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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-08_Tree_MIN ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION MINUTES January 8, 2009 CALL TO ORDER –Chair John Rinaldi called the Ashland Tree Commission meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. on January 8, 2009 in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR. Commissioners Present Council Liaison Laurie Sager Kate Jackson John Rinaldi Jr. Zane Jones Staff Present Bobby Townsend Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner Anne Rich, Parks Department, Absent APPROVAL OF MINUTES November 6, 2008 Tree Commission Minutes – Jones/Sager m/s to approve the minutes of November 6, 2008. Voice vote: all AYES, Motion passed. The minutes of October 9, 2008 were approved as presented. November 21, 2008 Recommended Street Tree Guide special meeting minutes – Sager/Jones m/s to approve the minutes of November 21, 2008. Voice vote: all a yes, motion passed. The minutes of November 21, 2008 were approved as presented. PUBLIC FORUM Commissioner Rinaldi welcomed the new City Council liaison Kate Jackson and newly appointed Commissioner Bobby Townsend. TYPE I REVIEW: PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01953 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 260 N Laurel APPLICANT: Nathan Sanford DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove one eight-inch in diameter at breast height fruitless mulberry tree. This site has a standing Site Review approval for the construction of two condominium units and the tree removal is necessary to facilitate that development. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Multi-Family Residential; ZONING: R-3; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 04CC TAX LOT #: 502 Recommendations: 1) Approved as submitted, no recommendations. PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01971 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 990 Siskiyou Blvd. (Southern Oregon University – Plunkett Center) APPLICANT: Southern Oregon University DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit for to remove a 28-inch in diameter at breast height Blue Spruce located near the northwest corner of the Plunkett Center. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Southern Oregon University; ZONING: SO; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 10CC; TAX LOT #: 5700 Recommendations: 1) Approved as submitted, no recommendations. PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01853 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 87 West Nevada Street and 811 Helman Street APPLICANT: Wilma, LLC (Greg & Valri Williams) DESCRIPTION: A request for Final Plan approval for the development of Phase 1 of Verde Village which includes all public improvements and infrastructure, riparian improvements, and the construction of the 24-unit cottage community and Lot 25. The application includes requests for Site Review approval for the 24-unit cottage community, an Exception to Street Standards to allow the installation of 114 feet of curbside sidewalk on the west side of Almeda Drive just north of the intersection of Helman and Nevada Streets, and an Administrative Variance to the Site Design and Use Standards to allow Units 17 and 18 to have their primary orientation toward open space rather than to Almeda Drive. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential and Suburban Residential ZONING: R-1-3.5, R-1- 5 and R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP and TAX LOT#: 39 1E 04BB Lots 700, 800, & 900 and 39 1E 04B 800 & 1100 Site Visits: All; No ex parte Amy gave the staff report. Applicant Discussion: Kerry KenCairn spoke about the project street lay out and design, the development of the riparian buffer corridor, the bioswale parkrows and the requirements of the project developers the architects and the need to isolate the locations of the trees due to the constraint of the solar aspects of the green development. Tree Commission Discussion: Commissioner Jones asked about the methodology during create a development you create a diverse forest and thought the proposal would be very nice at implementation. He questioned the use of the river birch and Kerry responded that it is a tough tree and it is not a native tree and that they have been bred to not have the negative impacts that the native birches are know to have. The Commission discussed the use of the caging to protect the new vegetation. The landscape contractors have responsibility for the survivability for the plants along the streets but not for situations they cannot control (deer). Kerry discussed the cottages and how they limited the number of trees along the south side of their developments and that meant less trees but they tried to provide more trees to shade the parking and driving surfaces. Recommendations: Approved as submitted moved by Townsend / second by Sager Voice Vote: all A Yes DISCUSSION ITEMS Tree of the Year Ballots – begin the voting process in September Make a sign that gets staked into the ground Write an article about the Tree nomination form available. Tree inventory survey Donn Todt informed Anne Rich that there was an existing Street Tree Inventory. To update; maybe an SOU student intern would be interested in expanding the existing inventory. Amy will find whatever exists and try to determine when it was created. Recommended Street Tree Guide Commissioner Townsend did some research into trees that were thought to be difficult to obtain: Kentucky Coffee tree; available. Canyon Live Oak; make note – difficult to obtain. Raywood Ash; available, but not a good street tree – remove from guide. Quercus Kellogi; Not available – remove from guide. Add: Bioswale parkrow street tree list; Betchula ‘Nigra’ There was some discussion about the content of the guide – should all trees that are difficult to obtain be remove? The Commission thought – no, even though its difficult to obtain they are still good trees and people should be encouraged to keep asking for them. The more requests for a particular tree the more likely a nursery is to obtain them. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS Liaison Reports Anne has copy of the Parks and Recreation report. Copies will be available in February. Amy will contact the Electric Department for their report – it does not need to be in writing it just needs to be done. Old Business Distinctive Tree List Current Balance - $243.32 ADJOURNMENT - Commissioner Rinaldi adjourned the meeting at 8:00 PM. Respectfully submitted by Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner 2