Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Minutes Wednesday, March 18, 2015 v 7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Kathleen Philpott Costa, Kate Reich, Bob Donaldson, David Chojnacky, Lindy Hockenberry, Christian Autor, Kate Walker (Intern) and Dennis Szymanski Guest: None Absent: Larry Dorr, Anna Wilson 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm. 2. Approval of February Minutes: February minutes were approved. 3. Public Comments 4. New Business  Personnel. Lindy Hockenberry is being replaced by Kwafo Djan as Planning Commission Liaison. David Chojnacky has chosen to allow his seat on the Commission to expire and will not seek renewal. We thanked David for his years of service to the Tree Commission and will seek a replacement.  Arbor Day Program. Kate Reich suggested, and the Tree Commission agreed, that the City would handout baby American Hollies with planting instructions rather than plant new trees. The American Holly is the 2015 "Tree of the Year".  Mason Row development proposal. Lindy Hockenberry felt this project was still a work in progress but that this would be a good time for the Tree Commission to apprise Council, the Planning Commission and other stakeholders of urban forestry issues we would be following. These issues include: - The developer will adhere to West Broad Street Streetscape standards - Plantings in the Market Square in Mason Lane will be protected from pedestrian and other traffic - Trees on Park Ave will be protected - Plantings on West St should be complimentary to sight lines for both West St and the bike path and mindful of Dominion Power restrictions The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call (703) 248- 5040. TTY 711.   Draft West Broad Street Small Area Plan. The Tree Commission's primary concern at this point is to ensure a consistent streetscape on Broad St that extends to Park Ave. 5. Old Business  Streetscape design standards. No update, we will however circulate the 1987 Streetscape standards document for review.  Tree Commission Annual Report. No update.  Tree recognition programs. No update.  Canopy cover: current status, review goals & regulations. Kathleen Philpott Costa clarified that the City Code states the tree canopy cover is a minimum of 20% cover over 20 years. VPIS provided a draft of their publication "Five Environmental Goals for Falls Church" and our discussion focused on the "Increase Tree Canopy" goal. There are multiple data sources and more than one method for computing tree canopy, as a result the Tree Commission believes a more focused discussion with VPIS is in everyone's best interest. For now, the Tree Commission concurs with the VPIS long term goal of 45% tree canopy by 2037.  Extending the Tree Canopy Fund to commercial developments. No update.  Streetscape Maintenance Agreements with commercial developments. No update. 6. Informational Items  Status of city capital projects. Coe Branch Restoration is behind schedule.  Status of city web site improvements. The Tree Commission continues to be astonished at the apparent obstacles to web site improvements.  Status of tree inventory project. Kate Walker provided an update. Broad St from N Wash to @Gordon Rd is complete. Next step is to address Washington St south to the city line.  Status of Urban Forestry Strategic Plan. 7. Adjourned: 9:30pm 8. Next Meeting: April 15th These minutes are respectively submitted by Dennis Szymanski, Tree Commission Secretary. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call (703) 248- 5040. TTY 711.