CALL TO ORDER 
Chair Christopher John called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm in the Siskiyou Room of the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way.
 

Commissioners Present:	Council Liaison:
Maureen Batistella
Mike Oxendine	Parks Liaison:
Asa Cates	Peter Baughman
Christopher John
Russell Neff	Staff Present:
	Cory Darrow, Assistant Planner
Commissioners Absent:

 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES 
Oxendine /Batistella m/s to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2017 Tree Commission meeting.
Voice Vote: All ayes, motion passed.
 
ANNOUCEMENTS & LIAISON REPORTS

• Parks & Recreation Liaison – Baughman reported that the City Council approved the Plaza tree plan.  He also commented that the potential asphalt under the plaza may not be an issue as previously thought before.  
• Community Development Liaison – Darrow reported that when the City renewed the Arbor Day Foundation membership they received Ten River Birch trees which went to the Parks Department.   Baughman has scheduled a tree planting on April 14, 2017 and will consider using these trees for part of that planting.  Darrow acknowledged that new commission members are appointed in April and should likely be on the Commission by May. 

 
PUBLIC FORUM
No one was present to speak.
 
TYPE I REVIEWS

PLANNING ACTION: PA-2017-00235                
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 114 Granite Street
APPLICANT/OWNER:  Mardi Mastain
DESCRIPTION:  A request for a Site Design Review to allow for the onsite relocation of the existing historic dwelling unit and the addition of an accessory residential unit (ARU) to the subject property. The proposal is to relocate the existing dwelling unit to the rear of the property and convert it to a 998 square foot ARU. In addition, the applicant proposes to construct a new 2,462 square foot primary dwelling unit as part of the Site Design Review. A Physical & Environmental Constraints Review permit is also requested for Hillside Lands affected by the proposed primary dwelling unit. In addition, the applicant is requesting a Solar Setback Exception for a Standard B lot to allow a larger shadow to be cast on the property to the north by the new primary dwelling unit/garage. There are 12 trees located on or adjacent to the site and two of these trees are proposed to be removed as part of this application. A Variance to the maximum allowed lot coverage is requested, going from 45 percent to 48 percent, a three percent increase. An Exception to the Site Design and Standards is requested to allow for a reduced landscaping buffer for vehicle parking spaces from eight to six feet from the ARU and from five to three feet to the property line. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09 BC; TAX LOT: 3401
 
Applicant Mardi Mastain was present along with her representative Amy Gunter, Rogue Planning and Development, to review the project with the Commissioners and answer questions.  Ms. Gunter pointed out that the two trees proposed to be removed are not on the slop of the property but on the flat portion of the land. 
 
The Commissioners discussed the application and made the following recommendation.
 
John motioned to approve the application as presented. 
 
Oxendine amended the motion to add, “With the recommendation that if the retaining wall doesn’t need to go all the way through the property that tree protection for tree #1 #2, #3 and #8 be joined together to make a continuous protection zone.”  Oxendine seconded. 
Voice Vote:  Commissioners Batistella, Oxendine, Cates, Neff, and John, YES. Motion passed.
 
PLANNING ACTION: PA-2017-00236                                                                            
SUBJECT PROPERTY:  975 West Ivy lane
APPLICANT: Thomas and Linda Lamore
DESCRIPTION:  A request for a Physical and Environmental Constraints Permit to allow for the construction of a 2,485 square foot single-family home on slopes in excess of 35% (Severe Constraints Lands) and within the Wildfire Overlay. This application involves a request to remove nine trees from the property ranging in diameter from 3” clusters to a 20” Pinus Ponderosa. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Rural Residential; ZONING: RR - .5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 16 AD; TAX LOT: 5109.
 
The applicant Tom Lamore was present to explain his application. 
 
The Commissioners discussed the application acknowledging they appreciated his tree list.  
 
Cates/Neff m/s to approve the application as submitted.  Voice Vote: Commissioners Batistella, Oxendine, Cates, Neff, and John, YES. Motion passed.
   
PLANNING ACTION:  PA-2017-00346                               
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 221 Granite Street
OWNER / APPLICANT:  JoAnne Eggers
DESCRIPTION:   A request to remove two trees from a multifamily property. The trees proposed for removal are a 16” DBH Big leaf Maple and a Black Oak (approx. DBH not provided). COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Multi-family Residential; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 391E08DA; TAX LOT: 1100.  

Commissioner John recused himself because he is the arborist for the applicant.  He did offer his assistance with any questions pertaining to the property.  Applicant JoAnne Eggers was also present to answer questions. 
 
Oxendine/Cates m/s to approve with the recommendation that the applicant mitigate one small stature street from the Street Tree guide on site and one large stature tree from Street tree guide off site. Voice Vote: Commissioners Batistella, Oxendine, Cates and Neff, YES. Motion passed.
 
PLANNING ACTION: PA-2017-00196                                              
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 784 Park
APPLICANT: Lorrie Coey
DESCRIPTION:  A request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove one apple tree that is showing signs of rot and one birch tree that may be infested with the Bronze Birch Borers. A total of three other birch trees were requested for removal in the application however, these trees proved to be dead per. AMC 18.6 and were exempt from the permit requirement.  COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Low Density Multiple-Family Residential; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 15 AD; TAX LOT: 90000.
 
Commissioner John recused himself because he is the arborist for the applicant.
 
Oxendine/Batistella m/s to approve with the recommendation that two mitigation trees such as a Zelkova Serrata a European Hornbeam or River Birch be planted on site. Voice Vote: Commissioners Batistella, Oxendine, and Neff, YES. Cates, NO, Motion passed.
 
PLANNING ACTION: PA-2017-000170                                                                          
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 1216 Tolman Creek Road
APPLICANT: Dale Shostrom, John Gallen & Eva Skuratowicz
DESCRIPTION:  A request for a Site Design Review to allow for the construction of a 672 square foot detached accessory resident unit (ARU) on the subject property. No trees are proposed for removal as part of this application. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-7.5; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 14 CD; TAX LOT: 900.
 
Darrow reviewed the protection plan that was submitted.  No trees were proposed for removal with this application. 
 
Oxendine/Cates m/s to approve the plan with the recommendation that tree protection fencing meets Ashland Municipal Code standards by wrapping all five significant trees on site at the drip line and that the sewer tie not be routed through any tree protection zones. Voice Vote: Commissioners Batistella, Oxendine, Cates, Neff, and John, YES. Motion passed.
 
Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Carolyn Schwendener