City may rethink tree ordinance

As the hunt for the new urban forester in McMinnville continues, he or she may have a hurdle to jump right from the get-go as a proposed ordinance is already stirring up dirt with the Planning Commission.

The proposal, written by McMinnville?s first urban forester, Nick Kuhn, puts some strong restrictions on new construction within the city of McMinnville in an effort to increase tree and landscape plantings.

?I don?t think it?s right to tell people what to do with their property,? said Planning and Zoning director Jim Brock. ?I wouldn?t want anyone telling me what to do with mine.?

According to the ordinance, single-family homes will be required to have a combination of four trees with a mature height of 15 feet and a 5-foot wide planting strip equal to 25 percent of the building footprint in linear feet.

Subdivisions and multi-family homes will be required to have a combination of six trees with at least two being shade trees and a 5-foot wide planting strip on the perimeter of the residential structure equal to 50 percent of the building footprint in linear feet.

Commercial and industrial lots must have one tree per 1,800 square feet of parking space and a 5-foot planting strip on the perimeter of the building equal to 50 percent of the building footprint in linear feet not including any entrance, exit, or loading dock area.

When it comes to the planting strip, 50 percent must be covered in plants, at planting time, in these proportions: 20 percent ornamental trees, 30 percent evergreen, 25 percent shrubs, and 25 percent perennial plants. Turf does not count.

?I have allergies,? said Brock, ?as do many others. Because of this, I have evergreens on my property. Evergreens are nice all year.?

The ordinance also requires commercial businesses to hire a landscape architect or ISA certified arborist, as developing a suitable landscape planting plan requires professional training and skill. For single-family home construction, the Department of Urban Forestry will assist with landscape design.

The ordinance does not affect pre-existing developments unless one of four conditions arise.

All property that does not comply presently will be required to comply: if the business ownership or occupancy of property changes; if there is a zoning change on the property; if a single increase in the appraised tax value of 35 percent or more shall meet 50 percent of these applicable requirements and an increase in 60 percent or more shall meet 100 percent of applicable requirements; additions or expansions of usage which singularly or collectively exceed 20 percent of the land use or gross building floor area existing at the effective date of this section.

Because enforcement of the ordinance will fall on the shoulders of the next urban forester, the Planning Commission has decided to hold off on voting.

?I think that?s fair,? said Planning Commission chairman David Marttala. ?That will allow him or her to take a look at it before we vote.?