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Home My WebLink About2020-02-06 Tree_MIN Ashland TreeCommission Draft Minutes February 6, 2020 CALL TO ORDER Commission Chair Chris Johncalled the meeting to order at 5:59 pm in the Siskiyou Room at the Community Development and Engineering Offices located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland,Oregon, 97520. Commissioners Present:Council Liaison Christopher JohnStephen Jensen-Absent Asa Cates Russell NeffParkLiaison Eric SimpsonPeter Baughman Cat Gould Staff Present: Aaron Anderson: Associate Planner Commissioners Not In Attendance:Eric Simpson Other Staff Present –Katie Gibblefrom Ashland Fire Members of the Public–Huelz Gutcheon, Risa Buck, Julie Norman, Mike Bartlett, Linda Adams Applicants –Amy Gunter, Bill Robertson, Casey Roland APPROVAL OF MINUTES CommissionersCates/Gould m/s to approve the minutes ofJanuary 9, 2020. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed PUBLIC FORUM Julie Norman (Friends of Lithia Park) Thanked the Tree Commission for their recommendation to save the trees associated with the Japanese garden. Huelz Gutchinspoke aboutelectric cars, solar panels, and carbons. Risa Buck emphasized her ideas on wildlife and tree removal best practices and had two requests: 1) Address wildlifeliving in trees. 2) Examine guidelines regarding tree protection during development. Mike Bartlett discussed the bestpractices for working around wildlife during tree removal and pruning.He briefly outlined the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty which also covers fur bearing animals. Mike spoke with ISA for further input and was told that there were noindustry ‘best management practices’ for interacting with wildlife during tree work. Linda Adams stressed that it is not just protection during development but taking care of trees after development. LIAISON REPORTS Council Liaison –Council Liaison Jensen was absent so no report was given. thrd Parks & Recreation Liaison –Baughman spoke about Tree City USA (35year) and 3Growth Awardand gave a brief update on Lomakatsi Restoration Project. Community Development Liaison –Anderson stated that the trees at 479 Russell TYPE I REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION:TREE-2020-00093 SUBJECT PROPERTY:470 Applegate Way OWNER:Applegate Industrial Arts APPLICANT:Bill Robertson DESCRIPTION:A request to remove three Raywood Ash trees along a sidewalk. The applicant states that the species selection and location are inappropriate as these trees are causing uplift on the sidewalk. The applicant submitted a brief narrative prepared by Casey Roland Tree Care.COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Employment; ZONING: E-1; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 13 BB; TAX LOT:800 There was no conflict of interest or ex-parte contact indicated by the Commission. Anderson gave staff report for TREE-2020-00093. Bill Robertson, applicant, spoke on his own behalf and is concerned with the damage that these trees may cause to the sidewalk. Casey Roland, project arborist, also spoke about the project. Mr. Roland made the similar point that the species selection was inappropriate for the area. Gould suggested that this wasn’t emergent and why not allow the trees to continue to grow until it creates a hazard problem. John stated that Raywoods are problematic. There was discussion with the applicant about alternative options including removing these trees in phases. The applicant stated that this project was developed in 2003 so these trees are only 17 years old and already causing problems. Cates statedthat these trees are on private property andthat his feeling might be different if they were street trees. John/Cates m/sto approve the application with two trees mitigated on site (acer Grisium), and one large heritage tree mitigated off site (on city property). All Ayes. Motion Passed. PLANNING ACTION:TREE-2020-00094 SUBJECT PROPERTY:1825 Siskiyou Blvd. OWNER:June Mikkelsen & James Douglass APPLICANT: Casey Roland DESCRIPTION:A request to remove one hazard tree which is identified as a white oak. The applicant submitted a brief narrative prepared by Casey Roland Tree Care. