Agendas and Minutes

Tree Management Advisory Committee (View All)

Regular Meeting

Agenda
Thursday, November 09, 2006

ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION

MINUTES

November 9, 2006

 

CALL TO ORDER –Chair Bryan Holley called the Ashland Tree Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. on November 9, 2006 in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR.

 

Commissioners Present

Council Liaison

Bryan Holley

David Chapman, absent

Mary Pritchard

 

Laurie Sager, absent

Staff Present

Ted Loftus, absent

Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner

Steve Siewert

Anne Rich, absent

Colin Guiley

Carolyn Schwendener, Account Clerk

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Second page under Discussion Items second paragraph down should read Chapter 18.72.  Pritchard/Siewert m/s to approve the minutes of October 5, 2006. Voice vote:  all AYES, Motion passed.  The minutes of October 5, 2006 were approved as corrected.

 

PUBLIC FORUM

None present

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

PLANNING ACTION #2006-00612 Site Review approval for a mixed-use development comprised of general office space and six residential condominiums for the property located at 160 Helman St.  A Tree Removal Permit is requested to remove two trees on site that are sized six inches diameter at breast height and greater. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Employment District W/Residential Overlay; ZONING:  E-1; ASSESSOR’S MAP #39 1E 04 CC; TAX LOT:  2100.

APPLICANT:  Siskiyou LLC/James Batzer

Ř       Re-review of landscaping at corner of Helman and Van Ness based on changes made at Planning Commission to push back building on that corner.

 

Site Visits and Ex Parte Contacts – All the Commissioners did a site visit previously when this Planning Action was first reviewed by the Tree Commission at the October 5, 2006 meeting.

 

There was no new staff report.

 

Applicant testimony - Mark Knox, Urban Development Services, 320 E Main Suite 202 Ashland spoke representing the applicants.  Mr. Knox asked the Commissioners if they would be willing to accept the three foot planting strip with lavender in it and inquired how they felt about a meandering 5 foot sidewalk. The Commissioners discussed this Planning Action and agreed it was a very good solution because a meandering sidewalk allows for a much deeper planting space and room for a tree. 

 

Recommendations:

1) That the street tree root barriers shall be installed laterally along the sidewalk, the building and the street.

 

2) That the Tree Commission supports the proposed meander of the sidewalk to increase the planting area at the corner of Van Ness & Helman streets.

 

Mr. Knox asked to speak regarding the tree that fell at 380 Clay St.  Mr. Knox stated that the neighbor had implied that if the tree had been properly pruned it might not have fallen. Mr. Knox strongly felt that there was no way anyone could have predicted that the tree would fall regardless if it had been pruned or not.  Tom Myers, Certified Arborist, inspected the tree and confirmed that the tree had rotted and recommended that it be removed immediately.  Mr. Myers also recommended that the other trees on the property be pruned.  Mr. Knox wanted the Tree Commissioners to know that they are in the middle of doing their due diligence and caring for the trees.

 

PLANNING ACTION #2006-01663 A request for an Annexation and Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map change from Jackson County zoning RR-5 (Rural Residential) to City of Ashland zoning R-2 (Low-Density Multiple Family Residential), R-1-3.5 (Suburban Residential) and R-1 (Single-Family Residential) for an 11.64-acre site comprised of five parcels located at  87 W. Nevada St. and 811 Helman St. (Ashland Greenhouses).  The Ashland Comprehensive Plan Map identifies the site for Single-Family Residential development (R-1 zoning), and therefore, the proposal includes a Comprehensive Plan Map Change to modify the Single-Family Residential designation to Suburban Residential (R-1-3.5 zoning) and Low Density Multi-Family Residential (R-2) designations.  The proposal requires Outline Plan and Site Review approvals to develop the property as a 78-unit multi-family development and subdivision under the Performance Standards Options Chapter 18.88.  A Tree Removal Permit is requested to remove a 36-inch diameter at breast height Oak tree.  Exceptions to the Street Standards are requested to install a curbside sidewalk on one side of one of the proposed streets, for not locating a street adjacent to natural features and to build two dead-end streets.  Variances are requested to reduce the on-street parking requirement from 78 to 38 spaces, to reduce the rear yard setback requirement for six of the town homes in the northwestern corner of the site from 20 feet to 12, 14 and 16 feet, and to reduce the required distance between buildings for the 27 cottages in the southwestern corner of the site.  An Administrative Variance to the Site Design and Use Standards is requested to have the primary orientation to the south rather than the street as required. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:  (Current) Single-Family Residential to (Proposed) Multi-Family Residential & Suburban Residential; ZONING: (Current) RR-5 & R-1-7.5 to (Proposed) R-1-3.5 & R-1-7.5 & R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 4B; TAX LOTS:  800 & 1100 and ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 4BB; TAX LOTS: 700, 800, & 900

