CC_Minutes_2015_0706 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,July 6,2015 Page 24 tion plan drawing with the grading plan drawing during review of land use cases during the Planning Commission and City Council review, opining that they needed to go together to understand the overall impact of building in a readable format. Under current code, Councilmember Etten noted the negative potential to clear all trees in the right-of-way, such as evidenced near Lady Slipper Park on West Owasso Boulevard, but recognizing the positive impact with the replace- ment berm embankment and appreciation of it as a justification to clear the area, and not just because it happened to be on the right-of-way. Councilmember Etten noted the big impacts to neighborhoods, and solar considerations to address and how to balance those interests as part of the process. In referencing the previously-noted Pulte Development, Councilmember McGe- hee noted the need to address tree protection during the construction process, and her concern in the impacts of the Oaks with compaction of their root mass during that construction process, without any guidelines in place to address that. Councilmember Etten also addressed the Pizza Luce development as an example and the lack of staff resources to continually monitor every development without professional assistance to maintain quality trees. Councilmember Laliberte expressed her appreciation of this presentation and ex- amples from other communities. Councilmember Laliberte stated her biggest concern was with the Pulte Project serving as a wake-up call for her in the poten- tial for clear-cutting trees and starting from scratch. Councilmember Laliberte agreed that she was not interested in the city assessing or approving a private property owner's need to remove a tree for insurance and/or structure issues, nor in their being required to jump through hoops to accomplish that work, given the expensive nature of such a venture to remove a tree already. Councilmember Laliberte spoke in support of coordinating with various departments and commis- sions as an integrated part of the decision-making process for the City Council and addressing where responsibilities lie and where final decisions were made; and whether current staffing or a different staffing model was indicated as part of the process moving forward. City Manager Trudgeon thanked Councilmember Willmus for bringing the Tree Board to his attention; noting they did not currently have a direct role in review- ing tree preservation, which was often tied to development. However, Mr. Trudg- eon noted the need to include their perspective related to shade trees, pests, and boulevard issues; and noted the need to reconcile their role with this discussion. Mayor Roe opined that the City's first attempt at a tree preservation ordinance was good,but now it was time to refine it. As noted by Councilmember Etten and the discussion held in November of 2014, Mayor Roe opined that fairly reflected the thoughts of the City Council, and while there may be a difference of opinion among individual Councilmembers about ultimate triggers, the policy decision