TREE COMMISSION MINUTES
May 9, 2013
CALL TO ORDER –Ashland Tree Commission meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on May 9, 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 |
Carol Voison - absent |
Gregg Trunnell |
|
Russ Neff |
Staff Present |
Casey Roland |
Michael Pina, Assistant Planner |
|
Anne Thayer, Parks Horticulturist |
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Peddicord motioned, Roland seconded the approval of the April 5, 2013 regular meeting minutes.
WELCOME GUESTS & PUBLIC FORUM
No guests.
TYPE I REVIEW
PLANNING ACTION: 2013-00523
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 14 B Street
APPLICANT: Charlene Mather
DESCRIPTION: A request for a Hazardous Tree Removal Permit approval to remove a 40-inch DBH Cedar tree, and an 18-inch Maple tree, and 2 Ailanthus trees located at 14 B Street.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Commercial;
ZONING: C-1;
ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09BB
TAX LOT: 11100
Piña presented the staff report. Site visits were conducted by all. The subject property is located on the south side of B Street, between Water and Oak Streets, and contains a 1,272 square foot, historic contributing single family residence and dense vegetation. The applicant proposes to remove four trees greater than six-inches DBH on the property; two Ailanthus Trees atop a retaining wall adjacent to B Street, a heavily diseased and 90 percent dead Maple trees located in the side yard, and a 40-inch Deodar Cedar placed near the rear boundary line adjacent to the parking area behind 181 Oak Street.
A certified Arborist has inspected the trees and presented a report to the Planning Division. The report noted that the Ailanthus trees are highly invasive and are currently destroying the retaining wall adjacent to the sidewalk. Plus, its aggressive root systems could do further damage to the home if not removed. And that the Cedar has outgrown its space, and has had large limbs break off, potentially damaging the home. In addition, a recent pruning job by the neighboring property owner has left the tree unbalanced, and the applicant is concerned about the tree falling onto the home. The Commission wondered if the Cedar could be saved despite its current form, and noted that Deodar Cedars are fairly stable once mature, and doesn’t foresee the loss of limbs as a hazard. Additionally, the loss of shade provided by the tree will cause the home to be substantially hotter in summer months. However, given the severe loss of limbs on the south side, plus being in a severely constricted location, the tree’s future growth will only be further complicated by its placement and form, and removal seems to be the best option at this time.
The applicant has proposes to mitigate two trees by retaining an approximate six-inch volunteer Maple adjacent to the one proposed for removal, plus planning a Dogwood in place of the one of the Ailanthus trees removed. Therefore the Commission recommends the application be approved as submitted, with two trees being mitigated in accordance with AMC 18.61.084.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Pina debriefed the Commission on this year’s Arbor Day events and Rogue Valley Earth Day.
On the date of the next scheduled Tree Commission meeting (June 6, 2013), a forestry conference is being held in Portland that staff is interested in attending. IN speaking with the Commission about this training, it was noted that other members will not be present for the next Tree Commission meeting, therefore there would not be a quorum. Therefore the June 6 regular meeting will be canceled.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 pm.