ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION

MINUTES

June 5, 2008

CALL TO ORDER –Chair Laurie Sager called the Ashland Tree Commission meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. on June 5, 2008 in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

May 8, 2008 Tree Commission Minutes - Rinaldi/Jones m/s to approve the minutes of May 8, 2008. Voice vote:  all AYES, Motion passed.  The minutes of May 8, 2008 were approved as presented. 

PUBLIC FORUM

None

TYPE I REVIEW

PLANNING ACTION:  2008-00594

SUBJECT PROPERTY:  954 Siskiyou Blvd.

APPLICANT:  Gregory Adams

DESCRIPTION: Request for a Conditional Use Permit and Site Review approval for an office use in and        R-2 zone, with an apartment upstairs for the property located at 954 Siskiyou Blvd.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Low Density Multi-Family Residential; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 09 DD; TAX LOT:  100

Discussion: The Commissioners expressed concern for the trees shown on the plan proposed for removal that had been damaged by construction over the past few days. Though the applicant wanted to remove the trees, the commission felt that the reason for Tree Commission meetings is to discuss projects and how potentially alternatives to removal could be sought. Once the damage is done, the applicant is merely disregarding the process and the requirements of the code.

Recommendations: 

1)     That a revised landscaping plan shall be submitted prior to the issuance of a building permit that has (2) mitigation trees of larger stature and similar canopy coverage to the locust trees removed. The mitigation trees shall be a minimum of two caliper inches. 

2)     That an arborist report addressing the health and preservation of the two cedar trees shall be submitted prior to the issuance of a building permit. The applicant shall follow the recommendations of the arborist. If tree removal is specified by the arborist, the applicant shall mitigate with two additional large stature trees.

3)     That a tree protection plan in accordance with 18.61.200 shall be submitted for review and approval by the staff advisor prior to the issuance of a building permit. That the trees proposed for preservation shall have the tree protection installed and inspected by the City of Ashland Planning Department prior to any site work or storage of materials.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

PLANNING ACTION:  2008-00359

SUBJECT PROPERTY: 265 North Main Street 

APPLICANT:  Lithia Arts Guild

DESCRIPTION: Request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a portion of the former Briscoe Elementary School building and the surrounding grounds to be used for individual artists’ workspaces and community events. The application requests permanent approval for a yearly event that was previously approved on a temporary basis. The applicant is requesting to host 11 additional events per year in addition to the previously approved event. The application also includes a Type II Variance to parking to allow the parking for events to be off-site in the adjacent neighborhood. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Low Density Multi-Family Residential; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 05 DD; TAX LOT: 2500

Recommendations: 

1)     That the applicant’s shall coordinate with Ashland Parks and Recreation for the placement of any signs or anything that will be staked into the ground to schedule locates of irrigation lines.

2)     If extra maintenance costs are incurred by Ashland Parks and Recreation due to large events by the applicant, the applicant shall reimburse the Parks Department.

PLANNING ACTION:  2008-00766

SUBJECT PROPERTY: 165 Lithia Way & 123 North First Street 

APPLICANT:  Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market

DESCRIPTION: Request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow the operation of an outdoor farmers market on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. during the months of May through November. The proposed market would be held in a portion of the existing parking lot for the property located at the Northwest corner of First St. and Lithia Way, and would be limited to 25 vendor booths. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Commercial; ZONING: C-1; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 09 BA; TAX LOTS: 90000, 90001, 90002, 90003, 10100, 11601 & 11701

Recommendations: 

No Recommendations

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Arterial Setback Ordinance modifications: Tree Commission will discuss language options later.

Backpage Articles: Rinaldi’s article was printed in today’s paper. Rinaldi and Jones are writing about the Stewartia Camellia in Lithia Park.

I Spy: Sager will contact the Daily Tidings about possibly doing a I Spy contest on their webpage.

Tree Walks: Anne Rich, along with Kelly and John planned a tree walk for September 20 from 2 PM to 4 PM in Lithia Park. North Mountain Park will print info about it in their guide.         

Budget: Commissioners’ OK’d budget for canopy and handouts.

Current Balance - $303.24

ADJOURNMENT - Commissioner Sager adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner