Tree Protection Board

Tree Protection Board Minutes Monday, September 8, 2020 Zoom Cloud Meeting Members Present: David Morris Ginger Reilly Peter Wallace Kenny Sott Faye Campbell Staff Present: Leonard Larkin, IT Manager Bill Salisbury, Arborist The meeting was called to order at 9:01 a.m. Roll call was taken. Mr. Wallace made a motion for approval of the August 10, 2020 meeting minutes. Ms. Reilly seconded the motion for approval of the minutes as presented. The motioned carried. Old Business New Business 1. 426 Eastover – Removal of 2 Pine trees – Mr. Salisbury reported #1 tree is in good shape, #2 tree has a weak crown and dead limbs up in it. Owner is concerned about limbs falling out during storms. Mr. Sott asked whether there was any disease. Mr. Salisbury reported the grass at the base of the tree is dead, tree looks to be declining but no evidence of any disease. Mr. Wallace made a motion to deny #1 and have an arborist look at #2 to identify any disease and if any recourse to save the tree; if not, okay to remove. Ms. Campbell seconded the motion. The motion passed with Mr. Morris voting no. Ms. Campbell made recommendation for root pruning of #1 to avoid impact on house foundation. 2. 205 East 6th South Street – Removal of 4 Pines, 1 Oak, 2 Cedars and 4 other trees – Mr. Salisbury reported, upon his site visitation, that it was unclear which trees had been marked for removal. The tree survey and the marked trees did not agree. The board was in agreement with these findings. The motion was made by Mr. Wallace to table the application until the October TPB meeting after clarification is made and the site revisited by the TPB members. Ms. Campbell seconded the motion. The motion carried. 3. 3 Padgett Circle – Removal of 4 Pines and 1 Magnolia tree - Mr. Marion Watson was present in place of his son, Mark Watson. Mr. Mark Watson submitted a letter regarding the trees he is requesting to remove. Mr. Salisbury reported trees #1 through #4 (24”, 26”, 22” Pines, and 24” Magnolia) are cracking and buckling the brick driveway which is in very bad condition due to the roots. The trees are close to the driveway. The fifth tree is a healthy 19” Pine tree. Mr. Watson reported his son is going to redo the driveway, expanding it to the left of the existing driveway which will lead to a shed he plans to build at the rear of the property. While the fifth tree is in the way of the proposed new drive and shed, plans for the shed are not finalized at this time. Mr Wallace made a motion to allow removal of trees #1 - #4 but to deny #5 until the shed plans are finalized. Ms Reilly seconded the motion. The motion carried.  Tree Protection Board Minutes Monday, September 8, 2020 Zoom Cloud Meeting 4. 198 Bamert – Removal of 2 trees – Mr. Migioia explained he wants to redo the fence on his property. An arborist advised him to remove tree #1 before building a new fence. Mr. Salisbury reported tree #1 is a 20” Pine which is interfering with the fence, tree #2 is a 24” Pine which has a rotten spot on it. Mr. Wallace asked if the existing fence is on the property line. This was affirmed by Mr. Migioia thereby preventing rerouting of the fence to accommodate the tree. He does not want to reroute the fence, just remove the tree. Mr. Sott suggested raising the slats of the new fence to accommodate the root collar since the new fence will be made of wood. Mr. Wallace made a motion to allow removal of tree #2 but to deny tree #1. Ms. Campbell seconded the motion The motion carried. Mr. Wallace asked what the distance is from the house to tree #1. Mr. Salisbury said 50-75’. Mr. Migioia said the roots are growing to the HVAC system. Mr. Sott suggested root pruning as a solution for this. Mr. Salisbury advised no more than 20% of the root ball is the rule of thumb. 5. 126 Boone Drive – Removal of 2 Pine trees – There was no representative present today as the owner is a schoolteacher and classes began today. Mr. Salisbury reported tree #1 is a healthy tree, tree #2 is close to the patio, has numerous dead limbs in it and is growing into an Oak tree. Ms. Campbell suggested removing the dead limbs in tree #2. Mr. Wallace made a motion to deny removal of tree #1 but to allow removal of tree #2 as it is in decline and impacting the Oak tree. Ms. Campbell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken in which Ms. Reilly voted against the motion; however, the motion carried by a majority. 6. 212 West 4th North Street – Impact on 1 Live Oak – Mr. Salisbury stated the owner wants to construct a new building, driveway and parking lot. He and Ms .Shuler visited the site with the owner and expressed the desire to design around the Live Oak tree. Because the new owner has not yet closed on the property and the plans have not been approved at this time, Mr. Sott requested for the permit to be moved to October TPB meeting which the representative agreed to. Ms. Reilly questioned whether the representative was the proper person to have submitted the tree removal permit. Mr. Salisbury explained the current owner is working with the purchaser to expedite the project and had submitted the permit for him. Mr. Sott made a motion to table the discussion until the October TPB meeting. Mr. Wallace seconded the motion. The motion carried. 7. 113 North Magnolia Street – Removal of 16” Cedar tree – Mr. Cameron Baker represented the proposed project for this property. He reported a 5600 sq ft commercial building, driveway and parking area is to be built. Every effort has been made to accommodate the 38” and 48” trees as well as deal with drainage; however, the drip line of these trees would be impacted by an impervious surface such as the planned asphalt. Drainage of the site was a big concern and they had worked it out with Storm Water. Part of the drainage area is located under the driveway and must be covered by pavement. Mr. Sott questioned the condition of the 16” Cedar tree. Mr. Salisbury confirmed it is not in good health. Mr. Morris commended Mr. Baker on working around the grand Oak trees. He made a motion to allow removal of the 16”, allow for the asphalt for the main driveway but to change the material of the parking spots for least impact on those trees. Ms. Reilly seconded the motion. The motion carried.  Tree Protection Board Minutes Monday, September 8, 2020 Zoom Cloud Meeting Miscellaneous: 1. Ms. Campbell pointed out the newspaper had listed this meeting as taking place at Town Hall rather than by Zoom. 2. Mr. Wallace brought up concern about the sixth item on today’s agenda, 212 West 4th North Street. Mr. Sott stated clarification is needed regarding whether a plan has been approved by the Town before they can discuss tree permit applications. Mr. Salisbury will discuss with Ms. Shuler regarding commercial projects in particular which can seem to be rushed to TPB committee before the appropriate steps have been followed regarding the overall building plans for a site. ADJOURN: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:24 am on a motion by Ms. Campbell and a second by Mr. Wallace. The motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Date:___________________ Bill Salisbury Arborist/Natural Resource Planner Approved: Kenny Sott, Chair _________________________________________; or, Faye Campbell, Vice Chair _________________________________________