HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-08-2009 Regular MeetingCommittee:
Date & Time:
Place:
Subject:
Public Meeting Notice
Tree Committee
Monday, June 8, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.
Delchamps Room
Tree Survey associated with "The Shoppes
at Fairhope Village"
Notice must be stamped, dated and initialed before posted on
bulletin board.
The Tree Comm ittee of the City of Fairhope met Thursday , April 16 , 2009 at
3 :00 PM at the City Administration Building , 161 N. Section Street.
Present: Bobby Green , Chairman ; Members : Tom Ellis , Rick Kingrea, Maria
Gwynn , Skip Jones, Paul Fontenot. Jennifer Fidler, Public Works Director
and Horticultu rist. Betty Rivenbark , ecretary. Absent: Jackie Frodsham
Paul Ripp , Chris Francis , and Jim Ho rn er were present.
The minutes of the January 15, 20 09 meeting were duly approved with
Bobby 's Jan 16th letter to regency c e ters attached , as presented . Jennifer
mentioned that the Tree Committe e needed to make a recommendation to
the Planning Commission on their interpretation on Landscape Buffers , so
they knew what to tell developers . Bo bby said it needed to be cla rified in
several documents. Tom recomme nd ed we do this by sending a memo of
what we believe it should be , send to Jean Wilson , Chairman of Planning
Commission. Further discussion was held on whether we meant untouched
or landscaped , there are different inte rpretations . It was discussed saying
"existing natural undisturbed buffers". Bobby said he will write something
and send it to all to review and the n send to the Planning Commission . Skip
Jones moved to do this , Maria Gwy n 2nd the motion and it carried
unanimously
Arbor Day -Jackie Frodsham had sent a report saying it was a great turn
out. The weather was perfect and t h rain held off until after the seedling
giveaway. The Mayor gave out thre e Beautification Awards: Walcott,
Adams & Vernuille ; Dr . Peterson 's ff ice on Greeno Road ; Jade Consulting
Building at Edwards and Greeno Ro ad . Jackie gave out nine Treasured
Tree Awards. She wrote the prograr is a combined effort of the City of
Fairhope Tree Committee and the isteria Garden Club. Jennifer said it
went well , gave out 1800 native tre es . She said there were a couple of
vendors and Chris Francis did a tre e seminar. She said the poster awa rds
were given out to the 5th graders.
Tom reported on the centennial tre e rogram. Jennifer said it is completed
they have planted the last ones be hind the library but the mapping is not
complete yet. Tom read a ca rd fro m dith Lawson's daughter expressing
her appreciation for the program .
Kud zu Control -Tom reported that Bo Brodbeck will help and he will get in
touch with Auburn . Tom and Jenni fe r just need to pick a spot, they talked
about doing it down at the warehou s area but Jennifer pointed out that they
were trying to control erosion , need e d to be aware of this.
Bobby gave a report on the Johnsto n complaint about wanting to cut a tree
on Fairhope Ave n ue across from th e Inte rmediate School. He said the issue
is really the speed of traffic , he su ggested Jennifer and Rick look at the tree
and see what they could come up wit h in possibly slowing down the traffic .
Organization
Membership and Vice-Chair -Rick Kingrea reported on the number of
members and vice-chair and said th at if we have a quorum you can take
action and record vote whether chai r or vice -chair.
Ordinance and Procedures -Skip Jones said he and Maria have set a date
for a meeting , Wednesday the 22 nd ' and they will assemble changes into a
document and send to everyone.
Ordinance Language -Bobby Green gave a handout, attached , that he
asked the committee can he read to t he City Council at the next City Council
meeting which said in part ... ''The Tr ee Committee including former
members , councilmen Dan Stankos ki and Bob Gentle, plus current member
, Mr. Kingrea , have expressed conc e rns over the interpretation and
enforcement of the tree and landsc ap e ordinance. With this in mind , the
Tree Committee is beginning a proc ess of ordinance revision to ensure the
Planning & Zoning and Council approval of projects, including specific
conditions of approval, are implemented." Discussion followed, Rick
Kingrea made the comment that one set of rules should apply to all then
come back if they want adjustments. Skip Jones said we need to refine the
Tree Ordinance and work with landsc aping companies, that developers want
to know. Bobby said if no one had an objection he is going to read the letter
at the City Council meeting. Motion and vote was made on this. Maria
seconded and passed unanimously.
Plan Review -Bobby asked Jennife r and Paul Fontenot to work together in
reviewing plans before they go to Pl anning and Zoning Commission.
Jennifer said she could contact him w hen they come in.
Under old business the Regency -Publix site was discussed as to whether
they have done what required. Jennifer said she had a sketch and amended
their drawing and added requiring si x live oaks, that have been planted, on
the property which she feels satisfied the drawing requirement. She has
been out there and walked it and ok 'd it. Bobby said that they had ignored
Tom 's letter . Tom said that despite that fact, they have planted the required
six live oaks he feels that th ey have complied and it is a dead issue. Paul
said he feels they have don e what asked of them. Further discussion led to
the suggestion of sending Paul and Tom 's current tree inventory and have
the Mayor send a letter to all parties , the state, Regency, Corte , the highway
department and make sure they understand we have it so no further
removal will be made on the property. Sk ip Jones moved for this to be done.
Tom Ellis 2nd the motion and it carried un animously.
Under new business Earth Day -Tom said he needed some help with a
booth that they are going to have , need some poster board. Jennifer said
she would get some to him.
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Paul mentioned to Jennifer that she needed to check on Schellbrook , that it
looked like some of the tree s did not ma ke it. She said she would.
Jennifer Fidler left at 4:00 PM due to a prior commitment.
Maria Gwynn asked to be heard and pas se d out to the Tree Committee
what she perceives as viola tions of the Tree Ordinance at the Publix site.
She said she feels the system is broke , how do we fix it. Discussion followed
on the perceived violations and the copy of a tree inventory that was
attached to the back of her pa pers. The co mmittee reached a consensus
that it was unclea r to them how the city had used or not used the required
tree inventory , which they sa id they had be en told did not exist. Since
Jennifer Fidler had left the meeting there wa s no one to reply to the
violations stated or discussed. Rick King re a said he hopes all appropriate
procedures were followed. The committ ee voted with one abstention by
Rick Kingrea , to send a lette r to Mayor Kan t asking him to investigate the
use or lack of use of the tre e inventory by the city during preliminary plat
approval of the project.
Local arborist and landscap e r, Chris Fr ancis, addressed the committee and
told of an upcoming "Tree p ro tection semin ar" to be held in May .
There being no further busin ess, meeti ng was duly adjourned.
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