Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 18, 2017  7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Dennis Szymanski, Kate Reich, Karen Jones, Dan Sze, Tim Stevens, Christian Autor 1. Approval of November Minutes: The minutes from the meeting on November 16, 2016 were approved. 2. Public Comments: None 3. Old Business: None 4. Current Business  Update on Streetscape Task Force recommendations: Dan Sze summarized the City Council work session discussion on the Streetscape Taskforce’s recommendations. He noted that bullnosed edging, while not recommended by the Task Force, will likely be used for most of Mason Row. Tim Stevens added that the Task Force recommendations are intended to apply only to future projects and not retroactively.  Private maintenance agreements for streetscapes: If the trees die at Kensington, the owner will replace, but for Tinner Hill, replacement responsibility remains with the City. The TC would like to avoid a series of different kinds of maintenance agreements and set forth clear standards for performance, liability and enforcement in these private owner arrangements. Kate and Kathy met with Carole McCoskrie to talk about the legal aspects of a potential standard maintenance agreement. It is possible that standard provisions could go into either Voluntary Concessions or a standard Maintenance Agreement. Kathy and Kate will draft some standard provisions.  Cottage Housing Ordinance draft review – Dan Sze explained that the trial cottage housing development could be on the west side of Broad, close to the W&OD trail. Although all cottage housing would have to be on R-1A zoning, a Special Exception process is required due to the density. A draft Special 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.  Exception Cottage Housing ordinance accompanies this project. The Tree Commission will look into current plans to inform its suggestion for minimum canopy coverage and/or screening requirements in the proposed ordinance.  City Vision chapter of the Comprehensive Plan: The Tree Commission sent a preliminary memo (attached) to City staff. Suggestions in the memo included additional community indicators of tree plantings, streetscape health and tree- based storm water management. TC members may still give input for additional suggestions.  Tree City USA, Arbor Day, Tree of the Year: The application was submitted after the deadline. Falls Church City exceeds the requirements for the designation by a very large margin. The TC discussed the possibility of designating the native Flowering Dogwood as Tree of the Year; Christian will research the disease-resistant variety.  Annual report: Dennis will draft a report that includes an assessment of the past year’s activities as well as a statement of goals. 5. Plan Reviews  Harrison Branch sewer repair/habitat improvement: Karen Jones reported on her design proposal to reduce the Harrison Branch daylighting project’s impact on several large nearby trees. City staff and adjacent neighbors are communicating regarding possibilities for tree preservation. 6. Informational Items: The 2017 Roster has been updated (attached). 7. Future Business  Code updates/modifications relating to urban forestry  Tree canopy goals and strategies  Enforcement of site plan landscape violations  Update to Chapter 5 of the Comprehensive Plan: Environment  Urban Forest Management Plan The meeting was adjourned at 9:30. 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.