New Search
• <br /> RECEIVED <br /> DEC 2 1 1993 <br /> PW MAMNT • <br /> Eugene City Council 20 December 1993 <br /> 777 Pearl Street <br /> Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> • <br /> Dear Councilor. <br /> Enclosed find a copy of a report of misconduct by timber contractors on a twelve acre site <br /> between Dillard and Old Dillard Roads in South Eugene, near my home. <br /> This site is a test case for the effectiveness of the new Eugene tree ordinance passed this <br /> year. The primary intent of the new ordinance is to prevent cutting of forested areas zoned for <br /> development within the city limits prior to approval of a plan for that development. This ensures <br /> orderly modification of the environment in line with imminent development and prohibits clearcuts <br /> or other destructive logging activities on fragile hillsides and viewsheds of the city. <br /> After an application procedure, comments by neighbors, and a review by the urban <br /> forester, a plan was approved for managing the area on Dillard. While reducing the scope of the <br /> planned logging and protecting a possible wetland area, the approved plan did allow removal of <br /> damaged trees (by insect, disease, etc.) within the site and construction of a narrow haul road. <br /> This was a foot in the door, leading to the classic Oregon model of "log it and run ", with <br /> the claim, "O000ps! Gee the trees are gone, I guess there is nothing we can do now." <br /> I write this letter, requesting two actions by council: <br /> (1) Move to ensure that this illegal action is heavily fined, i.e. at three to four times <br /> the value of the illegally removed logs. It must be made amply clear to others that this behavior <br /> will not be tolerated elsewhere within the Eugene city limits. <br /> (2) Move to clarify the tree ordinance, such that only hazard trees along borders of <br /> forested tracts can be removed prior to adoption of a development plan. <br />