Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 21, 2015 v 7:30 - 9:40 p.m., Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Dennis Szymanski, Kathy Philpott Costa, Kate Reich, Kate Walker, Barbara Tesner, John Tesner, Christian Autor Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. 1. Approval of September Minutes. The minutes for the September 16, 2015 meeting were approved. 2. Public Comments 3. Old Business  2015 Specimen Tree nominations: The attached list shows trees that have owner consent for designation as Specimen Trees. The Commission approved the nomination of all six trees.  Urban Forestry fees update: Commission approved the final draft, attached hereto. 4. Current Business  Streetscapes: TC members reviewed standards and guideline documents from various other cities. The TC will put together a list of elements to be included in updated guidelines for tree planting. 5. Plan Reviews  Mason Row: latest revision of Voluntary Concession offerings and Conceptual Design o In the Conceptual Design, the Market Square (“Surface level plaza”) no longer appears on the Conceptual Plan to be green space. The TC requests that developer create a public green space (with well-draining soil mixes covered by tough shade grasses) where Market Square is designed. This would seem to be a minimum voluntary concession given the exceptional size and height of this project. o In the Voluntary Concessions, the TC notes and appreciates that the cap on spending has been removed from W&OD green space. 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 In the Streetscape paragraph of the Voluntary Concessions, the TC requests that the streetscape design refer explicitly to the Streetscape Plan for West Broad Street, approved in 1987 (including any approved updates to the 1987 Plan’s tree planter standards, which are currently under development). We believe it is the developer’s intent to follow these standards and request confirmation. o The second paragraph of the Streetscape item in the Voluntary Concessions states that maintenance of all streetscape will be subject to an agreement with the City Manager. The TC notes that any streetscape maintenance agreement must exclude street trees due to requirements under the City Code. City Code Section 44-24(a) states that all street tree plantings and maintenance are to be under the direction of the City arborist: “Sec. 44-24. - Plantings along streets and public use easements. The planting, pruning or other treatment of trees upon the streets and public use easements shall be under the direction of the arborist. No tree upon any street or public use easement in the city shall be destroyed, cut down or otherwise removed without the consent of the arborist. No trees or plants of any kind shall be planted upon any street, public use easement or public property except with the consent of the arborist.” 6. Informational Items  Status of City capital projects: no update 7. Future Business:  Specimen trees program – no update  Tree canopy goals and strategies - TC is confirming whether there is a final draft of the Metro Washington Tree Canopy Strategy Report, which proposes a multi-regional effort to preserve tree canopy.  Code updates/modifications relating to urban forestry  Enforcement of site plan landscape violations  Urban Forestry program goals and priorities – The TC will send a recommendation to include tree canopy preservation measures in the legislative program for the 2016 Virginia General Assembly. 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. CITY SPECIMEN TREE NOMINATIONS - October 21, 2015 Property Owner (& address if other than that Date of Inventory Comments & Tree Location at left) Owner Address Inspection DBH Tree ID Inspecting Arborist American elm, Candelabra structure Ulmus Dana Raskin & with very high crown. americana 716 E. Broad St. Jefferson Walker 716 E. Broad St. 10/17/2015 43.5 10171501 Seems healthy. Noralyn Harlow Tulip tree, 404 Woodlawn Liriodendron Louis T. & Susan Ave, St Paul MN Beginning to decline. tulipifera 702 Poplar Dr. L. Olom 55105 10/7/2015 56.5 10071501 CSW & KRR. Some old broken & dead Tulip tree, 203 S.Oak A.H. Wang, E.A. wood. Owner plans to Liriodendron Street (Mt. Knapp, T.L. have it crown-cleaned tulipifera Hope) Hooper 203 S.Oak Street 10/7/2015 45 10071502 (by Bartlett) soon. CSW Donaldson Pecan, Carya 118 Tollgate Revocable Trust illinoenis Way (Bob Donaldson) 118 Tollgate Way 10/7/2015 36 7281580 Good condition. CSW Cucumber magnolia, Cherry Hill Park Some root damage next Magnolia at Cherry Hill City of Falls to path, but tree looks acuminata House Church 300 Park Avenue 10/7/2015 33.5 4329 healthy. CSW American elm, Ulmus Lawrence Pence Good condition. Classic americana 335 Little Falls Trust 335 Little Falls 10/7/2015 49 10071503 shape. CSW 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. Proposed changes to City Code 15-37 – Public Works Applications – Urban Forestry 10/21/2015 PUBLIC WORKS APPLICATIONS—URBAN FORESTRY Fees Inspections Public (City-owned) Trees and Landscapes  Damage to Public Trees, Per Inch Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) $250.00  Damage to Streetscape Public Landscaping or Irrigation, fee plus cost of repair $300.00 + cost Tree Preservation Landscape Conservation Plan Violations (In addition to mitigation and/or replacement costs per City Code)  1st Offense $350.00500.00  2nd Offense $450.001,000.00  3rd Offense $1,000.002,500.00  Each Subsequent Offense $1,000.002,500.00  Tree Preservation Grading Plan Tree RemovalDestruction of Tree to be $1,000.00100.00 Preserved, Per Inch Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Landscape Installation and ProtectionConservation Plan (NotWhen not associated with a Site or Grading Plan)  Bond Management Fee $250.00  New Landscape Inspection (< $12,000.00 Bond Amount) $150.00  New Landscape Inspection (> $12,000.00 Bond Amount ) $400.00  Existing Tree Inspection (< $12,000.00 Bond Amount ) $150.00  Existing Tree Inspection (> $12,000.00 Bond Amount ) $400.00 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. Site Plan Landscape Modification (When not associated with new development)  Single Parcel Site $100.00  Multiple Parcel Site $200.00 Tree Contractors  Tree Contractor Annual Permit Fee $100.00  UnlicensedTree Contractor Observedworking in the City without Annual Permit $500.00 Permits  Plant on City Property $50.00  Tree Removal Permit (IndependentWhen not part of an approved development plan or Site Plan Landscape Modification) o Single Parcel Site – Commercial $200.0050.00 o Multiple Parcel Site – Commercial $200.00 o Single-family Residential in RPA $25.00 o Single-family Residential (not in RPA) – Specimen Tree $50.000.00  Tree Removal Without Required Permit, Per Tree $1,000.00 Preliminary Tree/Existing Features Survey Review $200.00 (When not Part of associated with a Site or Grading Plan or Subdivision)  Resubmittal of Request for Preliminary Tree/Existing Features Survey Review $100.00 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.