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LTD2.MEM <br /> (w( $ <<"�^ r Li Pagel <br /> C ool ?eh 4 <br /> • <br /> 90444. <br /> i wy <br /> a-t c P o pl.c- 4 L �'l�►,t.�, <br /> May 2, 1997 <br /> Stefano Vigianno <br /> Lane Transit District 1`411 T14 <br /> 3500 East 17th Ave. J <br /> P.O.Box 7070 e...6 — <br /> -IZn� i �/� c,, <br /> Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> 1 01- 1- N-- 5c o Cerof <br /> Subject: Tree Removals at the New 10th Ave. & Olive St. Transit Site <br /> Dear Stefano, <br /> This letter is for the purpose of summarizing the City's position on the issue of street tree removal in <br /> conjunction with the new transit site and hopefully addressing a course of appropriate action. <br /> Staff from the Urban Forestry Section have reviewed your plans, and subsequent removal requests and have <br /> no technical objection to the removal of the street trees identified to facilitate your project. However, there <br /> have been no formal permits issued for any street tree removals in association with this project. This is due <br /> to the requirement that street tree removal permits are conditional on the applicant agreeing to mitigate the <br /> loss of the full value of the street trees which are to be removed. LTD and the City have not yet agreed to a <br /> mitigation plan and no permits have been issued. Since no permit has been issued any street tree removals <br /> are technically a violation of the tree preservation ordinance. <br /> We have no intent to hold up a construction project by another public agency over this technicality. We also <br /> have no intent of objecting to the removal of the street trees discussed in your letter from Charlie Simmons <br /> dated April 24, 1997. However, no formal permit can be issued until the issue of mitigation is resolved. <br /> From Eugene Code Section 6.305 (3) "No person shall remove a street tree without first obtaining a <br /> permit from the city manager specifically authorizing the removal of a street tree. Permit approval may be <br /> conditioned upon replacement of the street tree with another tree pre- approved by the city, or a requirement <br /> to pay to the city an amount sufficient to fund the planting and establishment by the city of a tree of similar <br /> value. The value of the existing street trees to be removed shall be calculated using the methods set forth in <br /> the edition then in effect of the Guide for Plant Appraisal published by the International Society of <br /> Arboriculture Council of Tree Landscape Appraisers." <br /> We have evaluated the request from LTD to consider the trees being planted within the development site as <br /> mitigation for those removed from the street. Trees planted internally on a private development site have <br /> never before been considered appropriate mitigation for the loss of street trees. As another public agency <br /> we feel it is possible to establish an acceptable commitment to the intent of the tree ordinance through an <br /> intergovernmental agreement between the City and LTD. The IGA would include a requirement for LTD to <br /> maintain the trees planted on LTD property to International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards and <br /> would prohibit removal of the trees on LTD property without reimbursement to the City for the value as <br /> calculated in accordance with the Guide for Plant Appraisal published by the ISA Council of Tree <br /> Landscape Appraisers. An initial review of the value of trees to be planted on the LTD site indicates an <br />