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The
Tree Commission Meeting for the City of New Castle took place on
January 4, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. in the City of New Castle’s
Town Hall.
Members
Present: Chip Patterson, Chairperson
Susan Keyser,
Co-Chairperson
Erv Thatcher
John Lloyd
Nancy
Coning
Tom Truman
Fran Peden
Mark Miller
The
meeting was called to order by Mr. Patterson at 5:35 p.m. Roll call
was taken.
Approval
of Minutes – Ms.
Keyser made a motion to adopt the meeting minutes for 11/2/09 as
amended and 12/7/09. Ms. Coning seconded the motion which was
approved by unanimous vote.
OLD
BUSINESS
Frank
DiSabatino, 10 Baldt Avenue
– This topic was on the 12/7/09 agenda. Members requested
additional information and justification for removal of the swamp
maple at the corner of the property near his driveway that is
adjacent to a paper street. Members also wanted to know why he
requested a Zelkova as the replacement for the swamp maple. Mr.
DiSabatino informed that he has planted about 20 trees on the street.
The swamp maple harbors box elder bugs and he has had it trimmed
twice. The tree is old but is not dying. He would like to replace
it with a Zelkova or a pin oak to remain consistent with what has
already been planted on the street.
Ms.
Keyser questioned if the Tree Commission plants trees on paper
streets. Mr. Patterson said it is a City lot and it depends
on where the replacement tree is planted. Mr. DiSabatino said the
trees he has already planted are 6’ back from the curb and the
replacement tree would be consistent. Specifically he would like to
have the new tree planted very near to where the swamp maple is now
located. It would be 6’ back and on City property. Mr.
DiSabatino will pay to have the swamp maple removed but would ask the
Tree Commission to pay for the replacement tree. (Discussion
about the City right-of-way followed.) Mr.
Thatcher added that there are no development interests for the paper
street; the lot backs up to other houses in Van Dyke Village and a
railroad track. As for asking the City to vacate the street,
Mr. DiSabatino said he had considered this but after speaking with
the City Inspector it was learned that all neighbors would have an
opportunity to bid on the lot and he would like to see the lot remain
open space. (Ms. Keyser
reiterated her concerns with planting a tree on a paper street.
Additional discussion on this topic took place.)
Mr.
Miller noted that repetition of form creates beauty. Mr. Truman
asked how close the driveway is to the paper street and Mr.
DiSabatino said the edge of the driveway is near the line. There is
not enough room to plant between the driveway and the paper
street. Mr. Patterson said that 6’ off the curb tends to be
the right-of-way for Baldt Avenue. The paper street is approximately
50’ wide and there are no sidewalks in front of the houses.
Discussion
turned to the type of tree to be planted. Zelkova trees have been
found to cause problems and are not a desired replacement tree. The
pin oak tree is more desirable. Mr. DiSabatino will be happy to have
a pin oak planted or whatever this body decides upon. The Tree
Ordinance requires that any planting or tree work needs to be done by
the Tree Commission and not citizens. Donations to the Tree
Commission towards the work are welcome. Mr. DiSabatino confirmed
that he would maintain the replacement tree.
Mr.
Thatcher made a motion to remove the swamp maple and plant another
tree in its place. Ms. Keyser seconded the motion. The motion was
adopted by unanimous vote.
Mr.
Patterson recused himself as Chairperson and turned the meeting over
to Ms. Keyser to address the next matter on the agenda.
Remediation
Plan for 3rd
and South Street Property –
Commission members reviewed the remediation plan presented to them
this evening. Ms. Regina Marini offered that she wants to work with
the Tree Commission. The information that was provided last month
was prepared and submitted after speaking with the City Inspector.
She is aware of the guidelines the Tree Commission set forth for the
plan and is working on determining the type of trees to plant,
placement and so on. Ms. Keyser asked if is her intent to
return to the original grades and elevations and Ms. Marini confirmed
that that is her intent. Concerning the timeline, Ms. Keyser asked
when the trees will be planted. Ms. Marini said planting would occur
likely in the fall as landscaping is done. She was unsure of the
type of topsoil to be used but will work with the Tree Commission to
ensure a good quality is used. She has employed the services of a
tree expert. Mr. Patterson informed that Ms. Marini has received a
copy of the tree planting guidelines that Russ Carlson developed.
Care and maintenance are important to establish the trees and Ms.
Marini agreed. Her construction company will handle the final
grading and the Tree Commission wants to be kept in the loop to
ensure what is being done is accurate and meets guidelines. Mr.
Patterson suggested that the tree expert Ms. Marini has hired should
come before this body to ensure he understands the guidelines and/or
provide a little more detail to the plan submitted tonight.
Locations for the trees can be selected in conjunction with the Tree
Commission. She received a copy of the list of recommended tree
species and favors pink dogwood trees. (Discussion
about whether replacement trees would be the same species that were
removed or different trees.)
It was agreed that three (3) trees, species to be determined, will
be planted. Ms. Keyser indicated that research shows planting
smaller trees is more beneficial and survival rates are better. Ms.
