HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-0708 Tree MINCITY OF
- SHLAND
Ashland Tree Commission
Regular Meeting
July 8, 2004
Minutes
Ill.
IV.
Call to Order: Chair Ted Loftus called the Ashland Tree Commission meeting to order at 7:08
p.m. on July 8, 2004 at the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development/Engineering Services
Building at 51 Winburn Way.
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Council Liaison:
'Youth Liaison:
',Staff Present:
Ted Loftus, Chair
Bryan Holley
Bryan Nelson
Mary Pritchard
Laurie Sager
January Jennings
Fred Stockwell
Cate Hartzell
None
Maria Harris, Associate Planner
Donn Todt, Parks Department
Approval of Minutes: Holley/Sager m/s to approve the minutes of June 3, 2004 as presented.
Voice vote: All AYES, Motion passed.
Welcome Guests & Public Forum:
Margaret Dole introduced herself. She said she has lived here for a year and was attending
because she is curious about what the Tree Commission does.
Public Hearings:
PLANNING ACTION 2004-075 is a request for Site Review approval for Phase I (Buildings A & B,
and a group of mini storage buildings)of a mixed-use development located upon an approximately
:six acre parcel at 550 Mistletoe Road. The proposal also requests a Variance from the minimum
required number of bicycle parking spaces and the associated design standards for the mini
:storage portion of the project. Comprehensive Plan Designation: Comprehensive Plan
Designation: Industrial; Zoning: M-l; Assessor's Map #: 39 1E 14 A; Tax Lot: 2301.
,APPLICANT: Burt & Veronica Brim
A staff report was given and members of the Tree Commission asked several questions regarding
the possibility of leaving the berm and trees in space along the frontage of future building sites,
storm dr~,inage and the use of a bioswale, and the absence of an irrigation plan. JoAnne
Krippaehne, Madronna Architecture, 520 Terrace Street, the project architect of record,
represented the applicant. She described the project to the Tree Commission including that there
are 13 trees six inches diameter at breast height (dbh) located on a berm along the front of the six
acre site that are proposed for removal. There was a discussion with Krippaehne regarding the
timing of' the development of the vacant building areas at the north and south end of the parcel
adjacent 'to the street and the timing of the removal of the berm and associated trees. There was a
clarification that 26 trees are being installed as street trees, and that 23 of the trees are required as
street trees and parking area trees. There was a discussion of the row of Leland Cypress planted
along the north side of the building adjacent to the railroad right-of-way, the appropriate plantings
July 8, 2004 Tree Q2mmission Minutes Page 1 of 4
and spacing, and of fire hazard issues. There was a discussion of the lawn area shown as
groundcover in the planting strip in the Mistletoe right-of-way.
There was no other testimony received for or against the proposal. Loftus closed the public
hearing and the Tree Commission further discussed the proposal. The Tree Commission
recommended approval of the project with the following specific recommendations.
Recommendation:
1. Street Trees - Pink Plum, Prunus Bureanna - This variety is not on the approved street tree list.
Chose large stature species from "7-foot Parkrow" or "8-foot Parkrow" from the Recommended
Street Tree Guide.
2. Soil for Parkrow - Use topsoil at least two feet in depth. Do not use fill from site because past
use has interspersed concrete in the soil, and the concrete increases the ph of soil making it
unsuitable for trees.
3. Lawn in Parkrow - Consider drought tolerant ground cover instead of lawn. Plant material
should not be planted up to base of tree.
4. Reco~nmend Incense Cedar, Bakers Cypress or Arizona Cypress instead of Leland Cypress in
planter adjacent to railroad row. Do not plant as a hedge row, incorporate and intersperse a variety
of plant material.
5. Emerald Green Arborvitae, Thuja Smarago along east side of parking area behind building A &
B needs a lot of water, may not do well in this setting.
The reco]mmendation was read back to the Tree Commission by Staff, and all member:;
acknowledged that they were in agreement with the items as presented.
V. Action Items
A,
Review Draft Heritage Tree Materials and Discuss Next Step in Moving
Forward Through Process
There was a discussion of the nomination form and ordinance revisions made by
Paul Nolte, City Attorney based on the comments at the June 2004 Tree
Commission meeting. Suggested changes include: 1) use Variety instead of
Kind under inspection report, and 2) specifying a time frame for the filing of a
quitclaim to remove a tree from the Heritage Tree List.
There was a discussion of whether the Heritage Tree ordinance revisions should
move forward alone or if it should be combined with more extensive revisions
of Chapter 18.61 of the Ashland Land Use Ordinance (ALUO). There was
agreement among the Commission that the Heritage Tree revisions should be
moved forward separately.
Sager/Pritchard m/s to recommend moving the Heritage Tree ordinance
revisions and nomination form forward All AYES, Motion passed.
