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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-03 Tree_MIN TREE COMMISSION MINUTES August 3, 2017 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Christopher John called the meeting to order at 6:02 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/Neff m/s to approve the minutes of July 6, 2017 Regular Tree Commission meeting. Voice Vote: All Ayes, motion passed. ANNOUNCEMENTS & LIAISON REPORTS  Parks & Recreation Liaison Peter Baughman – Baughman reported the extreme heat we have been encountering is very tough on trees. We have been doing a little more watering, stated Baughman.  Community Development Liaison Derek Severson – Severson introduced new City Assistant Planner, Nathan Emerson. Emerson was present to see how the Commission operates. Next month Fotini Kaufman our other new City Assistant Planner will attend the meeting, added Severson. III. PUBLIC FORUM Jim Falkenstein spoke. Mr. Falkenstein had previously applied to be on the Tree Commission was not appointed. At this time, he has withdrawn his application and will pursue other things. Mr. Falkenstein had three recommendations for the Commission. 1. The Tree Commission could be more involved in the Climate Energy Action Plan if they add to the language that carbon sequestration based on tree size is an important aspect to consider when tree removal is being made. 2. Regarding Site Visits – There should be language added to the ordinance allowing someone from the Tree Commission or the City to photograph the property when someone requests a Tree removal. 3. The Street Tree Guide should limit the number of trees rather than expand the amount of trees in the guide. (Based on the legacy map) The design concept is if you limit the amount of street tree options in certain areas for instance in historic neighborhoods you would recreate the historic character of that neighborhood. 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). Mr. Falkenstein also commented that he would like to see the tree at 70 Helman remain, as well as the hugh tree on Alida. The two trees on Wightman however should be removed. Louise Shawkat, 870 Cambridge introduced herself. Ms. Shawkat informed the Commission about a group called SOCAN at Mountain Meadows who meet monthly. One of the regulars who attends the meetings is an artist who moved here several years ago. She thought the campus at Mountain Meadows would be perfect as an arboretum and began a campaign to collect money to plant trees in Oregon. Due to her efforts there is now an arboretum at Mountain Meadows th campus. Ms. Shawkat invited the Commission to a celebration on Tuesday August 29 at 6:00 pm. SOCAN is also doing a program similar to master gardeners, after a one week course you can become a climate protector. IV. TYPE I REVIEWS None. V. TYPE II REVIEWS PLANNING ACTION: PA-2017-01199 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 707 Helman Street OWNER/APPLICANT: PDK Properties DESCRIPTION: A request for preliminary subdivision plat approval to create an eight-lot subdivision for the property located at 707 Helman Street. The application also includes a request for an Exception to Street Standards to install curbside sidewalks along the full frontage of the property where city Street Standards would typically require that a park row planting strip with street trees be installed between the curb and sidewalk. The application also includes a Tree Removal Permit to remove one significant tree (#33) an 18-inch diameter Ponderosa Pine. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 04BC; TAX LOT #: 100 Severson provided a brief staff report, noting: The application is an eight lot subdivision under the standard subdivision chapter and a request for an Exception to Street Standards to install curbside sidewalks without parkrows due to the site topography. Unlike most subdivisions applications under the Performance Standards Options Chapter, there is no requirement at the subdivision level to consider the preservation of natural features beyond the standard Tree Removal Permit process. The application includes an arborist’s report which identifies 41 trees on the property and proposes to remove all of them. Only one tree (#33), an 18-inch d.b.h. Ponderosa Pine requires a removal permit. Vacant residential properties require Tree Removal Permits for the removal of significant trees, and in this case the existing home is being demolished and the application is to redevelop a vacant residential property. The application notes that the tree’s placement is such that it’s preservation would necessitate the loss of one building lot for the project. The applicants propose to mitigate the removal with a five- to six-foot conifer on one of the lots, and would also install approved and irrigated street trees along the frontage at a spacing of one per 30 feet. The application indicates that trees on neighboring properties would be protected by existing fences and required setbacks, and additional tree protection is not proposed. 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). Tom Madara, Arborist & Amy Gunter presented on behalf of the applicant’s team. After a discussion the Commission made the following motion and recommendations. John/Oxendine m/s to approve the application with the following recommendations. Voice Vote: All ayes 1) That a Tree Protection Plan prepared by a certified arborist be provided prior to signature of the final survey plat to address the protection of trees on adjacent properties during the site excavation associated with the subdivision infrastructure installation including the bio-swales along the north property line. Tree protection measures shall be installed, inspected and approved prior to any site work including demolition, staging or storage of materials on the subject property. 2) That street trees shall be installed behind the sidewalk on the individual street- fronting lots prior to the issuance of each certificate of occupancy. These trees shall be maintained in perpetuity in lieu of street trees within the park row planting strip. 3) That the Commission hopes that with the ultimate development of the property, all 41 trees proposed to be removed here can ultimately be mitigated through the planting of required street trees, a five- to six-foot conifer to mitigate the Ponderosa Pine’s removal, and the individual landscaping installed on the eight individual lots. VI. STREET TREE REMOVAL PERMITS PLANNING ACTION: PW-2017-01397 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 198 North Wightman Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Carolyn Gale for the Millpond Owners Association DESCRIPTION: A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove two Leyland Cypress trees from within the cul-de-sac in front of 198 North Wightman Street. The application provided notes that these trees are infested with borers, present a fire hazard and are likely to damage infrastructure in the future. John recused himself. Severson explained that these are not typical street trees within a park row, and were originally planted as part of the subdivision’s landscaping in a row of cypresses to screen parking in the cul- de-sac. Others have been removed over time; with the removal of these two the applicant wishes to install landscaping rather than trees. Staff would appreciate any guidance from Commissioners with regard to whether trees are appropriate here, and will work with Public Works staff to reach a final decision based on the Commission recommendation. Neff/Oxendine m/s to approve the removal and plant with shrubs. Voice Vote: All Ayes, motion passed. The Tree Commission recommends the application be approved subject to the requirement that the applicant replant the space with a hedge/shrubs to provide visual screening for the adjacent houses. Should the applicants ultimately wish to plant replacement trees, Commissioners felt that either a vase-shaped Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera var. Fastigiata) or a columnar 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). European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus var. Fastigata) would be well-suited to this particular location. PLANNING ACTION: PW-2017-01449 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 140 Alida Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Stan Potocki (Beaver Tree Service) DESCRIPTION: A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove a large Liquidambar tree from the parkrow planting strip at 140 Alida Street. Severson noted the application explains that this is a very large tree with a history of dropping limbs, and also indicates that the sidewalk and adjacent driveway have also had to be replaced due to root damage. Oxendine/Neff m/s to deny the application. Would need ISA form supplemented by more detailed evidence from the neighbors. Also recommend pruning. Voice Vote; All ayes Tree Commissioners noted that they had all visited the site, and felt that the tree was a big, beautiful tree that is prone to dropping limbs and difficult to prune. Commissioners emphasized that these trees can be pruned if it is done properly, and expressed concerns that without a proper assessment of the tree’s condition they did not believe that removal had been justified based solely on the limited, anecdotal evidence of a potential safety hazard. The Tree Commission recommended that the request be denied, and that the tree instead be properly pruned. Commissioners noted that should the applicant provide additional evidence in support of removal in the form of an ISA Hazard Assessment Form and a mitigation proposal to supplement the anecdotal evidence provided they would be willing to reconsider the request. PLANNING ACTION: PW-2017-01456 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard (SOU Campus) OWNER/APPLICANT: Southern Oregon University DESCRIPTION: A request for a Street Tree Removal Permit to remove two Deodar Cedar trees (one 24-inches d.b.h. and one 23-inches d.b.h.) from the lawn area in front of Churchill Hall, near the benches/sidewalk at the NW corner of the building. The application explains that there is a need to replace a failing 24-inch diameter clay tile stormwater pipe located immediately below the two trees. This piping is noted as being original to the 1926 construction of Churchill Hall, and the application explains that due to the location of the existing storm sewer intersection (manholes), re-routing the line would affect other trees while creating directional issues that could cause blockages in the pipe. Severson gave a brief staff report. Tree Commissioners noted that in visiting the site: 1) The trees involved in the request are not street trees and are located well outside of the city street right-of-way. Staff confirmed that these were not street trees, that the request needs to be processed as a Type I planning action, and that the applicants had already been notified of this situation. 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). 2) That one of the trees has a plaque identifying it as a “Friendship Tree” conveying something akin to “heritage tree” status. The Tree Commission recommended that the removal request be approved only subject to the recommendation that the applicants first exhaust all other reasonable alternatives to removing the trees (i.e. re-routing of the lines, boring, slip-lining the pipes with a cured-in-place liner, etc.). Asa/Neff m/s to approve if other reasonable measures are exhausted (slip line or re-routing). Voice Vote; All ayes VII. DISCUSSION Tree of the Year 2017 Severson noted that the nomination ballots will be distributed in the August edition of the City Source sent with utility bills and will also be available to fill-out at the Community Development front counter. VIII. The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Tree Commission will be on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. 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).