Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Meeting Minutes for the Joint Tree Commission and Environmental Sustainability Council Meeting Thursday, May 16, 2019  7:30 - 9:30 pm George Mason High School Library TC-only session, 7:30-8:00: Tree Commission discussion of tree violation appeal by Moore Architects on behalf of Mr. and Ms. Perez of 1007 Sycamore Street. Present: Dennis Szymanski, Karen Jones, Kathy Philpott Costa, Kate Reich, Charles Prince, Kate Walker, Tim Stevens, Dan Sze, Cindy Mester, Kim Perez, Charles Moore Cindy Mester presented the appeal of an Illegal Tree Removal Violation (under Code section 44), regarding 1007 N. Sycamore Street. Under Section 44-58 of the Tree Code, the City Manager must present the case for consideration to the Tree Commission. City Clerk Cindy Mester has acted in the position of the City Manager, who recused himself for conflict of interest. Ms. Mester provided background materials on the case and reported on the appeal hearing, which took place on May 15, 2019. The property in question has its permit to proceed with redevelopment; half of the fine has been paid pending the appeal. After hearing the facts and studying the timeline of events, The TC agreed that there was a violation under the code but recommended that the fine be mitigated in light of the appealing party’s interpretation of the Code as permitting their tree removal on the property in question. All materials are attached hereto. Joint TC-ESC meeting started at 8:00 Present: Dennis Szymanski (Chair, TC), Kathy Philpott Costa (TC), Karen Jones (TC), Kate Reich (Arborist), Charles Prince (Urban Forester), Kate Walker (Environmental Programs Coordinator), Tim Stevens (PC), Dan Sze (City Council), Joy Page (ESC), Cory Weiss (ESC), Andy Young (ESC), Jon Ward (ESC), Andy Crawford (Chair, ESC), Niha Rika (Student Rep, ESC), Shaina Schaffer (City Planning) Kim Perez (member of the public), Andy Sakallaris (member of the public) 1. Approval of April 17 Tree Commission Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the April 17 TC meeting were approved by the TC members. 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 703-248-5030. (TTY 711)  2. Approval of April 25 ESC Meeting Minutes: Deferred 3. Public Comments: None 4. Staff Updates/ Informational Items: Kate Walker attended the recent Northern Virginia Regional Commission meeting, where several current regional issues were discussed. Many jurisdictions, including FCC, are converting streetlights to LEDs. There is some assistance from NVRC and Dominion to help with the conversion. Kate Reich had no updates. 5. Current Business  Planning staff: City Comprehensive Plan Chapter 5 update: Shaina Schaffer presented the latest draft of Chapter 5 (Environment) of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Discussion centered on the wording of the goals, the Vision Statement and how to make the document more user-friendly. The ESC and Dan Sze asked that the City make sure the COG goals with 100% approval by its members would be consistently represented in the Chapter 5, and that Chapter 5 would map clearly and explicitly to the COG Action Plan. Both the TC and ESC made suggestions for specific wording in various energy, stormwater and urban forestry goals. Discussion also centered on providing more detail in action plans to support the vision and goals.  Planning staff: proposed Transfer of Development Rights program: Shaina Schaffer presented a very brief overview of this possible program. A TDR program would go under the City’s Zoning Ordinance and would help guide development from areas where the City is trying to protect natural resources and historic structures. In a TDR program, property owners could sell development rights if his/her property has been targeted by the City for permanent conservation or preservation has targeted his/her property. These development rights would then be used or “sent” to a “receiving area” targeted by they City for denser development. 6. Ongoing business and informational items  Subcommittee reports: The Housing chapter in the Comp Plan needs to be reviewed by June 17, when there is a City Council Work Session. The West End SEE review by City Council is set for July 8, so a review of the new plan (TBD) will need quick turnaround by the TC and ESC. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40. Staff liaisons: Kate Reich, Tree Commission: 703-248-5183, kreich@fallschurchva.gov Kate Walker, ESC: 703-248-5297, kwalker@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 703-248-5030. (TTY 711)