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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-09 Tree_MIN TREE COMMISSION MINUTES November 9, 2017 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Christopher 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. Commissioners Present: Parks Liaison Christopher John Peter Baughman Mike Oxendine Asa Cates Staff Present: Russell Neff Derek Severson Nathan Emerson Commissioners Absent: II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Oxendine/Cates m/s to approve the minutes of September 7, 2017 as presented. (Note: th There was no October 5 meeting due to the lack of a quorum.) III. ANNOUNCEMENTS & LIAISON REPORTS  Council Liaison (None)  Parks & Recreation Liaison Peter Baughman reported that he gave the Tree City Inventory (number of trees that were planted in Ashland) to the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department.  Community Development Staff Liaison Derek Severson noted: Assistant Planner Nathan Emerson will be taking over as staff liaison for the th Commission beginning with the December 7 meeting. Community Development made its Team Ashland presentation in mid-October, including presentations on the departments programs and commissions and a couple of project site visits. It seemed well-received. The Team Ashland program is continuing. As of this morning, we have no new applications for the Commission. Severson suggested that if Commissioners know people who might be interested in serving on the Commission – whether they realize it now or not – that they encourage them to apply through the Mayor’s office. Severson asked whether Commissioners feel it would be appropriate to send some sort of information to neighbors in the notice area when a tree removal request involves pine beetles, and if so would anyone be interested in helping to draft such a notice. The notice could be put in the City Source which goes to everyone in the Community. Severson discussed Commissioners recusing themselves from items on the agenda, and indicated that if the Commissioner has determined they need to recuse themselves they should actually step into the lobby until the item is finished. Recusals involve public official ethics law where there is a potential or actual conflict, and Commissioners should not be seen to be using their positions for financial gain. If they remain at the table, or in the room, there may be the possibility or at least the perception that they could still influence the decision. He explained that by stepping out of the room, even the perception of a violation can be avoided, and he also pointed out that there have been instances where public officials have been fined for not properly recusing themselves elsewhere in Oregon. IV. PUBLIC FORUM Melissa Mitchell-Hooge introduced herself. Ms. Mitchell-Hooge is part of a local group called “Save our Schools and Playgrounds.” Their goal is to save both Lincoln and Briscoe neighborhood parks and have them become official City Parks. The group has been working to try and get these neighborhood parks designated for City Parks for quite some time. This evening Ms. Mitchell-Hooge wanted to specifically discuss the Briscoe property and the beautiful trees located there. The Monterey Cypress on the corner of Laurel and North Main has been Tree of the year and is an amazing tree along with the beautiful black locust in the playground area, stated Ms. Mitchell-Hooge. She pointed out that along the front of the property is a Park like setting that creates a beautiful canopy of trees as a gateway into Ashland. There also appears to be a couple of memorial trees located on the property. We just can’t imagine what this property would be like without all the trees on it. Please consider these trees as the property moves forward with new development. V. TYPE I REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION: PA- 2017-01256 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 267 Meade Street APPLICANT/OWNER: Frank Papen DESCRIPTION: A request for Site Design Review to construct a 720 square-foot accessory residential unit at 267 Meade Street. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09CA; TAX LOT: 12500 Severson gave a brief staff report, noting that the proposed Accessory Residential Unit is in a location where a flat building pad was prepared some time ago, and that there should be limited site work associated with construction. He presented a more legible version of the applicant’s plan, and asked for Commissioner input on the appropriate extent of tree protection fencing. After a brief discussion the Commission made the following motion. Oxendine/John m/s to recommended approving the application as submitted. Voice Vote; All Ayes, motion passed. PLANNING ACTION: PA- 2017-01955 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 530 Sutton Place OWNER/APPLICANT: Roy Jorgensen DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove one tree at the vacant lot located at 530 Sutton Place. The tree is a 28” (diameter at breast height) White Oak that stands approximately 50 feet tall. The application states the tree is in poor health and considered a Hazard Tree. The application states the tree contains cavities and approximately 30% of the crown and 20% of the base is dead. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 11DD; TAX LOT: 1200. Chair John recused himself. Severson presented a brief staff report, and distributed a copy of an e-mail and photos from neighbor Haywood Norton at 527 Sutton Place. He noted that in talking to a differing neighbor who lived immediately adjacent to the tree on site that there is apparently significant subsurface drainage happening on the property and that the trees have been in decline for some time but seemed to have improved slightly this year. Oxendine/Neff m/s the following recommendation; 1. That tree protection fencing be placed at the dripline of the Oak to be retained. 2. That sidewalk construction takes into account the health of the Oak to be retained. 3. That the mitigation tree of 3” caliper of a similar species be planted on site. 4. That an arborist be on-site during stump removal to monitor tree to be retained. Voice Vote: All Ayes, motion passed. PLANNING ACTION: PA- 2017-02005 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 100 Union Street APPLICANT/OWNER: Mark Hunter Holsman/Fred & Norma Wright DESCRIPTION: A request for Site Design Review to construct a new single-family residence and an additional dwelling unit at 100 Union Street in the Historic District. