Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 16, 2015 v 7:30 - 9:50 pm Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Dennis Szymanski, Bob Donaldson, Kathy Philpott Costa, Kate Reich, Kate Walker, Barbara Tesner, John Tesner Guest: Johannah Barry (former member and current candidate for City Council), John Tesner (TC member candidate) Absent: Kwafo Dan, Christian Autor 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. June and August Minutes: The minutes for the June 17 and August 19 meetings were approved. 3. Public Comments: Johannah Barry brought a copy of the Metropolitan Washington Regional Tree Canopy Strategy Report from 2013, showing the Council of Governments’ regional strategy for tree canopy conservation. Ms. Barry suggested that this inter-jurisdictional strategy gives weight to the TC in its efforts to prioritize tree canopy conservation in City development. 4. Old Business  Specimen Tree nominations: Deferred until next meeting.  Urban Forestry fees update: Urban Forestry fees – Kate presented a revised draft of updated fees for review. TC members are asked to send feedback and comments by September 21. 5. Current Business  Tree Commission annual calendar: It was decided that the TC annual calendar would be updated with the following items: o The Arborist will conduct a City-wide tree canopy survey every five years in August, or more often if requested and as satellite images become available. o In December, the TC will review the Urban Forestry budget and recommend an Arborist’s work plan for the following fiscal year, for consideration by the DPW in its budget proposal to City Council. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call (703) 248-5350, option 5. TTY 711.  o Assistant City Manager Cindy Mester is currently setting out the legislative agenda for this year. TC members agreed to request that legislative priority be placed on promoting preservation of mature trees and City-wide canopy, and working with other jurisdictions on an overall tree canopy strategy.  Streetscape -- developing standards: Kate Reich reported that planning staff supports the TC’s work on updating specific standards for commercial street tree planting, care and protection. Ideally, these standards would apply City-wide and govern all developers’ plantings, regardless of the specific aesthetics and differences in a particular City small area plan or development project. Toward this end, the TC agreed that it would work to revise the “Plant Material” language under Part IV (Streetscape Elements) in the 1987 Streetscape Plan for West Broad Street. Other jurisdictions will be researched for use in building these standards. New sections will include: o “Plant Material,” with a lists of approved tree species and their required quality, as well as other plants; and o “Planting Beds and Methods,” with detailed stock drawings showing required bed size, storm water management, tree spacing, soil specification, irrigation, lighting or other utilities, edge protection, and distance from road/curb) o If appropriate, additional guidelines on tree protection, or problems to avoid based on prior experiences in Falls Church. 6. Plan Reviews  Mason Row - The new plan shows a more robust plant buffer abutting Park Ave. residences. Planters have been moved to the curb, and Broad Street Streetscape appears to be being followed; planters are long and have trees spaced at 30’. TC members agreed on the following comment: o The Tree Commission requests that the developer provide a plan for landscaping across West Street. Landscaping should be complementary to that on Mason Row and should create a single aesthetic corridor all the way to West End Park. o The Tree Commission is disappointed that there appears to be a reduction in "market square" green space.  West Broad Street Small Area Plan – The TC members approved the following comments: o Last sentence on page 7-4 of the draft plan should be replaced with the following language so that the plan refers to an authoritative document on The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call (703) 248-5350, option 5. TTY 711.  tree planting requirements: “This plan will incorporate the new street planter standards that are currently under development.” o Similarly, on page 7-5, under “Park Avenue Streetscape Plan,” the following language should be added to the end of the first sentence: “and this plan will incorporate the new street planter methods that are currently under development.” o For continuity and proper transition throughout the area, the Park Avenue “Great Street” Streetscape under development should include the feeder streets from both sides of Park between Broad and West. 7. Informational Items  Status of city capital projects o South Washington Street Multimodal Improvements reviewed: no comment regarding trees and streetscape. o Roosevelt Street Sidewalk Improvements: no comments.  Other items: o Tree health and selection in City: Blight has been noted on red oak trees. Falls Church Focus or News-Press could incorporate references to updated info on trees on TC website. An updated list of recommended trees for planting should also be placed on the website. 8. Future Business: No updates to report  Specimen/notable trees program  Tree canopy goals and strategies  Code updates/modifications relating to urban forestry  Enforcement of site plan landscape violations  Urban Forestry program goals and priorities 9. Adjourned: 9:50pm 10. Next Meeting: October 21 These minutes are respectively submitted by Kathy Philpott Costa, Tree Commission Secretary. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call (703) 248-5350, option 5. TTY 711.