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ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Council nixes tree removal at Pioneer lot, requests new design for Lithia intersection Comment By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Oct. 22, 2015 at 8:50 PM By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Oct. 22, 2015 at 8:50 PM » Social News Opponents of cutting trees downtown scored a pair of victories as two proposals to remove trees on city land failed to garner council support Tuesday. In a session overseen by Councilor Pam Marsh due to the absence of both Mayor John Stromberg, out ill, and Councilor Mike Morris, who was traveling, the council considered two downtown beautification projects, both at the intersection of Pioneer Street and Lithia Way. The first project, a landscaping redesign for the city parking lot on the northeast corner of the Pioneer/Lithia intersection completed by landscape architect Kerry Kencairn, was amended during the session. The plan originally called for the removal of 21 of the 33 trees on the site and the addition of 10 large shade trees; however public comment on removal of the trees was negative. Ashland resident Alice Mallory said she was unsure why the trees were being considered for removal. “These trees that would be planted will take approximately 20 years to reach the size of the trees there now.” Mallory said. “ I’m sure many in our community would not want to wait 20 years to enjoy the benefits these trees currently provide.” The Ashland Tree Commission took up the proposed landscape changes ahead of Tuesday’s meeting and recommended the city not remove trees at the site despite an arborist report completed by Tree Commission Member Christopher Johns recommending multiple trees for removal for reasons of tree health. Kencairn said she had erred by not attending the Tree Commission meeting to explain her reasoning regarding tree removal. She also noted that Johns, who was hired by Kencairn as an independent arborist on the project, did not speak at the tree commission meeting when the proposal was taken up to avoid conflict of interest. Kencairn said she would be meeting with the tree commission again to explain the decision-making process regarding which trees were examined for removal. Ultimately the City Council, citing public opinion, voted unanimously to adopt landscaping changes per Kencairn’s recommendations, but amended the motion to preclude cutting trees. Instead, the council directed city staff to heed a Tree Commission recommendation to pursue more active maintenance of trees at the site to promote the health of the existing trees. Another landscaping project across the street in front of Stop N’ Shop that called for the removal of two trees was sent back to the bid process at Tuesday’s meeting. The design, also completed by Kencairn, would have removed two of three trees at the site and replaced one. The design was requested by the city to facilitate redesign of a multi-grade sidewalk that has been identified as a hazard. Kencairn’s original design recommended removal of all three trees at the site and the replacement of two. One tree at the site has begun to lift the sidewalk and, in Kencairn’s assessment, cannot be accommodated while upgrading the sidewalk. Another, badly root-bound, was recommended for replacement, however, upon city request, Kencairn revisited the design and made modifications that would have allowed for the retention of one and possibly two of the trees. After several unsuccessful attempts to modify the plan through amendments, Councilor Rich Rosenthal put forward a motion to send the project back out for bid. “What I’ve heard tonight is our contractor says she can’t do the design if the trees are retained," Rosenthal said, "I’d just like to have a second opinion. (…) Maybe the conclusion of the second opinion will be the same that the expert gave us here tonight. But I need that surety.” Councilor Greg Lemhouse said he was satisfied with Kencairn’s work on the project and that he wouldn’t support the motion to put the contract out for bid. “We’ve had a lot of opinions on this," Lemhouse said. "Ms. Kencairn is a well-respected professional. We asked her to make changes and she brought it back to us. I don’t think that the city has treated her very well, and I apologize for that. But I think she’s done everything we’ve asked of her. I think it would be waste of money to ask someone else to do it again and I think we’re going to end up back in the same place.” Councilor Lemhouse further said that no matter what decision the council made some people would be unhappy, but that he felt this project should move forward. City Administrator Dave Kanner also cautioned that the project, a relatively small design contract, might have trouble attracting other landscape architects in the Rogue Valley. Kanner noted that to his knowledge there are only five landscape architects licensed and working in the Rogue Valley. “We did not do a formal bid for this process because the value of the contract is so low we are not required to," Kanner said. "But I suspect that if we were to do another informal process, assuming that we got anybody to respond, because there are a very limited number of landscape architects licensed to do business here in the valley, and I’m sure they’re all watching this process, assuming they respond with a design, we’ll almost certainly miss the bidding season. And we’ll be looking at doing this project in 2017.” The short-handed council ultimately voted 3-2 to send the project back to the bid process with councilors Lemhouse and Carol Voisin dissenting. Kerry Kencairn said she felt there had been some misconceptions about her work on the two projects. She said the intent of the projects was not to denude the city of trees. “My goal is to create landscapes that are healthy and long lasting and survive over time," Kencairn said, "to maintain trees that are healthy, to fix those that need help when we can, and to create landscapes that are safe and healthy. That’s it.” City staff estimates it will take at least two to three months to solicit bids on the project. An additional beautification item was added to the agenda at the behest of Councilor Steffani Steffinger. The council voted unanimously to remove protective fencing from designs for the Ashland plaza citing aesthetics and cost. The council instead gave direction to city staff to erect temporary fencing around vegetation on the plaza during large celebrations, and to replace plantings as required going forward. The council declined to take up ordinances associated with the Normal Neighborhood Plan at the request of Councilor Morris and instead put the NNP on the agenda for Nov. 17. Alec Dickinson is an Ashland freelance writer. Email him at [email protected]. By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Oct. 22, 2015 at 8:50 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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