APPLICANT: Forrester & Williams

 

Site Visits and Ex Parte Contacts – All the Commissioners did a site visit.

 

The staff is asking for a continuance of this Planning Action and Amy confirmed that the issues that were addressed in the staff report that are recommending continuance have nothing to do with landscaping, open space or tree removal.  Everything that the Tree Commission would recommend would be incorporated into the final plan that would come back to the Commission as a Type 1. 

 

Applicant Testimony – Applicants Valri and Greg Williams were present.  Kerry KenCairn, Landscape Architect spoke representing the applicants.  Ms. KenCairn said that no tree report was submitted because she felt that the maps were sufficient enough. Ms. KenCairn explained the purpose for removing the trees that are designated for removal. 

 

Holley commented that citizens are urging the Tree Commission to plant native trees especially Oaks and encouraged Ms. KenCairn to plant the native Oaks wherever possible.  Pritchard said she would like to see more conifers planted.

 

Holley asked if the individual landscaping plans for the various buildings will be coming before the Tree Commission.  Amy said that the R-2 development properties are subject to site review and cottages would be required to have separate landscaping plans so they would come back before the Commission.

 

Recommendation:

1) Tree Commission supports project outline plan as proposed.

 

ACTION ITEMS

Fire Dept. Ordinance subcommittee volunteers.  Sager and Holley will be representatives at this time. 

 

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS

Liaison Reports - No reports given

 

Land Use Ordinance Review (Siegel Report) - Tabled until next month’s meeting.

 

Changes to the agenda – Holly asked that Ordinance Revisions be dropped from the agenda, that the year 2007 is added to Tree Walks and that Tree Grates/Sager is added under Old Business.  Amy suggested that the Commissioners visit the YMCA and Gathering Glass on A Street where plastic grates were used and the results were undesirable. 

 

The Commissioners briefly discussed the future of the Tree Commission.  The Commission is down to six members with no new applications received at this time.  Holley said there appears to be some political energy in town questioning the value of all the Commissions.  The Commissioners agreed to put this on next month’s agenda. 

 

Tree of the Year Winner:  The Pacific Madrone at Mountain View Cemetery won with 18 votes out of 39.  The Commissioners discussed the low voting turnout and agreed to put it on the agenda for discussion.

 

Beginning next month Holley will be asking Sager to take over the responsibility of the Daily Tidings Backpage Articles. 

 

Commission Powers and Duties 2.25 –The Commissioners discussed the revisions made to the ordinance. 

 

The Commissioners discussed the idea of the metal grates.  Amy was typing a memo regarding the City’s support of tree grates and felt that it should be written by the commissioners as opposed to her.

 

Siewert will write the article about Living Christmas Trees in time for Thanksgiving in hope that the Tidings will publish it in a timely manner.  

 

ADJOURNMENT - Commissioner Holley adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted by Carolyn Schwendener, Account Clerk

Online City Services

UTILITIES-Connect/Disconnect,
Pay your bill & more 
Connect to
Ashland Fiber Network
Request Conservation
Evaluation
Proposals, Bids
& Notifications
Request Building
Inspection
Building Permit
Applications
Apply for Other
Permits & Licenses
Register for
Recreation Programs

©2024 City of Ashland, OR | Site Handcrafted in Ashland, Oregon by Project A

Quicklinks

Connect

Share

twitter facebook Email Share
back to top