July 8, 2004 Tree Commission Minutes Page 2 of 4
B,
Determine Commissioner Interest Level in Design Profession;al Ordinance
Amendment
Draft ordinance revisions to 18.72.020, 18.72.060 and 18.72.110 (attached)
requiring a design professional to prepare and inspect landscape and irrigation
plans were passed out at the meeting. There was a discussion of t~te history of
the Tree Commission requesting the revisions being made to the AI,UO. There
was a discussion of whether the irrigation system should be required to be
inspected by the design professional. There was discussion of requiring an
inspection by the design professional of tree protection, site preparation and
grading, plant materials and irrigation coverage. The Commission decided the
group needed time to review the materials and agreed it should be reviewed at
the September 2004 meeting.
C. Recommendations for Training for Landscape Plan Review
There was a discussion of a concern among Commission members that the
Planning Staff does not having the appropriate training to review landscape
plans and suggestions for training including working with two to three
Commission members, contacting individual members with questions and
reviewing ISA brochures. Staff explained that the Historic Commission, which
also serves in an advisory capacity to the Planning Commission, reviews all
levels of Planning Actions at their monthly meetings including Type I Planning
Actions and suggested the Tree Commission consider this approach or a similar
approach. There was a discussion of the difference between a Type I and Type
II Planning Action. The Commission decided that two to three members would
review Type I Planning Actions starting in October and a sign - up sheet would
be circulated at the September 2004 meeting. There discussion of having the
Type I review during the lunch hour on the same week of the Tree Commission
meeting, and that members would be responsible for finding a substitute.
Continued Review of Chapter 18.61 Tree Preservation and Protection
The item was deferred until the September 2004 meeting.
There was a discussion of the upcoming Street Improvement Projects.
The item was mistakenly left off of the agenda. The C. ommission
reviewed the draft project plans and the project timeline which is to go
out to bid at the end of July 2004. The was a discussion of the draft
project plans including the improvement of the east side of Tolman
Creek Road from Albertsons to East Main Street, the improvement of
the north side of Hersey from Ann to North Mountain Avenue, the
addition of a right hand turn lane on the east side of Walker Avenue
and the repavement of East Main from Eighth Street to North Mountain
Avenue. The issues relating to trees that were discussed by project
were: 1) Tolman Creek Road - there are some Oaks and Arizona
Cypress (just a little north of Albertsons) that will be impacted. Also
trees in the street right-of-way and on private property that appear to be
in the impact area. It was noted that there was a ditch tlhat was run
parallel to Tolman Creek Road (maybe an electric line trench) in this
area, and that up to the ditch line the trees in this area had been root
pruned. This results in that digging up to this point would n~ot harm the
July 8, 2004 Tree Commission Minutes Page 3 of 4
VI.
VII.
trees.; 2) Hersey Street - Would like to see Red Oaks offered to the
residents to plant behind the sidewalk .; 3) Walker Avenue- Trees on
east side of road behind sidewalk will be removed. It was noted that
these trees could be tree spaded and replanted if done in the right time
of year being late October and after.; 4) East Main Street - no concerns
as the project is limited to street repaying in existing curb-l:o-curb line.
The Commission members agreed to conduct site visits to the project
individually and report back to Nelson. Nelson would then forward a
recommendation to Staff.
Items from Commissioners
Liaison Reports - 1) Cate Hartzell, City Council, 2) January Jennings, Forest Lands, 3)
Donn Todt, Parks
Jennings reported that Forest Lands Commission is broken up in groups and
each group is working on their own plan. She recommended reading article in
the latest City Source.
Todt said Ailanthus located by entrance to Lithia Park on the plaza was probably
first tree planted in the plaza. He said the tree was damaged by a strong
windstorm around 1978 and lost a large limb as a result. Todt said he knew
would be problematic because the large limb was at a point where all of limbs
joined.' Since that time, the Parks Department has been regularly cabling. He
reported that in June, two additional large limbs broke off. He encouraged and
offered to assist Commission members if anyone was interested in looking at the
tree. Todt said the tree is probably borderline on being hazardous even though
40% of canopy has been removed and additional cable has been added. He said
he hoped it would not happen, but it may be a candidate for tree removal. Todt
said the tree was planted in the late 1870's, so it is long lived for an Ailanthus.
There was a discussion of root injections prolonging life. Todt said he didn't
think it would as the nutrient levels are good. There was a discussiion of using
the tree removal as a public education opportunity if the tree needs to come out.
One idea discussed was leaving the stump in the ground with a sign including an
explanation. Todt announced that the Parks Department will do a walk through
of Lithia Park and invited all commission members to attend.
B. New Items
There was a reminder that the Tree of Year process needs to get started, and it
was agreed that the timeline would be reviewed at the August 2004 meeting.
Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9: 29p.m.
July 8, 2004 Tree Commission Minutes Page 4 of 4