Urban Forestry Commission

Urban Forestry Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, July 17, 2024 ❖ 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Meeting Location: 300 Park Ave, Dogwood and Virtual Attendees UFC members: Amy Crumpton (Chair), Tim Roche, Alison Miller City Council Liaison: Erin Flynn CBC Student Liaison: Molly Moore City Staff Liaison: Elias Swadener (Urban Forestry) City Staff: Herb Holmes (DPW), Jack Trainor (Planning), Kurt Lawrence (ESC) Members of the Public: Pat Conley (Falls Church Forward) 1) Call to Order: the meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Amy Crumpton 2) Roll Call: noted above 3) Public Comment: a) Pat Conley – Falls Church Forward Leave the Leaves Campaign: Pat Conley presented an informational flyer and timeline for the FCF’s Leave the Leaves campaign to encourage residents with yards to allow fallen leaves to break down on their properties in support of a number of ecological benefits. Mr. Conley asked the UFC to support the project. UFC voted to endorse the practice of leaving the leaves in place and asked that the language on the informational flyer reflect that wording. b) Peng Highnam – street tree spacing at Lee Park Townhomes: UFC read letter with concerns and deferred discussion to business item 4(d) on Lee and Park property. c) Ellen Salsbury- Final Letter to PC and UFC: UFC read letter with concerns and deferred discussion to business item 4(d) on Lee and Park property 4) Business: a) Accessory Dwellings Update - Jack Trainor Jack Trainor discussed issues surrounding accessory dwellings that will be further deliberated as the City considers shaping requirements around integration of these structures on single family lots. UFC noted that there is currently little that the City can legally do to prevent removal of mature trees by right on private property and that such accessory dwellings may add to this decline. Specifically, UFC noted that the current requirements for 20% tree canopy coverage in 10 years on residential lots kicks in with the landscape conservation plan required when 2500 square feet or more of soil is disturbed. Jack noted that eligible residential properties have an average of 1600 square feet of space for such dwellings before the lot reaches 25% housing coverage and/or 35% impervious coverage. While soil disturbance from construction for some projects may meet 2500 square foot threshold given utilities and hardscaping, it is conceivable that for projects that fall below 2500 square feet of disturbance the City would have no authority to require retaining or replanting to attain 20% tree canopy coverage for the lot. The UFC would like to find out more on how other jurisdictions that have adopted AD requirements deal with the tree canopy issue. There will be community meetings at the Library on July 23 and 28 as well as in September and November. Issue will be sent to Boards and Commissions at their meetings in December to February. b) Yasini Jewelers Project UFC concurred with Arborist and Planning staff statements that all requirements relative to the City Code and City landscaping standards should be followed by applicant. No waivers for perimeter or interior parking lot landscaping should be allowed since the lot has sufficient space. Planning staff need assessment of the street trees on Broad Street in front of the property and Eli Swadener will provide that info to Jeff Hollern. Two site plan pages on landscaping were not cohesive as to whether an overhang will or will not be present which affects the plantings under it. UFC is eager to see the next resubmission that addresses and clarifies these issues. c) Amendments to City Code Chapter 35 “Stormwater” (TO24-08) These changes ostensibly provide the City with more authority to deter removal of mature trees in Resource Protection Areas to include private property. The Public Utilities Commission was discussing these changes on July 17 concurrent to the UFC meeting. Council will have first reading on July 22. UFC was asked to comment, unfortunately no Stormwater staff were available to explain or answer questions. UFC Chair asked Commissioners to take a look at the Staff Report and amendments and provide comments to send to Stormwater staff by July 31. d) Lee Park Townhomes Project Planning Commission was discussing this at their meeting which runs concurrently with UFC meeting. Two members of the applicant’s design team helped to answer some questions. However, it became clear that the landscaping site plan available to the UFC was not the most current plan that applicant had submitted to Planning. UFC would like to see the updated site plan in order to fully address comments from Peng Highnam and Ellen Salsbury. Highnam raised the issue of street tree spacing along Lee Street and of tree  species selection. Trees should be 25 feet apart according to streetscape requirements and an American Sycamore is likely too big a species for a street tree. UFC will offer alternative tree species ideas. No indication of what the tree canopy coverage will be for this project. If 10% minimum met, it looks to be mostly in the City’s right-of-way along the streets, which is not meeting tree canopy within the private property. There is no greenspace on the property for residents of 20 new townhouses to relax, congregate or use as pet relief area. 5) Staff Updates and Informational Items a) City Council Calendar b) Staff Updates c) Building Greener: Green Building and Site Design Concepts for Commercial Development in Falls Church, VA (May 2024) Kurt Lawrence, Environmental Sustainability Council liaison, presented a white paper on green building design concepts that he had developed for the ESC. UFC looks forward to working with the ESC to determine how specific requirements regarding landscaping, trees, and wildlife protections can be integrated into a larger green building design requirement that the City might adopt. UFC noted that changes in City code, including adopting minimum canopy coverage on commercial developments, will be necessary in order for such a requirement to have any teeth. 6) Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm. 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 571- 296-6306 TTY711