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Home My WebLink About2018-04-05 Tree_MIN TREE COMMISSION MINUTES April 5, 2018 Commissioners Present: Parks Liaison Christopher John Peter Baughman Mike Oxendine Asa Cates Staff Present: Russell Neff Nathan Emerson I. CALL TO ORDER Commission Chair John called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room of the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Cates/John m/s to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2018 minutes as presented. Voice Vote; All Ayes, motion passed. III. ANNOUNCEMENTS & LIAISON REPORTS Council Liaison (None) Parks & Recreation Liaison Peter Baughman announced there will be a tree th planting for Arbor Day on Friday the 13 at Belleview Elementary School. The Parks Department will be planting three apple trees. They will also use this opportunity to work with a classroom to educate the students on the importance of trees. Baughman reported that the pine tree at the Bus Station in the Plaza is likely dead. Parks will be applying for a Street Tree Removal permit. IV. PUBLIC FORUM No one spoke V. TYPE I REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION: PA-2018-00241 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 114 Granite Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Mardi Mastain DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove a 27-inch DBH (diameter at breast height) Maple Tree in the Northwest Corner of the property. This is a modification to a previous planning approval (PA-2017-00235) that proposed to retain this tree. The application states the discovery of percolating water will require more excavation, further jeopardizing the health of 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). the tree and presenting a foreseeable danger of property damage. (Note, this is a rehearing of an action. Additional information has been filed) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential; ZONING: R-1- 7.5; : 39 1E 09 BC; TAX LOT: 3401 Applicant, Mardi Mastain was present to answer questions about her application. The Commissioners were provided the Basic Tree Risk Assessment from Willie Gingg, Southern Oregon Tree Care LLC. which states that the tree is in potential for collapse during excavation, recommending the removal of the tree. Mastain did acknowledge she really did want to keep this tree and is disappointed she will not be able to do so. After a brief discussion the following motion was made. Oxendine/Neff m/s to approve as presented. Voice Vote; All Ayes, motion passed unanimously. VI. TYPE II REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION: PA-2018-00429 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 469 Russell Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Laz Ayala /KDA Homes, LLC DESCRIPTION: A request for Site Design Review approval to construct a new 11,296 square foot, two-story mixed-use building at 469 Russell Street. The 5,648 ground floor space is to be used for corporate offices while the second floor will consist of seven residential condominiums ranging in size from 482 to 834 square feet per unit. (Note, this is a review of the landscaping plan only, no tree removal permit has been filed) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Employment; ZONING: E-1; 39 1E 09 AA; TAX LOT: 2802 Mark Knox was present to represent the applicant and answer any questions. The Commissioners discussed the landscape plans reminding the applicant how important sun protection for the tree trunk is for street trees until they get well established. The Commissioners discussed the appropriate use of tree grates and some of the issues that arise when they are used. For instance, metal tree grates can interfere with the growth of the tree. Most are designed so the center can be removed giving more space for the tree to grow but most people forget to remove that center. Tree grates are required as part of the Public Works standards. 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). After the discussion the following motion was made. Oxendine/Neff m/s to approve with the recommendations that no tree grates be installed, more soil volume and larger wells are used, tree wraps provided to protect from solar damage and that the trees are watered consistently for two to three years. Voice Vote; All Ayes, motion passed unanimously. PLANNING ACTION: PA-2018-00570 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 255 Maple St OWNER: Charlie Martz APPLICANT: Canopy LLC DESCRIPTION: A request for a Non Hazardous tree removal of a 10-inch diameter at breast height Scarlett Oak for the property at 255 Maple St. The application states that the tree is near power lines which have required repeated pruning into poor form. The applicant would like to replace with a tree more appropriate for the location. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Health Care Services; ZONING: HC; MAP: 39 1E 05DB; TAX LOT: 500 Note: This is a Type 1 Planning Action but was heard after 469 Russell in the interest of hearing applications with attendees first. Commissioner John recused himself as he is the project arborist. After a brief discussion the Commissioners agreed on the poor form of the tree as it bends like crazy and is growing towards the street. Cates/Neff m/s to approve with the recommendation to mitigate with two small stature trees or one large stature tree closer to the building and further from power lines. Voice Vote; All ayes, motion passed. VII. STREET TREE REMOVAL PERMITS None to review VIII. DISCUSSION Arbor Day Updates The Commissioners had a discussion on the Rogue Valley Earth Day event taking place April 21, 2018. The Commissioners are planning on attending and discussed effective methods for communicating their mission. It was suggested to include coloring book pages, tree drawing contest for free plants and offer Tree City USA materials. 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). Oxendine informed the group he has been selected International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Education Director for Southern Oregon. He will be looking for opportunities for continued learning. Cates updated the Commission on the Ashland Canal Advisory Group. He explained though he started in favor of the project he gradually grew to believe the project is unnecessary the more he learned about it. Both Cates and Oxendine expressed doubts as to what the payback of the project will offer and the water savings it will provide. Cates also updated that he would like to do a presentation to the Wildfire Commission asking the other Commissioners for guidance on format and procedures. IX. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:44. Emerson noted that the next meeting would be on May 3, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room of the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way. 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).