In June, the Planning Commission changed its schedule to one meeting a month in the hopes of attracting new members to fill long-standing vacancies. The commission has since added two new members, but business required an extra meeting this month.
Commissioners met on Tuesday, Sept. 10, to reconsider a tree-cut application. They also reviewed a preliminary report on a proposed subdivision on Pivot Rock Road.
Natasha Treuer appeared at the Aug. 27 commission meeting asking to remove some trees at 24 E. Mountain Dr. She expressed concerns about tall pines towering over her house, and asked permission to remove them before they could blow over in a storm. At that meeting, commissioners rejected her argument, saying that standard would create a large tree-free area around every house. Treuer said she had a report showing that some trees were threatening the house’s foundation, and commissioners said they would defer a decision on the tree-cutting until they had a chance to review that report.
At last week’s meeting, commissioners noted that Treuer’s inspector merely noted that trees “could” affect the foundation. Commissioners who made site visits did not see any evidence that trees were currently causing foundation damage. They also noted that Treuer’s inspector suggested hiring an arborist to assess the health of some of the trees, and that information would help the commission arrive at a decision.
At the August meeting, Treuer had asked, “Am I not more important than those trees?” Last week, she continued an emotional argument, asking, “What are you going to do when those trees fall on the house?” Commissioners explained that they were bound by law, and Treuer asked what penalty she would face if she cut the trees without a permit. Chairman Ann Sallee said a circuit judge would decide that.
The commission once again deferred action on Treuer’s application to give her the opportunity to hire an arborist. If they had denied her permit, she would have had to wait another year to re-apply.
Well-prepared application impresses commissioners
At that August meeting, commissioners also heard a proposal from Jay Gustin for a new subdivision on Pivot Rock Road. City regulations call for a committee to inspect the project, and three members of the commission joined alderman Terry McClung as the inspection team. They held a site visit last week, and found the site suitable for development.
Gustin said he has an engineer working on water, sewer, roads, and drainage. He also discussed options for dealing with a dead-end road. City codes call for a 40-ft. cul-de-sac, but Gustin said fire officials would accept a “hammer-head” road to give them a turnaround.
Commissioners explained that they had not gone through this subdivision process before, but appreciated the amount of preparation behind Gustin’s application. “If there’s a standard to be set, you’re setting it,” commissioner Fergie Stewart said.
Gustin said he had a completed site drawing, but wanted to make some changes to the way the entry road joins Pivot Rock Road. The changes would increase sight lines and safety.
The commission will consider those changes, and will also have to consider a tree-cut application and some variances at the next meeting, on Sept. 24. If Planning approves the project, it will go to city council for consideration.