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DEPALMA.LTR Page 1 <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> October 7, 1993 <br /> TO: Shawn Boles, City Councilor <br /> FROM: Teresa Bishow, Eugene Planning Division <br /> RE: EAST SKINNER BUTTE SITE CLEARING <br /> On September 22, 1993 I received a phone call from Scott Meisner, chair of the Whiteaker Planning <br /> Team, conceming some site clearing that had taken place on a parcel of land located on the east <br /> side of Skinner Butte. The lot in question is zoned R -3, Multiple Family Residential District and is <br /> located in the East Skinner Butte Historic District. <br /> City staff from the Planning Division and Public Works Maintenance Division have visited the site <br /> and confirmed that the owner, Steve DePalma, has removed all of the understory vegetation and a <br /> significant tree from the site, which was a hardwood approximately 12 inches in diameter. The site is <br /> now substantially cleared. <br /> The City's Urban Forester determined this felling was not a violation of the Tree Preservation <br /> Ordinance. Section 6.305(1) of the Eugene Municipal Code allows the felling of up to 5 trees (8 <br /> inches or more in diameter) from a parcel of private property that is 20,000 square feet or more <br /> without a permit. The parcel in question is larger than 20,000 square feet in size. No further action <br /> is being planned on this particular issue by the City's Urban Forester. <br /> A pile of brush from this clearing operation does encroach on Cheshire street right -of -way but is not <br /> felt to be an immediate hazard. Public Works Maintenance staff are in the process of contacting the <br /> property owner to ask for this material to be removed. <br /> This incident has been studied by Ken Guzowski and I in the Planning Division and Marsha Miller in <br /> Land Use Management to determine if the work done was in violation of the Historic Preservation <br /> Ordinance. Eugene Code Section 9.208 states that no person may alter a historic property, engage <br /> in new construction projects, or begin major new landscaping unless a historic alteration application <br /> has been approved. In this case, it appears that the significant historic landscape features (older, <br /> large Douglas firs) have been retained. The code defines "Major New Landscaping" as "A new <br /> structural landscape feature or significant planting on the site of a historic property." In this case, <br /> there has been no "new" landscaping. What staff concluded was that the appropriate approach to <br /> take was to inform the owner that the property is located in a historic district and subject to historic <br /> alteration review. The staff also requested that the property owner contact the City to set up a time <br /> for a pre - development conference. After repeated attempts to reach Mr. DePalmn by phone, Ken <br /> Guzowski mailed a certified letter (see attached letter). No return receipt has been received. <br /> Marsha Miller determined that a grading permit under the Uniform Building Code was not required <br /> since the work did not exceed the threshold of 50 cubic yards, 2 feet of cut or, 1 foot of fill. <br /> If you have further questions I am available at 687 -5452. <br /> Sincerely, <br />