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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-03 Tree_MIN Ashland Tree Commission Minutes June 3, 2021 Call to Order Commission Chair Chris John called the Zoom meeting to order at 6:01 pm Commissioners Present: Council Liaison Christopher John Stephen Jensen – Absent Asa Cates (arrived late) Vacancy (3) Park Liaison Eric Simpson Peter Baughman – Absent Vacancy (5) Cat Gould Staff Present: Vacancy (7) Aaron Anderson: Associate Planner Commissioners Not In Attendance: Applicants in attendance: Charlie Schiedler (Oasis), Kenny Anderson (RVUUF) Approval of Minutes Commissioners Chris John / Eric Simpson m/s to approve the minutes of May 6, 2021 as written. Voice Vote: 3 – 0 (Asa Cates not in attendance yet). Motion passed Public Forum There was no one in the audience wishing to speak. Liaison reports Council Liaison – not in attendance Parks & Recreation Liaison – not in attendance Community Development Liaison – only item to update is that A Anderson will be on vacation and will miss the July meeting TYPE I REVIEWS A. PLANNING ACTION: PA-TREE-2021-00151 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 255 Maple St. OWNER/APPLICANT: Canopy for Cabin Six LLC DESCRIPTION: A request for approval to remove one 13” DBH pinoak for the property at 255 Maple St. to enable a complete upgrade to the landscaping for Oasis Eye Center. The application includes a report by an ISA certified arborist and explains that while the tree is in moderate health the tree has been repeatedly topped due to overhead power lines. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Health Care; ZONING: HC; MAP: 39 1E 05 DB; TAX LOT: 500 The application was represented by Charlie Schiedler of Oasis Eye Center. Anderson gave a brief presentation of the application and explained that the application was clearly not a hazard tree and that the tree commission should consider the non-hazard removal. Cates said that it was the wrong tree for the wrong location. Simpson stated that the proposed land scaping is a vast improvement. Commissioner Chris John requeues himself. Commissioners Aca Cates / Eric Simpson m/s to approve the application as submitted. Voice Vote: 3 - 0. Motion passed B. PLANNING ACTION: PA-TREE-2021-00152 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 1675 Ashland St. OWNER: Columbiacare Rogue Ridge Apartments LLC APPLICANT: Kerry KenCairn DESCRIPTION: A request for approval to remove a single bigleaf maple (acer macrophyllum) at the property address as 1675 Ashland St. The tree had previously been approved for protection associated with the Site Design Review approving the Columbiacare housing project. The application states that the reason for removal is that the trees root system is lifting the neighbor’s floor. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Commercial; ZONING: C-1; MAP: 39 1E 10 DC; TAX LOT: 9201 Chris stated that he was consulted for this project but was not hired for the job. The tree commission unanimously agreed that this did not represent a conflict of interest. Gould stated that it was very close to the garage. Gould asked if there were photos of the damage. Staff replied that there were no photos provided by the applicant. Gould stated that she didn’t believe that these were big leaf maple, and Cates stated that he thought these were oaks. Cates stated that the site clearly has a number of large trees on site. Cates felt that a condition of approval require photographic proof of the damage. Gould was concerned that the application has species mis identified and sized correctly. Simpson stated that he felt we needed more evidence. Gould stated that she would like to see the errors in the applicant corrected with correct measurements. Simpson stated that he believed the trees were oak as well. There was general agreement that we need to see evidence. John stated that he was 80% there just due to the proximity but felt that there needed to be evidence. Commissioners Aca Cates / Kat Gould m/s to approve the application with the requirement that the applicant provide photographic evidence of the damage of the floor for review and approval with the Staff Advisor. Voice Vote: 4 - 0. Motion passed C. PLANNING ACTION: PA-TREE-2021-00153 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 459 Willow St. OWNER/APPLICANT: Willow Street Properties LLC DESCRIPTION: A request for approval to remove a single living pine at the rear of the property at 459 Willow St. The application indicates that the reason for requesting the removal is that the tree poses a fire hazard, has poor form, and is inhibiting the use of roof top solar on an adjacent property that is under common ownership. It is unclear if the tree poses a hazard and will be potentially evaluated under the hazard criteria and non-hazard criteria. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-5; MAP: 39 1E 04 CB; TAX LOT: 6700 Staff explained the application and gave a brief background admitting that the application materials were not well developed. Cates stated that they talk about possible future development, and possible future solar, and that the argument for it being a probable fire hazard. John stated that the fire hazard could be mitigated by pruning. Commissioners Aca Cates / Chris John m/s to deny the application due that is does not substantiate the necessity of the removal TYPE II REVIEWS - none STREET TREE REMOVAL PERMITS A. PLANNING ACTION: PA-TREE-2021-00154 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 87 Fourth St. OWNER/APPLICANT: Rogue Valley UU Fellowship DESCRIPTION: A request to remove three dead / dying slow growing evergreen trees. These trees were part of the approved landscape plan for the church under the original planning action. Further all street trees, regardless if they are dead or not, are required to secure a removal permit. The application was represented by Kenny Anderson. Staff gave a brief presentation of the request for removal stating that because the trees were part of the original land use planning. John stated that it was obvious that the trees needed to go. There was discussion if these qualified as trees because of their small stature. Cates stated that a spruce certainly is a tree even if it is a dwarf species. There was general conversation about appropriate species of mitigation tree. The applicant indicated that they were inclined to replace with small bushes. Gould had suggested that a paper bark maple. Commissioners Chris John / Eric Simpson m/s to approve the application as submitted with one mitigation tree planted within 12 months. Voice Vote: 4 - 0. Motion passed Old Business Election of officers. John stated that he has termed out and wanted to discuss election of officers. Commissioners Asa Cates / Eric Simpson m/s to nominate Cat Gould to be Vice-Chair. Voice Vote: 4 - 0. Motion passed Commissioners Chris John / Eric Simpson m/s to nominate Chris John to be Chair. Voice Vote: 4 - 0. Motion passed Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:05pm Next Meeting: July 8, 2021 Respectfully submitted by Liz Hamilton