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.
 

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