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Residents bark over Ashland tree ordinance By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND - Oak Street resident Jack Blackburn would have to get a permit from City Hall to cut a tree on his one-acre parcel under a proposed tree preservation and protection ordinance. And he's not happy about the prospect. "They still want to give away your right and my right and send it to John McLaughlin's office," said Blackburn. McLaughlin, the city's planning director, or his staff would determine whether the tree could be cut. "The issue people are looking at is private property rights," said Robbin Pearce, city staff member for the tree commission, which proposed the ordinance. Protection of the town's urban forest canopy is the ordinance's goal. It would apply to owners of private and commercial property, developers and most public agencies. Protection of trees during construction would be required. A decision to cut could be appealed. A fee would be charged for the permit. Public comment on the proposed ordinance will be taken at a tree commission meeting Feb. 7, a planning commission meeting Feb. 12 and a City Council public hearing scheduled March 5. Blackburn has planted 55 trees on his land, which includes part of Ashland Creek's floodplain. He's taken down two dead ones since he bought the property in 1989. "I think they can appeal to the community and do it without that (ordinance)," said Blackburn. Blackburn would need a permit to cut trees with a diameter bigger than 6 inches because his lot exceeds 25,000 square feet and can be divided. Owners of smaller lots would need to get a permit if they planned to cut a tree more than 18 inches in diameter. Developers would be held to the same standards as Blackburn. Development that requires a planning action would need an arborist's report. Developer John Fields said the ordinance will add another layer to already highly regulated building standards. "It gets so complex trying to regulate all the individual facets of individual concerns," said Fields. "I deal with regulations a lot. If you really look at them closely, you see that the little window of what you can do gets smaller and smaller." Fields said requirements for chain-link fencing around trees at construction sites and use of arborists to prepare plans will raise development costs. Planning Director McLaughlin defends the use of the fences. He said the current plastic netting used at sites is easily moved and can lead to damage to trees. "It could become the standard for new construction in Ashland," said McLaughlin. "It's used in other communities." A tree ordinance would add to the workload of his department, said McLaughlin. The tree commission will propose that an urban forester position be added by the city if the ordinance is passed. Enforcement of a tree ordinance might be among duties of the new post. The tree commission first proposed an ordinance last spring. The current proposal was created following public testimony. Copies of the ordinance are available at City Hall and the council chambers. It is on the Web at www.ashland.or.us. For information and to leave comments, call 552-2062. Comments can also be left online at www.ashland.or.us./survey.asp or via e-mail to [email protected]. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.