TREE COMMISSION
Minutes December 4, 2014
 
CALL TO ORDER – Vice Chair Ken Schmidt called the meeting of the Ashland Tree Commission to order at 6:00 p.m. on December 4, 2014 in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, Oregon.
 

Commissioners	Council Liaison
Ken Schmidt – Vice Chair	Carol Voisin - absent
Gregg Trunnell - Absent	Staff
Russ Neff	Derek Severson, Associate Planner
Casey Roland	Carolyn Schwendener, Admin
Christopher John - Absent

 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Neff/Roland m/s to approve the minutes of the November 6, 2014 Ashland Tree Commission meeting.  Voice Vote:  All Ayes, minutes were approved as presented.
 
WELCOME GUESTS & PUBLIC FORUM
John Galbraith, Landscape Architect and Mark Knox, Urban Planner was present to answer questions regarding the Planning Action for 175 Lithia Way. 
 
Commissioner Schmidt made a change to the agenda moving the Planning Action for 175 Lithia Way to the top of the agenda.
 
PLANNING ACTION REVIEW
PLANNING ACTION:                              PA-2014-01956                                      
SUBJECT PROPERTIES:                       First Place Subdivision, corner of Lithia Way & First Street
APPLICANTS:                                         First Place Partners, LLC                                                                       
DESCRIPTION:                                      A request for Site Review approval to construct the second and third phases of the First Place Subdivision for the property located at the corner of Lithia Way and First Street. 

• Phase Two is a request for Site Review approval to construct a new mixed use building (Plaza Central East) on Lots #2 and #3 at the corner of Lithia Way and First Street.The proposal includes consolidation of the two lots and construction of a 32,191 square foot, three-story mixed-use building consisting of basement parking, ground floor commercial, and 15 residential units distributed between the ground, second and third floors.The application includes requests to modify the common area landscaping and parking configuration to better accommodate the proposal, and Exceptions to the Site Design and Use Standards’ Downtown Design Standards to allow for balconies on the front of the building and to allow windows that are more horizontal than vertical.
• Phase Three is a request for Site Review approval to construct a new mixed use building (Plaza North) on Lots #4 and #5 at the northeast corner of the site, on First Street.The proposal includes consolidation of the two lots and construction of a 9,607 square foot, three-story mixed-use building including ground floor commercial space and four residential units.The application includes requests to modify the common area landscaping and parking configuration to better accommodate the proposal, and two requests for Exceptions to the Site Design and Use Standards’ Downtown Design Standards to allow for a staggered street setback and to allow two sets of windows to be more horizontal than vertical.
• (Phase One, a three-story 18,577 square foot mixed-use building (Plaza West) consisting of basement parking, commercial and residential space on the first floor and residential space on the second and third floors was recently completed at 175 Lithia Way.) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:Commercial;ZONING:C-1; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09BA; TAX LOTS:10100, 10102, 10103, 10104 and 10105.

 
 
 
 
Staff Report - City of Ashland Associate Planner Derek Severson gave a brief staff report outlining this planning action. Severson explained that in 2012 this project came forth before the Commission as a subdivision and Site Review to build the existing building that has recently been completed at 175 Lithia Way.  At that time the Commissioners reviewed the landscaping plan for the entire site and recommended approval with no changes to the plan.  The landscaping has been completed and the street trees have been planted.  With the proposal of the new building the applicants are proposing small modifications to the landscaping.
 
Severson said that staff is recommending approval to the Planning Commission with some conditions.  Historic Commission has also completed their review and is recommending approval. 
 
Schmidt acknowledged he did a site visit.
 
The Commissioners discussed the landscaping plan. They agreed the modification appears to be a net gain with the landscaping.  Severson acknowledged the City has a bond posted from the applicants to cover the cost of the landscaping that has not yet been completed.  Mr. Galbraith brought attention to the fact that the street trees on the property are in approximately three feet of structural soil with good drainage.
 
Neff/Schmidt m/s to accept the revised drawings.  Voice Vote; All ayes motion approved. 
 
