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TREE COMMISSION MINUTES
February 7, 2013
CALL TO ORDER –Ashland Tree Commission meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on January 3,
2013, in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located
at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, Oregon.
Commissioners Present Council Liaison
Ken Schmidt Greg Lemhouse - Absent
Tracy Peddicord
Tom Myers
Staff Present
Casey Roland Michael Pina, Assistant Planner
Russ Neff Anne Thayer, Parks Horticulturist
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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Peddicord motioned, Roland seconded the approval of the December 6, 2012 regular meeting minutes.
WELCOME GUESTS & PUBLIC FORUM
No guests.
TYPE I REVIEW
PLANNING ACTION: 2013-00038
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 438 Morton Street
APPLICANT: Geraldine Jones Trust
DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit approval to remove a 19-inch diameter
at breast height Sweet Gum tree placed on a vacant lot located between 430 and 438 Morton Street
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-10;
ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 109DC TAX LOT: 10600
Piña presented the staff report. Site visits were conducted by all. Although the subject tree appears to have
not been maintained for some time, it otherwise appears to be healthy. The Commission discussed the
proposal, and noted that Sweet Gums are a species that has to be maintained throughout its life, and limb
breakage is common of unmanaged Sweet Gums of this age, and is not necessarily indicative of being a
hazard. Therefore the Commission did not feel the tree qualified as a hazard tree as proposed. The
Commission also felt that without a development proposal, tree removal to make a lot more marketable is
not the correct process, and therefore recommends denying the removal request.
PLANNING ACTION: 2013-00055 NN
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 468 Helman Street
APPLICANT: Rick Landt
DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Topping Permit approval to remove the top of an
approximate 14-inch DBH Alder tree that is leaning into Ashland Creek at approximately 30 degrees
located in rear yard of 468 Helman Street.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-10;
ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 04CA TAX LOT: 3600
Piña presented the staff report. Site visits were conducted by all. The application is to remove a 14-inch
D.B.H. Alder tree that is significantly leaning over Ashland Creek. The applicant proposes to do this in
two phases; the first of which is by removing the top of the tree. The applicant’s findings assert that by
removing the top of the tree will accomplish two goals; the first is to preserve the riparian corridor as
bank stabilization and fish habitat, while the other is to preserve the life of the tree, albeit only
temporarily, and to eliminate the potential hazard of the tree falling onto the subject property. Also,
removing only the top of the subject tree will also allow for nearby Alder saplings to become more
established, thus further stabilizing the bank from further erosion. The Tree Commission discussed the
proposal and noted that Alders along riparian areas tend to grow very fast, and often compete for
resources. Therefore, the Commission recommended removing the tree as proposed.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
The Commission discussed upcoming Arbor week events and the need to identify a school/organization to
donate a tree to. Perhaps this year, the Commission opens up the selection process to the individual
schools as an essay contest. Peddicord would develop a press release to notify the schools/organization of
the contest.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Michael Piña, Assistant Planner
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