Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW $60K grant aids oak restoration, bird habitat ... Stouts fire at 15,100 acres, 5 percent contained ... Signups for fall OLLI classes accepted through Friday ... $60K grant aids oak restoration, bird habitat ... Stouts fire at 15,100 acres, 5 percent contained ... Signups for fall OLLI classes accepted through Friday ... ASHLAND Commission denies permit for removal of Clay Street cottonwood Decision could be reversed by Planning Commission or City Council Comment By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 3:17 PM Updated Jun 5, 2015 at 6:05 PM By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 3:17 PM Updated Jun 5, 2015 at 6:05 PM » Social News Plans to cut a large cottonwood tree on Clay Street got a resounding rejection from the Ashland Tree Commission on Thursday night, but the commission’s recommendation is only advisory and could be reversed by the city Planning Commission or City Council. The city itself is the applicant for a tree removal permit for a large cottonwood tree on a .94-acre lot at 380 Clay Street. The commission felt, according to city Administrator Dave Kanner, who was representing the city as the applicant for the permit, that the city has not done enough to examine options to removing the tree. The commission’s vote was 6-0. Commission Chairman Greg Trunnell, who owns property adjacent to the city’s Clay Street property, recused himself and did not take part in the deliberations. The city acquired the lot in 2008 with the intention of using it for affordable housing and has a sales agreement with the Jackson County Housing Authority contingent on the city first issuing a tree removal permit for the cottonwood. That condition, Kanner said, was included in the sale agreement at the request of the Housing Authority. The Fremont Cottonwood, which is about 75 feet tall with a trunk about 6 feet in diameter at breast height supporting limbs stretching out 40 to 50 feet, was named city Tree of the Year for 2013. An interpretation of a core sample that went part-way into the tree trunk puts its age at 75 years. Other estimates, based on the tree’s size, range up to in excess of 200 years. The tree is not native to this area and, according to the city’s application, has a typical lifespan of 75 to 100 years, with a maximum of 130 years, according to some sources, and 200 to 400 years according to others. Removal of the tree is necessary if the property is to be developed to the density called for by its zoning, R-2, which puts that size parcel at a “base density” of 12.69 units. Development is allowed at as little as 80 percent of base density, which would be 10 units — more than the lot can accommodate if the tree remains. The city has offered to do off-site mitigation — preserving and/or planting other trees — to make up for the loss of the tree on its property. "The citizens who spoke did so with facts and passion. Two had tears in their eyes," said city Councilor Carol Voisin, who was present in her role as council liaison to the commission and has previously spoken out in opposition to removing the tree. “Gregg Trunnell had a rational critique of the permit request that was well thought out, to the point, and yet never answered by the sponsors of the permit." Voisin added, “Tom Meyers gave a professional arborist's report saying that the tree is healthy, is not dropping branches, and is the quality of a heritage tree.” The request for a tree removal permit will next be heard at the city Planning Commission meeting on June 23, Kanner said. Reach Daily Tidings editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or 541-631-1313. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/betling.   By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 3:17 PM Updated Jun 5, 2015 at 6:05 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... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501