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Home My WebLink About2018-05-03 Tree_MIN TREE COMMISSION AGENDA May 3, 2018 Commissioners Present: Parks Liaison Christopher John Peter Baughman Mike Oxendine Asa Cates Arrived 10 min late Staff Present: Russell Neff Nathan Emerson CALL TO ORDER Chair Christopher John called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room of the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Neff/John m/s to approve the minutes of April 5, 2018. Voice vote. ALL AYES. Motion passed ANNOUNCEMENTS & LIAISON REPORTS Council Liaison There is no Council Liaison assigned to this Commission yet. Parks & Recreation Liaison Baughman announced the formal purchase of Briscoe School to the Tree Commission. Parks intends to make the back half, which has been already acting as a de facto park, a city park. A short discussion ensued as to possible plans for the building and lot. Community Development Liaison Emerson asked if there was interest in updating street standards on tree grates. After a short discussion, the Commission appears interested but would like to be adequately staffed before undertaking such a project. PUBLIC FORUM There was no one in the audience wishing to speak. TYPE I REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION: PA-2018-00592 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 610 Ashland St APPLICANT: Rogue Planning & Development Services OWNER: Teresa Lockwood and George Schoen DESCRIPTION: A request for Site Design Review to convert an existing garage into a 484 square-foot Accessory Residential Unit (ARU) along with the construction of a new carport In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Community Development office at 541-488-5305 (TTY phone is 1-800-735-2900). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1). and garage to provide covered parking. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single- Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-1039 1E 16 AB; TAX LOT: 2000 Chairman John recused himself from the discussion as he had bid on the project. Kerry Kencairn, landscape architect, of and applicants, Teresa Lockwood and George Schoen residing at 610 Ashland Street in Ashland, addressed the Commission about their project. Kencairn stated that tree #7 on the tree protection plan is actually a Redwood. She went on to say that the applicants would like to save it, but given the c to ask for removal. Kencairn conveyed that trees #5, #6, and, #7 are slated for removal. After a brief discussion regarding the large number of existing trees on the property, the Commission rendered their decision. Oxendine/ Neff m/s to approve as presented. Voice vote. ALL AYES. Motion passed STREET TREE REMOVAL PERMITS PLANNING ACTION: TREE-2018-00001 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 793 & 802 N. Mountain Ave/802 Mountain Meadows Drive APPLICANT/OWNER: Mountain Meadows HOA DESCRIPTION: A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove eight tƩǒƓǒƭ /ĻƩğƭźŅĻƩğ (Cherry Plums) adjacent to the corner of N Mountain Ave and Mountain Meadows Drive. The trees are all approximately eight inches diameter at breast height and approximately 20 feet tall. The application asserts the trees have begun to lean and that heavy fruit production creates a slipping hazard. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential and Healthcare Services; ZONING: NM-R-1.5 & HC There was no conflict of interest or ex-parte communication indicated by the Commission. The applicants were not present. Commissioners discussed that they had visited trees and generally found them to be in good health. The fruit was not deemed to be an adequate hazard and is part of the essential nature of the trees and can be mitigated by proper clean up. The Commissioners recommended that if the applicants reapply they should bring a mitigation plan and apply ISA risk assessment criteria by a certified arborist. Oxendine/Cates m/s to deny the request and if the applicant re-applies that they return with a mitigation plan and ISA risk assessment for the trees requested to be removed. Voice vote. ALL AYES. Motion to deny passed. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Community Development office at 541-488-5305 (TTY phone is 1-800-735-2900). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1). PLANNING ACTION: PA-2018-00002 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 20 E Main St APPLICANT: City of Ashland Parks and Recreation OWNER: City of Ashland DESCRIPTION: A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove one Austrian Pine behind the bus stop near the Ashland Plaza. The tree is approximately twenty inches diameter at breast height and forty feet tall. The application asserts the trees is dying and beyond recovery. The demise appears to be caused by soil compaction, limited water, and a possible secondary bark beetle infestation. The applicant has proposed replacing with a tree more tolerant of urban conditions and mitigating soil compaction with plantings or landscaping. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Commercial Downtown; ZONING:C1D There was no conflict of interest or ex-parte communication indicated by the Commission. The applicant, Peter Baughman was present for the discussion. There was a short discussion by the Commissioners on what the cause of death of the tree would have been and, IF irrigation was stopped in the summer months, then that brief pause in irrigation may have been enough to kill the tree. Commissioners discussed replacement tree options and a Giant Sequoia was proposed for its ability to thrive in the region and the visual impact it could have over time. John/Oxendine m/s to approve with recommendation that the tree be mitigated with a Giant Sequoia. Voice vote. ALL AYES. Motion passed. DISCUSSION Chairman John alerted staff to a structure potentially being moved through the City that would require trimming of public trees. Cates mentioned that he will be going before the Wildfire commission on May 16, 2018 to give a quick presentation on what the Tree Commission does. He went on to say that this was supposed to happen last month, but the meeting was cancelled. Cates passed around a flyer for the Silva Cell planting system and Commissioners discussed merits and expressed interest in a demonstration. Oxendine will pursue a demonstration on SOU campus in regards to this. 1. Earth Day Event Report In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Community Development office at 541-488-5305 (TTY phone is 1-800-735-2900). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1). Cates and John both attended the Rogue Valley Earth Day Event and they discussed what It was reported that the kids really enjoyed the box with pine cones and everyone enjoyed plant giveaway. It was discussed by Commissioners that the Tree Commission acquire a banner of their own so they can more easily announce presence at special events. 2. Bellview Arbor Day Tree Planting Report Baughman and Cates reported on tree planting at Bellview Elementary. Approximately 50 kids took turns digging and planting 3 apple trees. It was considered a successful event by all. 3. Event Reminders Commission discussed the tree climbing event on May 12, 2018 in Medford and SOU will hold its Arbor Day celebration the same weekend. It is encouraged that all Commissioners attend these events if they are able. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Emerson noted that the next regular meeting would be held on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 6:00 pm. Respectfully submitted by Regan Trapp. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Community Development office at 541-488-5305 (TTY phone is 1-800-735-2900). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).