Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Meeting Minutes RESCHEDULED Tuesday, March 21, 2017  7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Kathy Philpott Costa, Dennis Szymanski, John Tesner, Barbara Tesner, Kate Reich, Dan Sze, Tim Stevens 1. Approval of February Minutes: The minutes from the meeting on February 21, 2017 were approved. 2. Public Comments: None 3. Old Business: None 4. Staff Updates  Arbor Day, Tree of the Year – Discussions are underway to hold Arbor Day at the Scout House this year instead of Frady Park. Kate has researched Dogwood cultivars that are resistant to mildews, the most significant local problem for these trees.  Big Chimneys Park renovation – A Program Summary of the park renovation is available, and concept designs are underway. The playground, trail, buffer and drainage are the main aims. Invasive species along the bowling alley buffer will be removed. The large Tulip Tree in the park has been damaged by lightning and could possibly be removed. Many other large trees should be preserved.  Cherry Hill playground renovation – concept designs are underway to improve the playground for older children and improve accessibility. Kate has discouraged the idea of moving the playground to the Eastern White Pine grove. The plan is for renovation to be completed by summer 2018. 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.  5. Current Business  City-VPIS Tree Labeling project –VPIS is sponsoring this project and has already priced and produced template labels. The goal is to first label the most publicly visible native trees for public education and appreciation (close to 100 trees). Specimen tree labels could follow, as could a map or webpage for labeled trees. Dan will introduce the project to the City Council.  Define a goal for planted area in mixed use developments, as basis for new standard Voluntary Concession - Kate provided data on the percentage of green space on recent Special Exception projects. Many of projects fall short of the mixed-use City Code goal of 15% landscaped open space, particularly Tinner Hill and Founder’s Row. The Tree Commission will continue discussions to propose Voluntary Concession language that addresses minimum tree canopy coverage and a tree canopy fund if minimums can’t be met. Kate will provide some calculations on amounts per tree that would be put into a tree canopy fund. 6. Plan Reviews - None 7. Informational Items:  Isaac Crossman Park – The City has been clearing invasive and failing plants behind Gresham Place and in Isaac Crossman Park, partly in preparation for the Harrison Branch Daylighting project at Isaac Crossman Park. A public meeting on the Harrison Branch Daylighting will take place on April 4.  Pocket Parks - Karen has offered to research potential for space to create one or more pocket parks in Falls Church, but the Tree Commission has not yet discussed the merits of this goal. The Tree Commission reviewed conceptual plans for a pocket park that the City’s EDA already intends to fund on Broad Street, next to the Unity Club.  Cottage Housing Special Exception Application - An application has been submitted for development of Cottage Housing on Railroad Avenue in Falls Church. 8. Future Business  Private maintenance agreements for streetscapes 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.   Code updates/modifications relating to urban forestry – update for Tree Canopy Fund for maintaining and planting trees.  Tree canopy goals and strategies  Enforcement of site plan tree violations  Urban Forest Management Plan The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. 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.