to get further direction regarding contents.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
Next Meeting: April 8, 2021
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March 4, 2021
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