Tree Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE TREE BOARD City Hall - Council Chambers | 160 Sixth Avenue E. | Hendersonville, NC 28792 Tuesday, March 19, 2024 – 2:00 PM MINUTES ALL BOARD MEMBERS WERE IN ATTENDENANCE 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to Approve - Mary Davis Second - Becca Doll Motion approved 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes for February 20, 2024 Postponed - will vote for approval at April meeting. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Conditional Zoning Districts 1) Echo Hotel by Wyndham Hotel Public comments made by: Leah Ryan – 300 Delford Court Ken Fine – 125 Derbyshire Mike Corcoran – 36 Whitney Dr. Hedy Jackson – 207 Dark Crest Dr. Tree Board Motion for Echo Hotel Based on the submitted plans to the Tree Board, dated 2/27/24, we recommend the following: 1.) Throughout the proposed development (with the exception of the stormwater pond banks), any existing or developed slopes shall be planted with appropriate native TREE BOARD – March 19, 2024 Page | 1  vegetation (trees, shrubs, and perennial herbaceous plants) to stabilize the slopes, provide additional buffering, tree canopy, and urban wildlife habitat. No turf grasses shall be used. 2.) The stand of bamboo shall be removed and new shoots chemically treated each year until no longer present. 3.) Recommend additional evergreen trees be planted, Arborvitae Green Giants, to help shield residences and create denser buffer during the winter. Motion to Approve Glenn Lange Second Becca Doll Motion approved 2) Former Osceola Inn property Motion to Approve - Glenn Lange Second – Will Coffee Motion approved B. Public Relations Report - Mary Jo Padgett REPORT TO: Hendersonville Tree Board FROM: Mary Jo Padgett, PR Consultant RE: Publicity Report for March Board meeting DATE: March 19, 2024 Publicity/ events since last board meeting -- February educational program – I helped organize and set up the Feb. 26 educational program, All About Caring for the Trees in Your Backyard. 5-6:30 pm., Hendersonville Operations Center. Steve Pettis, horticultural agent with Cooperative Extension Service, presented an informative program with photo examples of pruning problems, girdled trees and how to remedy them, the unfriendly relationship between grass and trees, mulching issues, and more for 32 home and property owners who attended. The Q&A afterward was lively and helpful as well. Sponsored for the public at no charge by the Tree Board in partnership with NC Cooperative Extension. Mary D., Janet T., Glenn L., Mark S. made it run smoothly and we garnered a few new volunteer sign-ups. New Pollinator Trail – I’m working with Sustainability Superintendent Caitlyn on creating the new Pollinator Trail, a project through Bee City USA-Hendersonville (which falls under the Tree Board’s jurisdiction). I’m planning a guided walk along the trail this spring as a Tree Board event. Bradford Pear Bounty Program – In early March, publicity was written and sent to the media with a copy to TB members. I have fielded inquiries from TV stations WLOS and Fox Carolina, radio, and print. At this time, news release articles have run in the online calendar of WTZQ, last week’s print edition of Hendersonville Lightning TREE BOARD – March 19, 2024 Page | 2 and their online version, and on the front page of Sunday’s (3-17) H’ville Times-News/digital, that I know of. On- line registrations already reflect a healthy response from Henderson County residents. Pick-up date for tree exchange is May 4. Tree Ordinance Revision Committee Recommendations – In preparation for and response to the March 7 Public Hearing scheduled by City Council, I assisted Glenn L. in his correspondence to City Council re: comments and concerns of the Tree Board in regards to the recommendations of the Committee. I responded to requests for more information, photos, etc. from a reporter from Tribune Papers who wrote a follow-up article. Upcoming Arbor Day Celebration – I corresponded with Four Seasons Rotary in planning for the City’s Arbor Day event in early May. Four Seasons Rotary has sponsored the City’s annual Arbor Day program for many years. Upcoming Calendar of Events -- HENDERSONVILLE TREE BOARD CALENDAR 2024 Early April – NeighborWoods Tree Planting Projects. This planting will replace the planting that would have occurred last autumn, which was cancelled due to extreme drought. 9th Avenue West homeowners, Henderson Village, Blue Ridge Villas, Park Place, and Druid Hills neighborhood … a total of 62 trees, including dogwoods, redbuds, sweetbay and saucer magnolias, serviceberry, crabapple, and red oak will be planted at those locations. The trees will be planted in honor of retired TB Chair Mac Brackett. Saturday, April 20 – Hendo Earth Fest event on Main Street. 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. This is an educational event being coordinated by the Environmental and Sustainability Board for the Bee City USA-Hendersonville program. The event celebrates Earth Day, which is April 22. Tree Board members will man a booth. Natalie W. will organize a give-away event of a specimen tree to a City resident. Saturday. May 4 -- Bradford Pear Bounty Tree Exchange. 9-11 a.m. City Operations Center, 305 Williams Street. Teaming up with the NC Forest Service, NC Urban Forest Council, NC State Extension, and NC Wildlife Federation, the TB encourages Henderson County residents to properly remove and replace these invasive trees. When participants cut down their Bradford pear tree, they can receive a native tree to replace it. Participants must sign up and provide proof of removal to receive a native tree. Early May – Arbor Day Celebration Saturday, May 25- Sunday, May 26 – Garden Jubilee. 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Hendersonville Main St. One of the largest garden shows in WNC. The TB has asked vendors to sell only native and non-invasive plants at the event. May – October? -- ESB will have a booth/table once a month at the Maple Street Farmer’s Market for the Bee City USA-Hendersonville program. During September the symbolic monarch migration project of the Bee City USA-Hendersonville will be highlighted. A TB member may provide printed copies of the “landscape species list” at that time and explain importance of Keystone Plants. June – Pollinator Month Mid-June ? – Guided Walk Along the New Pollinator Trail. Mid-Aug.- Oct. 20 – Symbolic Monarch Migration Project of Bee City USA-Hendersonville. See May-October listing for details. TREE BOARD – March 19, 2024 Page | 3 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Earthfest Natalie Will not be able to attend but will still help to organize the event. Glenn will Bring the tent and table. Mark secured a specimen tree from Garden Gate Nursery. Either a Native Azalea or Dogwood tree - Whichever looks better in May. B. Tree Ordinance Revisions Board discussed the revision process and that the proposed revisions will not affect 90-95% of city properties, $350/per tree is much to low and does not help acquire new land to plant trees not account for any environmental nor ecological value of the trees. Board will request that the April Council Meeting be a public hearing. C. The Highway 64 East Pollinator Bed - Staff is working on the installing the bed. D. NeighborWoods Trees will be delivered on Friday March 22: Blue Ridge Villas – 24 Trees Henderson Village - 8 Trees Druid Hills – 3 Trees Bruce Drysdale School- 1 Tree Park Place – Needs volunteers to plant 15 trees 6. OTHER BUSINESS Bradford Pear Bounty Program – Maxed out on trees to be given away in 4 days. May 1st at the Operations Center Mary Davis said we need 5 more volunteers. The Tree Board discussed Council Member Simpson’s proposal to combine the Tree Board and the Environmental Sustainability Board. The Tree Board is not in favor of this proposal and is not focused other matters of sustainability. 7. ADJOURNMENT The City of Hendersonville is committed to providing accessible facilities, programs and services for all people in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Should you need assistance or an accommodation for this meeting please contact the City Clerk no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting at 697-3005. TREE BOARD – March 19, 2024 Page | 4