Council Communication

Second Reading of an Ordinance Modifying the Tree Preservation and Protection Chapter 18.61, AMC Regarding Heritage Trees
Meeting Date:	January 4, 2005		Primary Staff Contact: Maria Harris, 552-2045 harrism@ashland.or.us
Department:	Planning		Secondary Staff Contact: Amy Anderson, 552-2044, andersona@ashland.or.us
Contributing Departments:
Approval:	Gino Grimaldi

Statement: The proposal is to modify Chapter 18.61 of the Ashland Land Use Ordinance to make removal of a Heritage Tree from the list immediate upon owner request, and to include removal of a heritage tree as an activity that requires a Tree Removal Permit. The Council held a public hearing on this matter on December 21, 2004 and approved first reading of the ordinance, with a slight modification of one section (18.61.042.D.1.e) to include the words "currently listed" before "Heritage Tree."
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Background: Chapter 18.61, Tree Preservation and Protection, was adopted in June 2002 after an extensive public involvement process. The current ordinance contains a section on Heritage Trees, 18.61.025, which establishes the framework for creating a Heritage Tree List. The purpose of the Heritage Tree List is to provide recognition for trees in Ashland that are of special status - trees in good health that have distinctive form, size, location, species, unique qualities or historical significance. The program is intended to be voluntary. The addition of a tree to the Heritage Tree List requires written permission from the property owner. In preparing to initiate the program, the Tree Commission requested two additions to the current ordinance. The first change is to add language to 18.61.025.E that would allow a property owner to remove a tree from the list at any time. This change is proposed to address potential hesitancy from property owners considering adding a tree to the list. The second change would require a Tree Removal Permit for a Heritage Tree. The requirement of a tree removal permit for a listed tree is to provide review and a checkpoint before specimen trees are removed.
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Related City Policies:
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Council Options: An ordinance amendment is a legislative act solely within the authority of the Council. The Council has held a public hearing and modified the suggested ordinance language, and approved first reading of the ordinance. The next step for the Council would be to adopt the ordinance as previously modified.
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Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the ordinance as presented.
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Potential Motions: Move to adopt the ordinance as presented.
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Attachments: •  Proposed Ordinance Amendment •  Draft Minutes from 12.21.04 City Council Meeting

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