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Dunes City Planning Commission M I N U T E S |
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Regular Meeting – February 22, 2007 - 7:00 P.M. |
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City Hall - 82877
Spruce St. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
George Burke, Chairperson; Darlene Beckman, Lee Riechel, Ron
Shearer, Bill Tizzard. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Richard
Anderson. STAFF PRESENT: None.
1. CALL
TO ORDER
Chairperson George Burke called the meeting of the Dunes City
Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. 2.
MINUTES APPROVAL
Commissioner
Lee Riechel requested that the vote recorded for the second action
reported on Page 1 of the minutes of the January 25 meeting be changed to
show it was unanimously adopted, 4:0.
Chairperson Burke determined there was no objection to the request
and the minutes were amended.
Commissioner Riechel
moved, seconded by Commissioner Bill Tizzard, to accept the minutes of the
January 25, 2007, meeting, as amended.
The motion was adopted unanimously, 3:0, with Commissioner Darlene
Beckman not voting because she had not yet been officially sworn in as a
Commission member.
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
AND CORRESPONDENCE
None. 4.
NEW BUSINESS
City Councilor David Bellemore administered the oath of office to
Darlene Beckman and declared her a member of the Planning Commission, with
a term ending December 31, 2007. 5.
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner Riechel asked if there was any report on the status of
a recommendation being prepared by the City Attorney for the City Council
regarding reorganization of the Planning
Commission. Chairperson
Burke replied that he had learned that it would be completed soon.
Commissioner Riechel said he hoped the Planning Commission would
have an opportunity to review and comment on the recommendation before it
was presented to the Council. 6.
REPORT OF THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
Chairperson Burke referred to a report of the Conservation
Committee regarding vegetation removal and shoreline protection at the
residence of George Reedal, 83566 Woodland Lane.
Councilor Bellemore stated that he represented the Conservation
Committee. He reviewed
background information included in the report.
Councilor Bellemore said City Councilor Bob Petersdorf had been
contacted by the homeowner requesting information about permissions
required to remove a tree that was considered to be in danger of falling
doing damage to the residence. He
explained that Councilor Petersdorf was called on to make judgments about
the condition of trees in the Dunes City right of way as part of his
responsibilities on the Road Commission.
He said that Councilor Petersdorf had not been aware that the
Conservation Committee was active. He reported that Councilor Petersdorf had visited the site,
agreed with the homeowner’s assessment of the tree, and gave permission
for it to be removed.
Councilor Bellemore reported that City Councilor Peter Howison had
contacted him with a concern about the tree removal.
He said he had convened members of the Conservation Committee and
visited the site. He said
that even though a large similar tree had fallen in a recent storm
narrowly missing the residence, the members had judged the roots of the
tree in question to be sound and recommended that it be left in place.
Chairperson Burke reported that he had been informed that the
homeowner intended to reconcile the different views by topping the tree at
eight feet, leaving a major branch on its lakeshore side.
He said it appeared the homeowner had done what was required and
that no permit was required by relevant sections City Code if the tree had
been determined to be a “danger tree” by a representative of the City.
Richard Reedal, 85221 Ridgetop Drive, Eugene, stated that he
represented his elderly parents who were owners and residents of the
property being discussed. He
expressed appreciation for the report of the Conservation Committee.
He corrected elements of the report, including the fact that the
intention was to remove the entire tree, not just top it.
He said he did not believe the tree was healthy and emphasized the
anxiety created for his parents by the possibility of a storm causing it
to fall on their home.
Mr. Reedal stated that he had filed a Measure 37 claim against the
City for and if the tree removal were not approved, doing so would be
incorporated into the claim.
Commissioners discussed the report at length, emphasizing personal
experiences with trees falling, the importance of government protecting
the mental and physical health of its citizens, the comparative merit and
aesthetic of topping versus removing the entire stump of the tree, and the
quandary created by contradictory evaluations by different representatives
of the City. Significant effort was exerted to identify the species of
tree involved and to describe its characteristic vulnerability to rot,
infestation, and storm forces.
Commissioner Ron
Shearer moved, seconded by Commissioner Beckman, to authorize removal of
the portions of the tree above its lowest limb considered a danger to the
residence at 83566 Woodland Lane, sparing its roots in order to protect
the shore of Woahink Lake.
In response to a question from Councilor Beckman, Chairperson Burk explained
that the Planning Commission had authority to make decisions like proposed
in the motion and that appeal of the decision was possible to the City
Council.
Commissioners discussed the motion and appeared to reach agreement
that cutting the tree at its base and leaving its roots in the soil would
provide the same lakeshore protection as toping it.
There appeared also to be agreement that planting replacement trees
should be required.
Councilor Tizzard
moved, seconded by Councilor Beckman, to amend to motion, as follows:
“…authorize removal
and require that at least two trees of an appropriate species be
planted to replace the removed tree.
The amendment was adopted unanimously, 4:0.
The amended motion was adopted unanimously, 4:0.
7. COMMISSION
BUSINESS
Members discussed appropriate preparation and resources for service
on the Planning Commission. The
Dunes City Code, especially newly adopted Section 182, its Comprehensive
Plan, and Master Road Plan were considered essential.
A training manual prepared by Lane Council of Governments was also
identified as a valuable tool.
Experienced members led discussion about ethics, appropriate
meeting conduct, Planning Commission procedures, opportunities, and
limitations, and the impacts of ex
parte contacts, conflicts of interest quasi-judicial
deliberations in Commission business.
Chairperson Burk identified issues to be considered at the April 25
Planning Commission meeting.
The
meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
________________________________ __________________________________ George Burke, Chairperson Planning Secretary (NONE) ________________________________ __________________________________ Richard Anderson, Planning Commission William Tizzard, Planning Commission (Absent) ________________________________ __________________________________ Lee Riechel, Planning Commission Ron Shearer, Planning Commission ________________________________ Darlene Beckman, Planning Commission (Recorded
by Dan Lindstrom) |
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