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Multi-Family Residential; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09CA; TAX LOT: 13900 Severson gave a brief staff report, noting that the application involves the demolition of the existing structure which has been found to be dangerous or unsafe by the Building Official, and the construction of two units on the property. The application does not entail any tree removal, and is presented to the Commission for any recommendations they may have with regard to the Tree Protection Plan. After a discussion the Commission made the following motion. Oxendine/Neff m/s to recommend approving the application as submitted. Voice Vote, All Ayes, motion passed. VI. TYPE II REVIEWS None. VII. STREET TREE REMOVAL PERMITS PLANNING ACTION: PW-2017-01449 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 140 Alida Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Stan Potocki (Beaver Tree Service) DESCRIPTION: A request by a neighbor to reconsider the August 2017 denial of a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove a large Liquidambar tree from the parkrow planting strip at 140 Alida Street. (The original application noted that this was a very large tree with a history of dropping limbs, and that the sidewalk and adjacent driveway have also had to be replaced due to root damage.) Severson explained that this action was heard by the Commission in August, and that Tree Commissioner recommended denial noting that they might reconsider if a hazard assessment form was prepared and/or additional evidence from neighbors provided. A neighbor has provided e-mails noting arborist consultations, lack of regular pruning and incidents of fallen limbs and asked that this information be provided to the Commission for further consideration. The Tree Commission noted that no new information has been submitted and declined to reconsider the initial recommendation. PLANNING ACTION: PW-2017-01919 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 803, 813, 824, 832, 862, 863, 882, 892 and 893 Plum Ridge OWNER/APPLICANT: Various/Bumgardners DESCRIPTION: A request for Street Tree Removal Permits to remove street trees from the park row planting strip adjacent to 803, 813, 824, 832, 862, 863, 882, 892 and 893 Plum Ridge Drive. The request notes that the trees are leaning, fruiting heavily and are on the prohibited street tree list. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: North Mountain Neighborhood Plan; ZONING: NM-R-1.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 04AD; TAX LOT #: Various Severson presented a brief staff report, noting that this request involves a number of plums planted as street trees along the Plum Ridge Drive corridor. The request notes that the trees are leaning and that they fruit heavily which requires clean-up on the sidewalk and street, and also points out that they are on the prohibited street tree list. Severson also noted that the policy has been to require the adjacent homeowners sign- off on the removal when the trees are in the park row adjacent to individual units. Oxendine/John m/s the following recommendations; 1. That the removed trees be mitigated with small stature, narrower form trees from the street tree list such as Persian Parrotia, Chinese Pistache, or Hornbeam 2. That one plum tree be planted in the arboretum 3. That the spacing be corrected as much as possible for the replacement street trees and that the trees are removed and replaced gradually 4. That any tree to remain receive corrective pruning to improve their health PLANNING ACTION: PW-2017-01975 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 1370 Tolman Creek Road OWNER/APPLICANT: Zach Brombacher DESCRIPTION: A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove a 15-inch diameter Incense Cedar tree located at the southside of the driveway and adjacent to the Hamilton Creek corridor at 1370 Tolman Creek Road. The application notes that the tree is in very poor health, with a dead top and over 50 percent of the necrotic branches in the remaining crown, and evidence of cedar bark beetles in the trunk. The project arborist not that recovery is unlikely and recommends removal. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 23BA; TAX LOT #: 100 John recused himself from this action. Severson presented a brief staff report, noting that the application indicates that this tree is in very poor health, with a dead top and over 50 percent of branches in the remaining crown necrotic, with evidence of cedar park beetles in the trunk. The project arborist has indicated that recovery is unlikely at this level of decline and has recommended removal. Oxendine/Neff m/s to recommend approving the application subject to the following: That the removal be mitigated with a 1.5” caliper tree selected from the Ashland Street Tree Guide. PLANNING ACTION: PW-2017-01997 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 198 Crispin Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Carol L. Perez DESCRIPTION: A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove a 24-inch diameter Ash tree from the park row planting strip at 198 Crispin Street. The application notes that the tree is leaning, splitting and has included bark, and that the combination of its placement and lean mean that cars parking on street occasionally run into the tree. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 04CD; TAX LOT #: 220 Severson noted that this was a Raywood Ash in a very small planting area situated in such a way that, because of the lean, cars parking in the bay on the street can actually back into the leaning tree. He noted that the request identifies the lean, included bark, and the beginnings of a split as a basis for the removal request. Severson asked that if they felt the request was merited that the Commissioners also provide any suggestions they may have for a replacement tree given the size and placement of the planting bay. John/Cates m/s to recommend approving the application subject to the following: That the removal be mitigated with a 1.5” caliper small stature tree selected from the Ashland Street Tree Guide. PLANNING ACTION: PW-2017-02027 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 185 Brooks Lane OWNER/APPLICANT: Chautauqua Trace Homeowners’ Association DESCRIPTION: A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove a 20-inch diameter Ash tree from the park row planting strip on the Abbott Avenue side of the property at 185 Brooks Lane. The application notes that the tree is leaning significantly. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Suburban Residential; ZONING: R-1-3.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 11CA; TAX LOT #: 2763 Severson noted that this was another Raywood Ash that was leaning and appeared to have lifted the sidewalk previously, been patched and had again begun to crack the patch. John/Oxendine m/s to recommend approving the application subject to the following: That the removal be mitigated with a 1.5” caliper tree selected from the Ashland Street Tree Guide. VIII. DISCUSSION 2017 Tree of the Year Nominations (Eight nominees) Severson provided photos of the eight nominees, noting that typically the Commission would narrow the field to five for inclusion on the ballots for voting. Ballots would then be distributed through the City Source and on-line. He pointed out that the Walnut Tree at the North Mountain Park Nature Center was on public property, and that the policy had been to exclude trees on public property from the voting because the award was intended to provide incentives to homeowners for caring for their trees. He also noted that there was no Tree of the Year award last year, and noted that one citizen had suggested that the Commission consider picking two trees this year and grant an award for each of the last two years. The Commissioners suggested to keep all the nominated trees on the ballet and let the citizens vote. st Severson explained that the October 31 Daily Tidings article, “Knowledge of Trees” had been provided for the Commissioners information. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Severson noted that the next regular meeting would be held on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Carolyn Schwendener