ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION

MINUTES

November 4, 2010

CALL TO ORDER –Ashland Tree Commission meeting was called to order at 6:25 p.m. on November 4, 2010, in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, Oregon.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

October 9^th, 2010 Tree Commission Minutes – Townsend motioned/Roland seconded to approve the October 9, 2010 regular meeting minutes Voice vote: all AYES, Motion passed.  The minutes were approved as submitted.

WELCOME GUESTS

Mark Knox, Urban Development Services

Greg Covey - Landscape Architect

Don Sever, Designer

Melanie Mularz, Project Manager

PUBLIC FORUM

None

TYPE I PLANNING REVIEW

PLANNING ACTION:                 2010-01335      

SUBJECT PROPERTY:             555 Siskiyou Blvd.

APPLICANT:                             Josh Hamik/Stratford Inn

DESCRIPTION:                         A request for a Tree Removal permit to remove a dead Pine tree located in the parking lot behind the Stratford Inn Hotel.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:  Commercial;

ZONING: C-1; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 09AC; TAX LOT: 14400, 14500, & 14600

The Tree Commission has recommended the following for the above planning action:

1)   Applicant to choose an appropriate tree from the tree planting list and will do well in a parking lot.

2)   A tree that will be the same stature once mature as the one removed.

3)   Preferably not a Maple, Cottonwoods or Ash

TYPE II PLANNING REVIEW

PLANNING ACTION:         2010-01239   

SUBJECT PROPERTY:     59-85 Winburn Way

APPLICANT:                    Urban Development Services, LLC agents for Jonathan & Esther Phelps

DESCRIPTION:  A request for a Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment and Zone Change from Single Family Residential (R-1-7.5) to Commercial Downtown (C-1-D), Physical & Environmental Constraints Review Permit, Tree Removal Permit to remove five trees, Site Review approval to construct a new 10,632 square foot café/restaurant, and a Development Agreement for the four properties located at 59-85 Winburn Way.

EXISTING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:  Single Family Residential

PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:  Commercial Downtown

EXISTING ZONING: R-1-7.5, PROPOSED ZONING: C-1-D;

ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 09 BC TAX LOTS: 2500, 2501, 3000 & part of #39 1E 09 TL 100

The Tree Commission has recommended the following for the above planning action:

1)   The Commission is pleased with the thought and care that went into the plan for tree protection and planting, especially when it comes to saving existing trees where possible and altering the basement floor plan for root protection.

ACTION ITEMS

DISCUSSION ITEMS

The Parks Department and Tree Commission will decide where to transplant the two existing Maple trees from 85 Winburn Way. Staff noted that the Planning Action for 85 Winburn Way will take at least another month to complete its process, so Parks and the Tree Commission has ample time to finalize a location. Ideas thus far are the dog park and perhaps schools. Criteria for transplanting is that the location should be close as possible

The Tree Commission discussed the Goal setting parameters as the City Council prepares to lay out their goals for the next coming year. Staff could not locate the previous year’s goal setting document, but will verify with Amy to what was discussed and agreed upon. Piña stated that the Council will likely have a few months before they are required to finalize their goals, so the Tree Commission has time to think about potential projects and direction that the Tree Commission will like to take.

One concern that Meyers had with Water Sustainable/Conservation goals is that he has noticed when curtailment years are in effect, people stopped watering their trees, and some (Eastern) varieties have suffered. He would like to find a healthy balance between the benefits of trees in our community, choosing appropriate species that do well in our region, and sustainable practices. One idea was to reduce the amount of lawn area in the city’s parks and replace with boulders, trees, xeriscape landscaping, and furniture.

Another concern raised is sidewalk installation in relation to trees. Ideally a goal would be to work with the various city departments in getting the sidewalks installed and keeping the mature trees.

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS

Liaison Reports

            None

New Items

Current Balance

ADJOURNMENT– The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Michael Piña, Assistant Planner