TREE COMMISSION MINUTES
November 8, 2012
CALL TO ORDER –Ashland Tree Commission meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. on November 8, 2012, in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, Oregon.
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Commissioners Present |
Council Liaison |
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Ken Schmidt |
Greg Lemhouse - ABSENT |
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Tracy Peddicord |
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Tom Myers - ABSENT |
Staff Present |
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Casey Roland |
Michael Pina, Assistant Planner |
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Russ Neff |
Anne Thayer, Parks Horticulturist |
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Schmidt motioned, Roland seconded the approval of the September 6th, 2012 Regular meeting minutes.
WELCOME GUESTS & PUBLIC FORUM
No guests.
TYPE I REVIEW
PLANNING ACTION: 2012-01456
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 1565 Siskiyou Blvd.
APPLICANT: Ron DeLuca / Pines Trailer Park
DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal permit to remove a 32-inch DBH Ponderosa Pine Tree adjacent to space #15. The tree is inches away from the unit and when the wind blows the tree pushes against the unit. The tree is considered hazard due to its potential to cause damage to private property.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Commercial; ZONING: C-1;
ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 15AB; TAX LOT #: 6700
All commissioners visited the site. Piña presented the staff report. The subject Pine Tree is with inches of the manufactured home and the tenants feel the home move when the tree sways in the breeze, and therefore does not feel safe in their home. The Commission felt that this is an unfortunate situation but understands the need to remove the tree, therefore is recommended to be approved as submitted.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Some members of the commission felt that I light of the recent removal of the juvenile redwood tree that the financial mitigation amount of $400 dollars seems to be too small for the size of the tree removed. It was mentioned that perhaps the ISA standards could apply a more appropriate value of the tree. But for some applicants, they may not be able pay thousands of dollars, so perhaps a percentage of the value of the tree would be more appropriate mitigation fee for those wishing not to replant on-site.
Roland asked about the chance of having tamper tags on the tree protection fencing in order to prevent contractors from removing the tree protection fencing when they are not supposed to. Peddicord noted that while a good idea, the logistics of this may be troublesome for both staff and the project arborist/landscape architect. Staff said that he’ll ask around and see if this will be an issue.
Neff noted that the trees ODOT chose for the Exit 14 interchange seem to be “sub-par” compared to other recent freeway interchange projects.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:04pm.
