MINUTES OF THE MEETING
TREE BOARD
FEBRUARY 7, 2006
The Tree Board had a regular meeting on February 7, 2006. Members present were
James Head, Hal Averett, George Stanton, Gloria Weston Smart, Beth Dreelin, and
Kenneth M. Henson, Jr. Also present were Scott Jones and Dorothy McDaniel.
Milton Anthony was excused.
On motion of James Head, with a second by Hal Averett, the minutes of
the November 29, 2005 meeting were unanimously approved.
On motion of Hal Averett, with a second by James Head, George Stanton
was re-elected as Chairman. On motion of James Head, with a second by Beth
Dreelin, Hal Averett, was elected as Vice-Chairman. The position of Secretary
will be filled at the next meeting.
Scott Jones gave a report on Arbor Day. Arbor Day was last Saturday at
Oxbow. This was the second year it had been held at Oxbow. Over 100 people
came on a cold, windy day. Next year, Scott plans to recommends moveing Arbor
Day back to Lakebottom.
Hal Averett gave a report on the Riverdale and Porterdale Cemetery
project. This has been a Tree Board initiative. Funds have been requested to
provide a more comprehensive plan with more detail. The overall plan is to
restore the gatehouse at Riverdale, acquire the Farmer?s Market property, and
connect the two cemeteries together. Trees Columbus has helped with this
project by having its holiday forest at the Riverdale and Porterdale
Cemeteries. Hands On Columbus and students from Carver High School and
Brookstone School helped plant this year. This project will continue next
year. Scott will start to prepare for next year?s project by preparing the
site where trees can be planted.
Scott gave a report on the proposed planting on Veterans Parkway.
Funds are now available from the State and federal government for this
tree-planting project. The City has now proposed to widen Veterans Parkway to
six lanes (three lanes in each direction) from the Civic Center north. Until a
decision has been made on this widening, no planting will take place and there
will be no private funds to match the federal and State funds.
Scott also reported on the flood abatement project on Sixth Avenue.
Sixth Avenue is being reworked from 9th Street to Victory Drive at Memorial
Stadium. The Sixth Avenue project is a part of the Liberty District renewal.
When the Water Works redoes the combined water and sewer line, the street will
be redone. There will be new curbing and coping. The Riverdale and Porterdale
cemetery project will be coordinated with this project. The Sixth Avenue
project is a part of the Liberty District renewal.
Scott gave a brief report on the application of the tree ordinance to
new projects. The new WalMart/Kohl?s development on Whittlesey Road will not
fall under the new big box ordinance. During the negotiations, the WalMart
developer agreed to move from the ten TDU limit required in the ordinance to 15
TDU?s. A different developer for WalMart has agreed to 20 TDU?s at the
proposed WalMart on Gateway Blvd.
Scott also reported that the original rezoning on Whittlesey Blvd required the
developer to honor a 200? buffer. The intent was that the buffer be
undisturbed. Apparently, the word undisturbed was left out of the ordinance
and now WalMart wants to disturb the buffer. They propose to encroach 30? in
the buffer, cut trees, and leave a 30? slope. They will then plant on the bank
12? on center with 3? caliber trees. If they encroach on 2,000? at 30?, they
get 60,000 additional square feet to use which is 1 1/3 acres. The new big box
ordinance will require 20 TDU?s.
In the minutes of the last meeting, there was a discussion about the
Airport Authority starting its project without having a tree plan. The Airport
Authority and the City worked to try and work on a plan even though there had
been a violation. It was later learned that the Airport Authority was exempt
by FAA rules from submitting a plan. Everyone is now operating in good faith
to plant and screen the airport property. The Airport Authority may cut 60
acres of woods east of the property towards the Manchester Expressway. They
are having a problem with deer. Scott reported that in the future all
variances will be presented to the Tree Board before a permit will be issued.
If an organization is exempt, they will still file for a variance on grounds of
exemption. This will provide a clean, uniform process.
George Stanton asked if there was any new business. There was a brief
discussion about reviewing the tree ordinance and correcting any problems that
existed in the current ordinance. It was agreed that, before the next meeting,
Scott would provide a list of some of the problems with the current ordinance.
Members might propose ways to correct the ordinance and submit it to Council.
Scott invited any of the members who wanted to go the basic tree care
seminar in Thomasville on February 23, 2006 to let him know. If we had enough
interest, we might be able to get this seminar moved to Columbus.
There being no further business and on motion of Ken Henson, Jr., with a second
by Hal Averett, the meeting adjourned.
SECRETARY
CHAIRMAN
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