PLANNING ACTION:              PA-2014-01880                                      
SUBJECT PROPERTY:          280 Liberty Street 
APPLICANT:                           Jason Eaton (Conscious Construction, Inc.)
OWNER:                                 Joan Kleen
DESCRIPTION:                 A request for Site Review and Conditional Use Permit approvals to construct a new approximately 400 square foot accessory residential unit along the alley for the property located at 280 Liberty Street.  The application also includes a request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove an eight-inch diameter-at-breast-height (d.b.h.) maple tree, and for Exception to the Site Design and Use Standards to allow a three-foot landscape buffer between the proposed parking space and the unit where an eight-foot buffer would typically be required. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP : 39 1E 09DA; TAX LOT: 4500.
 
Staff Report – Severson explained this application is for an Accessory Residential Unit (ARU) proposed off the alley at 280 Liberty Street. The issue for the Tree Commission is with the construction of the ARU there is a large 8 inch (DBH) Maple tree (#3 on the plan) which is designated to be removed. They applicants have also included a tree protection plan. 
 
Commissioner Roland declared that he did have prior contact with the property owner to discuss suggestions regarding the tree.  He was not hired by her and did not accept any money for his advice.  It was determined he did not need to recuse himself and could make an impartial decision. 
 
The Commissioners inquired as to why the applicants are protecting a tree on the neighbor’s property.  Roland responded that the neighbor actually wanted to cut the tree down but the applicant wanted it saved because of its location along the fence on the south side of their property. Not wanting to damage the roots surrounding the tree they offered to protect it. It’s Roland’s opinion that the tree should be able to survive the construction. 
 
The Commissioners recommended that the applicants mitigate the tree with at least a 1 ¾” caliper tree but preferably a 2” caliper.  It was also recommended that the applicants mitigate on site.  With that recommendation the Commissioners approved the landscaping plan. 
 
PLANNING ACTION:              PA-2014-01919                                      
SUBJECT PROPERTY:          696 Mistletoe Road 
APPLICANT:                           Mark Dirienzo
OWNER:                                 Ashland South Holdings, LLC & Dorado Investments, LLC
DESCRIPTION:                      A request for a Modification of a previously approved Site Review (PA-2004-075, 2006-00793 & 2007-01393). The proposal is construct an approximately 6,500 square foot building comprising of a mix of office, retail, warehousing and climate controlled mini storage spaces for the property located at 696 Mistletoe Road.  The site is the vacant building pad to the north of 700 Mistletoe Road. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Industrial; ZONING: M-1; ASSESSOR’S MAP : 39 1E 14AC; TAX LOT: 1100.
 
 
 
 
 
Staff Report – This planning application is a request for a modification of a previously approved Site Review.  The first building was constructed back in 2007 and they are now ready to construct the second building.  There are no proposed changes to the landscaping plan.  Severson brought the planning action to the attention of the Commissioners in the event they might have questions or concerns.   It is anticipated to have this building occupied by March of 2015. 
 
The Commissioners did not have any questions or concerns.
 
PLANNING ACTION:              PA-2014-01925                      
SUBJECT PROPERTY:          265 Fourth Street
APPLICANT:                           Peerless Hotel
DESCRIPTION:                      A Tree Removal request to remove a hazardous 28-inch DBH Maple tree near the Peerless Hotel Restaurant building located at 265 Fourth Street. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Employment; ZONING: E-1; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09AB TAX LOTS: 9200.
 
Staff Report – Severson explained that the Peerless Hotel is proposing to remove a 20” DBH Silver Maple hazard tree that is damaging the water lines, irrigation system, and building foundation.  Applicants would like to mitigate if they can find a place on the site where the damage won’t happen again.  The Commissioners agreed that the tree is disastrous. 
 
Due to the loss of canopy from the tree being removed the Commissioners recommended mitigating a 4” DBH or two 2” DBH on site.
 
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Severson will be taking over the Tree City USA application. 
 
Severson said that it appears the winner of Tree of The Year is most likely the Maple Tree at SOU.  Severson attributed the large amount of votes to the 123 on line votes it got at the end. 
 
The Commissioners confirmed that when looking at planning actions they would just like to review the landscape plans and not the entire packet. 
 
Russell commented that the new tree in the Plaza area looks very nice but wondered if the Parks Department could come up with something more attractive to protect the bark.  Currently there is white plastic.  Roland said he has some black plastic which would probably be a better look and the tree needs to be protected for the next couple of years.  Severson will check with Michael Black, Parks Director, to see what he could do.
               
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
Russ Neff will not be able to attend the Jan or February meeting. 
 
Meeting adjourned at 6:35p.m.
Respectively submitted by Carolyn Schwendener