TREE COMMISSION MINUTES
July 3, 2013
 
CALL TO ORDER –Ashland Tree Commission meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on May 9, 2013, in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, Oregon.
 

Commissioners Present	Council Liaison
Ken Schmidt	Carol Voison - absent
Gregg Trunnell
Russ Neff	Staff Present
Casey Roland - ABSENT	Michael Pina, Assistant Planner
	Anne Thayer, Parks Horticulturist

 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Schmidt motioned, Trunnell seconded the approval of the May 9, 2013 regular meeting minutes.
 
WELCOME GUESTS & PUBLIC FORUM
No guests.
 

PLANNING ACTION:        PA-2013-00806                     

SUBJECT PROPERTY:     Vacant Parcels at North Mountain & Fair Oaks Avenues

APPLICANT:                       Ayala Properties, L.L.C.
DESCRIPTION:                   A request for Site Review approval to construct a three-story mixed use building consisting of four commercial spaces and eight parking spaces  on the ground floor and 12 residential units on the second and third floors on the vacant parcel at the corner of North Mountain and Fair Oaks Avenues. Also included is a request for a Modification of the Outline/Final Plan approval for the Meadowbrook Park II Subdivision (PA#2003-00158) in order to adjust the number of residential units allocated to the subject properties based on the permitted densities within the NM-C district.  As originally approved in 2003, the four subject properties were proposed to have ten residential units; the applicant here proposes to modify that approval to allow a total of 40 dwelling units between the four subject properties. The applicants also propose to remove seven (7) Siberian Elm trees within the adjacent alley through a Street Tree Removal Permit in order to open the alley to use for vehicular circulation.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:  North Mountain, Neighborhood Central Overlay; ZONING:  NM-C; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 04AD TAX LOTS: 700, 800, 1400, 1500 and 5900
 
Piña presented the staff report. All conducted site visits. The request is to remove seven heavily diseased and damaged Elm trees located within an alley right-of-way north of the subject property. Piña noted that although the subject trees are located within the public right-of-way, previous approvals proposed to retain the trees to buffer the neighboring property from impacts of the proposed mixed use building on the subject parcel. Now, 10 years later, the trees are in decline and the applicant has requested removal. In reviewing the request, the Commission noted that the trees are in severe decline, and not in the appropriate location. Therefore the Commission recommended a one for one replacement whether in the current location or elsewhere on–site. Neff motioned to approve the recommendation; Trunnell seconded.

 

PLANNING ACTION:        PA-2013-00836                     

SUBJECT PROPERTY:     140-142 N Third Street

OWNER/APPLICANT:      Ann and Martha McIntyre     
DESCRIPTION:                   Request for a Residential Site Review approval to construct a new residential dwelling unit at the rear of the property adjacent to the alley for the property located at 140 and 142 Third Street. The existing second dwelling unit located directly behind the front residence will convert to a guest house. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:  Low-Density Multi-Family Residential; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09BA; TAX LOTS: 8200
 
Piña presented the staff report. All conducted site visits. The request is for Site Review approval to construct a 1,082 square foot, single-story bungalow in the rear of the property. The request is to remove one volunteer Plum Tree over six inches DBH. The applicant has stated that all of the trees are a tangled mess, and retaining them will significantly reduce natural light into the unit. In reviewing the application, the Commission noted that although the applicant has submitted a conceptual landscape plan, the proposed trees among others were not identified on the landscape plan. Therefore, the Commission recommended that a revised landscape and irrigation plan be submitted with building permit submittals, and that mitigation trees be provided in accordance with AMC 18.61.084, and that a street tree be planted in the parkrow. Schmidt motioned the recommendation, Trunnell seconded.