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Agendas and Minutes

Tree Management Advisory Committee (View All)

Regular Monthly Meeting

Agenda
Thursday, August 05, 2004

Ashland Tree Commission
Regular Meeting
August 5, 2004
Minutes

Call to Order: Acting Chair January Jennings called the Ashland Tree Commission meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. on August 5, 2004 at the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development/Engineering Services Building at 51 Winburn Way.

Commissioners Present:	Bryan Holley Bryan Nelson Mary Pritchard January Jennings Fred Stockwell
Commissioners Absent:	Ted Loftus Laurie Sager
Council Liaison:	Cate Hartzell
Youth Liaison:	None
Staff Present:	Maria Harris, Associate Planner Donn Todt, Parks Department

II.

Approval of Minutes: Holley said he believed the statement on page 2, 2nd paragraph that says, "The Tree Commission recommended approval of the project with the following specific recommendations." is inappropriate. He said it was his opinion that the Tree Commission does not make recommendations on the decision for the total application. As a result, he asked that the minutes be changed to say, "The Tree Commission made the following recommendations to the Planning Commission." Pritchard noted that Prunus Bureanna should Prunus Blieriana under the Recommendation on PA 2004-075 for 550 Mistletoe Road. Holley noted that Leland Cypress should be Lelyand Cypress. Pritchard noted that Thuja Smarago should be Thuja Smaragd. Holley/Nelson m/s to approve the minutes of July 8, 2004 as corrected. Voice vote: All AYES, Motion passed.

III.

Welcome Guests & Public Forum:
No guests in attendance.

IV.

Public Hearings:

PLANNING ACTION 2004-102 is a request for Site Review to operate a personal service establishment involving the operation of a hot tub rental facility and related amenities (i.e. showers, sauna and steam room) at the property located at 832 A Street. In addition to two indoor hydrotherapy tubs, the facility will operate five outdoor hot tubs within the garden area of the rear yard. The application includes a request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove one tree. Comprehensive Plan Designation: Employment; Zoning: E-1; Assessor's Map #: 39 1E 09 AB; Tax Lot: 1900.
APPLICANT: Ilene Rubenstein

A staff report was given and members of the Tree Commission asked several questions. The clarification was made that the tree to be removed is an Almond tree. It was also noted that there is a Holly under the existing Black Walnut in the front yard. There were no concerns expressed regarding the Almond proposed for removal. There was a discussion of the completeness of the plan.

There was no testimony received for or against the proposal. Jennings closed the public hearing and the Tree Commission further discussed the proposal. The Tree Commission made the following recommendations to the Planning Commission.

Recommendation:
Recommend continuance of planning action due to incomplete landscape plan. Following items need to be addressed: directional arrow, landscaping plan with botanical names, variety and sizes, tree canopies and sizes, drawn to scale, submit tree protection plan.

Revised landscaping plan should incorporate the following suggestions.

1.	Existing flowering plum in middle of lot needs tree protection.
2.	Planting coverage is insufficient.
3.	Root barrier for the golden bamboo
4.	Otto Lyuken Laurel - not appropriate screen, is only three feet height and slow growing. Also not shown on landscape plan.
5.	Need screening on Seventh Street.
6.	Use vines to soften fencing.
7.	Recommend professional assistance.

The recommendation was read back to the Tree Commission by Staff, and all members acknowledged that they were in agreement with the items as presented.

Action Items

Review Tree of the Year Timeline
There was a discussion of the upcoming Tree of the Year project and the draft timeline. The following draft time line was agreed upon by the Commission.

1.	Nominations begin Sept. 1 (City Source and on-line).
2.	Nomination period closes last day of Sept.
3.	Review nominations at Oct. 7 Tree Coms. meeting.
4.	Ballot form printed in Ashland Daily Tidings on Oct 15.
5.	Give until Oct. 31 to vote.
6.	At Nov. 4 Tree Coms. meeting count ballots.
7.	Announce at Nov. 16 Council meeting.

There was a discussion of the Tree of Year process being moved to fall rather than in April last year (2003). It was discussed that the draft timeline needed to be communicated to Ann Seltzer August 17 so that it could be in the September and October City Source newsletter.

VI.

Items from Commissioners

New Items
There was a discussion of the landscaping and street trees recently installed for the project at the southeast corner of Fourth and B Street. Staff reported that a condition of approval required ground cover in the parkrows and Staff is working on getting the project in compliance with the approval. It was suggested that the Site Review standard requiring landscaping to be designed so that occurs with five years.

Jennings announced that Laurie Sager and herself would be doing a Tree Walk on October 23 at 2:00pm in Lithia Park.

Nelson asked for feedback on the checklist handed out several meetings back.

VII.

Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m.

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