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Multifamily Residential; ZONING: R-3; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 15 AD; TAX LOT:1801 There was no conflict of interest or ex-parte contact indicated by the Commission. Anderson gave staff report for TREE-2020-00094. CaseyRoland, applicant,spoke about the condition of the tree and that it was unsteady enough that he wasn’t willing to “pull test”. He conducted other tests to determine the amount of wood remains. In terms of assessing the hazard of the tree this satisfies target, opportunity, and likelihood. Cates felt that the tree absolutely represented a hazard. Cates/Neff m/sto approve the application as presented with the requirement to mitigate with a medium stature treeat maturity. All Ayes. Motion Passed. PLANNING ACTION:PA-T1-2019-00083 SUBJECT PROPERTY:1320 Oregon St. OWNER/APPLICANT:Verity Construction DESCRIPTION:A request for Physical and Environmental Constraints Review Permit for Hillside Development to build a new 2,062 square foot single family home at 1320 Oregon Street. The application includes a request for a variance to side-yard setback based on the narrow property configuration, an exception to street standards to seek relief from the installationof park row and sidewalk, and an exception to the hillside design standards. The application includes a requires to remove one 8-inch DBH pine tree that is in the building envelope. The application includes a report prepared by a geotechnical engineer with demonstrable expertise in development of Hillside Lands. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5; MAP: 39 1E 15 BB;TAX LOT: 8700 There was no conflict of interest or ex-parte contact indicated by the Commission. Anderson gave staff report for PA-T1-2019-00083.. Amy Gunter, applicant’s representative, provided an overview of the application and tree protection materials. Cates expressed concern regarding trees on the adjacent properties. Cates/Gould m/sto approve the application as submitted with the recommendationthat the project manager pay close attention to the tree protection and removal notes (specifically with regard to the trees on adjacent properties)and that they implement supplemental irrigation forany trees that are stressed due to construction with particular attention to trees 12, 13, & 15. Further recommending that compliance with wildfire standards for pruning be allowed to happen after construction is complete but before C of O. All Ayes. Motion Passed. STREET TREE REMOVAL PERMITS PLANNING ACTION:TREE-2020-00092 SUBJECT PROPERTY:310 Granite St. (Lithia Park) OWNER:City of Ashland APPLICANT:Ashland Parks and Recreation DESCRIPTION: A request to remove an approximately 35’ tall andSixteen-inch DBH green mountain sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in the park row along Lithia way at the entrance to Lithia Park. The tree has been declining for several years. Last year the top third of the canopy died and was removed. It has been determined by Parks arborists that it is time to remove this tree based on its advanced disease. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Downtown / Single Family Residential; ZONING: C-1-D & R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09; TAX LOT:100 There was no conflict of interest or ex-parte contact indicated by the Commission. Anderson gave staff report for TREE-2020-00092. Peter Baughman, Liaison for the Parks Department, spoke about the application. Baughman acknowledgedthat the tree does continue to shade the street, and that if the Commission would prefer, Parks would keep the tree for a few more years. Baughmanindicated that it was their intention to mitigate with an identical species. Cates/John m/sapprove the application as submitted with the recommendation that APRC choose an appropriate mitigation tree.All Ayes. Motion Passed. PLANNING ACTION:TREE-2020-00095 SUBJECT PROPERTY:802 Mountain Meadows Dr. OWNER:Lewis Living Trust Et. Al APPLICANT:Mt. Meadows HOA DESCRIPTION:A request to remove an 8” DBH 20’ tall cherry plum tree (Prusus cerasifera). The tree is prohibited by the adopted street tree guide and creates a slipping hazard from excess fruit that falls on the sidewalk. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Healthcare; ZONING: HC; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 04 AD; TAX LOT:229 There was no conflict of interest or ex-parte contact indicated by the Commission. Anderson gave staff report for TREE-2020-00095. The applicant was not present. John mentioned that the park row is narrow which makes species selection difficult. John/Neffm/s to approve the application as submitted with the requirement that it be mitigated. Vote 3-1. Motion passed. DISCUSSION ITEMS Earth Day –Potential share with wildfire–general agreement. Tree of the year –nominations next month. ADJOURNMENT: Meetingadjourned at8:15p.m. Next meeting will be March 5, 2020. Respectfully submitted by Regan Trapp