MINUTES
January 8, 2009
CALL TO ORDER –Chair John Rinaldi called the Ashland Tree Commission meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. on January 8, 2009 in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and
Commissioners Present |
Council Liaison |
Laurie Sager |
Kate Jackson |
John Rinaldi Jr. |
|
Zane Jones |
Staff Present |
Bobby Townsend |
Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner |
|
Anne Rich, Parks Department, Absent |
|
|
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 6, 2008 Tree Commission Minutes – Jones/Sager m/s to approve the minutes of November 6, 2008. Voice vote: all AYES, Motion passed. The minutes of October 9, 2008 were approved as presented.
November 21, 2008 Recommended Street Tree Guide special meeting minutes – Sager/Jones m/s to approve the minutes of November 21, 2008. Voice vote: all a yes, motion passed. The minutes of November 21, 2008 were approved as presented.
PUBLIC FORUM
Commissioner Rinaldi welcomed the
TYPE I REVIEW:
PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01953
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 260 N
APPLICANT: Nathan Sanford
DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove one eight-inch in diameter at breast height fruitless mulberry tree. This site has a standing Site Review approval for the construction of two condominium units and the tree removal is necessary to facilitate that development.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Multi-Family Residential; ZONING: R-3; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 04CC TAX
Recommendations:
1) Approved as submitted, no recommendations.
PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01971
SUBJECT PROPERTY:
APPLICANT: Southern
DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit for to remove a 28-inch in diameter at breast height Blue Spruce located near the northwest corner of the
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Southern
Recommendations:
1) Approved as submitted, no recommendations.
PLANNING ACTION: 2008-01853
SUBJECT PROPERTY:
APPLICANT: Wilma, LLC (Greg & Valri Williams)
DESCRIPTION: A request for Final Plan approval for the development of Phase 1 of Verde Village which includes all public improvements and infrastructure, riparian improvements, and the construction of the 24-unit cottage community and
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential and Suburban Residential ZONING: R-1-3.5, R-1-5 and R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP and TAX
Site Visits: All; No ex parte
Amy gave the staff report.
Applicant Discussion:
Kerry KenCairn spoke about the project street lay out and design, the development of the riparian buffer corridor, the bioswale parkrows and the requirements of the project developers the architects and the need to isolate the locations of the trees due to the constraint of the solar aspects of the green development.
Tree Commission Discussion:
Commissioner Jones asked about the methodology during create a development you create a diverse forest and thought the proposal would be very nice at implementation. He questioned the use of the river birch and Kerry responded that it is a tough tree and it is not a native tree and that they have been bred to not have the negative impacts that the native birches are know to have. The Commission discussed the use of the caging to protect the new vegetation. The landscape contractors have responsibility for the survivability for the plants along the streets but not for situations they cannot control (deer). Kerry discussed the cottages and how they limited the number of trees along the south side of their developments and that meant less trees but they tried to provide more trees to shade the parking and driving surfaces.
Recommendations:
Approved as submitted moved by Townsend / second by Sager
Voice Vote: all A Yes
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Tree of the Year
Ballots – begin the voting process in September
Make a sign that gets staked into the ground
Write an article about the Tree nomination form available.
Tree inventory survey
Donn Todt informed Anne Rich that there was an existing Street Tree Inventory. To update; maybe an SOU student intern would be interested in expanding the existing inventory. Amy will find whatever exists and try to determine when it was created.
Recommended Street Tree Guide
Commissioner Townsend did some research into trees that were thought to be difficult to obtain: Kentucky Coffee tree; available. Canyon Live Oak; make note – difficult to obtain. Raywood Ash; available, but not a good street tree – remove from guide. Quercus Kellogi; Not available – remove from guide.
Add: Bioswale parkrow street tree list; Betchula ‘Nigra’
There was some discussion about the content of the guide – should all trees that are difficult to obtain be remove? The Commission thought – no, even though its difficult to obtain they are still good trees and people should be encouraged to keep asking for them. The more requests for a particular tree the more likely a nursery is to obtain them.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
Liaison Reports
Anne has copy of the Parks and Recreation report. Copies will be available in February.
Amy will contact the Electric Department for their report – it does not need to be in writing it just needs to be done.
Old Business
Distinctive Tree List
Current Balance - $243.32
ADJOURNMENT - Commissioner Rinaldi adjourned the meeting at 8:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner