HomeMy WebLinkAboutNotice PLANNER 5/20/2008
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
ADMINISTRATION
ENGINEERING DIVISION
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION
MAINTENANCE DIVISION
TRANSPORTATION DIVISION
TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION
225 FIFTH STREET
SPRINGFIELD, OR 97477
WWWCI springfield or us/deptpw hfm
WWWCI springfield or us
TO
All partIes Interested In JustIce Center Tree Fellmg PermIt
FROM
JIm Polston, AssIstant ProJect Manager
CIty ofSpnngfield Public Works Department
SUBJECT
JustIce Center Tree FellIng PermIt - Case Number DRC2008-00028
DATE
May 19th, 2008
On Apnl 15, 2008 the CIty of Spnngfield filed a Tree Felling PermIt ApplicatIOn wIth the CIty of
Spnngfield Development ServIces Department for the felltng of trees for the SprIngfield JustIce
Center ProJect On May 2, 2008 we receIved a petItIOn wIth approxImately 135 sIgnatures
opposmg the Tree Felltng PermIt Because of thIs hIgh level of Interest In the proJect, the CIty of
Sprmgfield held a NeIghborhood meetmg on Thursday May 15, 2008 10 CIty Hall to dISCUSS
neIghbors' concerns
At that meetmg JustICe Center neIghbors expressed concerns over the loss of the tree canopy that
currently eXIsts at the sIte Staff and proJect ArchItects explamed the hIstory of the proJect and
the Issues causmg the removal and replacement of eXlstmg trees, mcludIng proJect sIze restramts,
utIlity conflIcts, storm water filtratIon reqUIrements and PolIce Department needs WhIle the
ongInal plans called for plantmg almost 3 trees for each of the removed trees, dISCUSSIons
amongst the meetIng partIcIpants resulted 10 requests that the CIty of Sprmgfield do more to
mItIgate the tree losses
As a result of your Input the CIty of Spnngfield has mstructed our Landscape ArchItect to re-Iook
at the landscape plan wIth the follOWIng mstructlOns
Re-establIsh the green buffer zone, between the JustIce Center and surroundIng
neIghborhoods, more qUIckly To accomplIsh thIS, Landscape ArchItects WIll
upgrade some trees from the mInImum 2" (12'-15') sIze wIth more mature
specImens They WIll also Increase the sIze of some shrubbery around the secure
parkmg lot to create a more mterestmg and vaned buffer, not only 10 the long term
but also ImmedIately at plantIng time
2 The CIty ofSpnngfield WIll look mto ways of salvagIng or reUSIng some of the plant
matenal that IS of appropnate transplantIng sIze ThIS could Include movmg It to
parks or other public spaces or perhaps makIng It avaIlable to other agencIes that can
make arrangement to transplant It for theIr needs
3 Landscape ArchItects WIll use thetr best professIOnal Judgment to msure the plant
matenal Installed on the proJect balances the neIghborhood's request for fast growmg
plant matenal WIth CIty ofSprmgfield's landscapmg standards
Your mterest In and comments about thIS proJect are greatly apprecIated and we are
convmced that these changes WIll make a pOSitIve and slgmficant dIfference 10 re-establtshIng
the green buffer zone between the JustIce Center and surroundIng neIghborhoods
Date f{ecelved ,/.;D/.JaJQ
Planner AL
ADMINISTRATION I TECHNICAL SERVICES I ENGINEERING (541) 726-3753 . FAX (541) 736-1021
MAINTENANCE (541) 726-3761 . FAX (541) 726-3621 TRANSPORTATION (541) 726-3753 . FAX (541) 726-3781
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (541) 726-3694 . FAX (541) 726-2309