Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Meeting Minutes MEETING RESCHEDULED Wednesday, August 24, 2016 v 7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Dennis Szymanski Kate Reich, Kathy Philpott Costa, John Tesner, Barbara Tesner, Karen Jones 1. Approval of July Minutes: The minutes from the July 20, 2016 meeting were approved. 2. Public Comments: None 3. Old Business: None 4. Current Business  Update on Streetscape Task Force activity: After next meeting, the Task Force’s materials will be sent out to City Boards and Commissions. Tree Commission members will need to review materials for its September 21 meeting. Planter edging is still being discussed, as are strength of the guidelines and density of various streetscape elements. The Tree Commission’s primary concerns are (1) raised edging on planters to keep trees healthy, (2) maintenance of planters, (3) how specifications for tree planting will fit in to the new guidelines, and (4) priority of tree and environmental quality as a goal of the guidelines.  Code updates/modifications relating to urban forestry: Kate and Kathy will work on draft of the City’s Vegetation code to incorporate or refer to all other tree-related City Code provisions, with particular attention to a more clear statement of purpose. 5. Plan Reviews  Inns of Virginia, 419/421 West Broad Street: The neighboring property has drawn up an easement for the Inns of Virginia to maintain the screening trees on the neighbor’s property. The Tree Commission recommends that the required 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.  irrigation box be relocated or disguised so that it will not be so visible in the planter, (this will be only tree planter on that block for the time being). 6. Informational Items: Memorial trees on the high school campus may be at risk in any redevelopment. The Tree Commission will stay vigilant and discuss options for adding memorial tree protection to the Vegetation code. 7. Future Business  Tree canopy goals and strategies  Enforcement of site plan landscape violations Staff liaison: Kate Reich, 703-248-5183 kreich@fallschurchva.gov 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.