Keyser suggested having Ms. Marini’s landscaper speak with the
Tree Commission by the July 2010 Tree Commission meeting concerning
location and species so this information can be provided to the
neighbors for their review. This would afford time to finalize
location/species. (Ms.
Marini will have her tree expert assemble a plan to be submitted to
this body along with her tree preferences for review.)
Mr.
Bayard Marin, counsel for John Wheeler and Katherine Klyce, feels the
plan and way this body is proceeding is correct. Screening the
property is important. He asked if the applicant would be willing to
provide more trees than the three (3) that have been agreed to. More
trees would satisfy the neighbors even more. Commission members
responded that if this body decides to plant more trees on the public
right-of-way they would approach the owner of the property to get
their input. However, the original agreement is for three (3) trees.
Ms.
Keyser made a motion that the Tree Commission will accept the plan
submitted tonight based on the fact the trees will be planted in Fall
2010 (end of construction), the banks will return to the original
elevation, grades will remain the same at the driveway (Third Street
side), the Tree Commission will be contacted by the Marini landscaper
concerning species of trees, location of trees and soil necessary for
those trees. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. The motion was
approved with seven (7) members in favor with one (1) abstention
(Patterson).
(Mr.
Marin expressed concerned with being notified when items relative to
this matter are scheduled on the agenda. Discussion followed. Mr.
Patterson will email subject agendas to Mr. Marin.)
NEW
BUSINESS
Ennio
DiAlessandro, 38 West 7th
Street & Tremont –
Mr. Patterson requested Commission members to look at the raised
sidewalk and a leaning tree at this location. He distributed
photographs of the area to members for their viewing. Several
members did visit the site. There is a dead tree at this location on
the Tremont side that is the City’s responsibility and should
be removed, but Mr. DiAlessandro also wants the Tree
Commission to remove the tree that is raising the sidewalk.
(Discussion about the after
effects of cutting the tree’s roots and destabilization of the
tree followed.) The
sidewalk is the homeowner’s responsibility.
Mr.
Miller made a motion to remove the dead tree at this location. Ms.
Keyser seconded the motion which was passed by unanimous vote.
The
Commission would like information specific to what Mr. DiAlessandro
is requesting from the Tree Commission for the tree on 7th
Street that is affecting his sidewalk. This information can come in
the form of a letter. Mr. Thatcher said the tree in question has
only been in this location 4-5 years and he believes it is a pin oak.
(Additional discussion
about remedies, including cutting of roots, followed.)
Mr. Patterson will speak to Mr. Rizzardi about remedies to limit
damage to the tree.
Tree,
Inc. – A copy of the
invoice for the work that we previously asked this firm to do was
provided to all members. All work has been completed satisfactorily.
The delay in getting the work completed was due to the City
requiring bonding of tree workers.
Members
Report
Erv Thatcher –
Trees planted on Third Street look good.
Fran Peden –
Nothing to report.
Susan Keyser – She currently has seven
(7) trees on the planting list that she will give to Bob Rizzardi
this week to begin the rolling planting that has been previously
discussed. (She provided
locations for these trees.)
Tom Truman – Four (4) small trees have been vandalized in
Dewey Park (three at the Episcopal Church and one at The Arsenal)
sometime in December. No major damage was noted. A partial leader
was broken off one and another had a number of branches broken off.
Pruning is in order. He noted two (2) other trees with broken
branches from a vehicle and stub cuts to the tree (520 Harmony
Street) and another tree with a broken branch from a vehicle (102
Delaware Street).
Mark Miller – Four (4) large trees that
the Tree Commission planted at the library are gone because of
construction at the library. He asked if trees would be replanted;
they add to the street scape. As noted in our last meeting, Mr.
Patterson said the library had been in contact with him to inform
that no new trees would be planted because the library wants to
maximize their parking area and the small space between the curbs is
too small for trees. The trees removed were located on private
property. (Discussion
followed.) Mr. Thatcher
said the installation of the geo-thermal heating system in the
parking area involves crush and run material.
Nancy Coning –
Nothing to report.
John Lloyd – Nothing to report.
Chairman’s
Report
Mr. Toby Hagerott
was introduced to Commission members as a potential member. His
resume has been provided to members. Mr. Patterson provided Mr.
Hagerott a copy of the Tree Ordinance that states if the Trustees do
not make an appointment, which has not been done, the Tree Commission
can approach City Council with his name as an additional appointment.
Mr. Hagerott provided a brief description of his qualifications.
Commission members were receptive to Mr. Hagerott joining the Tree
Commission. Mr. Patterson will present Mr. Hagerott’s name to
City Council for consideration of appointment.
Lastly,
Mr. Patterson noted that we are going to begin working on the rules
and regulations of the Tree Commission as well as develop a forestry
manual, per the Tree Ordinance.
Adjournment
A
motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion was
approved and the meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Debbie
Turner
Stenographer
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