HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 14Committee Members and Associates Present: Richard Contreras (Chair), George Clifford
(Vice Chair) Nancy Couperus (Founder), Jean Struthers, Wendie Ward, Kit Gordon, Peter
Brown, Sue Welch, Karen Lemes (Associate)
Committee Members Absent: Alice Sakamoto (Associate),Kjell Karlsson (Associate). Sharen
Schoendorf (Associate)
Council Liaison Present: George Tyson (until 10am)
Town Staff Present: Zach Dahl (Planning Director)
Members of the public: Nobuko Saito (from 9:15am)
Meeting held on line via Zoom
1.Call to Order and Acceptance of Minutes
a.Seeing that KG had the Zoom controls RC passed Chair of meeting to her. KG called the
meeting to order at 9:04 am
b.Roll call was taken (reported above)
c.Acceptance of Meeting Minutes. RC moved to accept the minutes from March meeting.
WW seconded and those at that meeting approved (RC, WW, KG, JS). SW, PB, GC
abstained.
d.Announcements:
i.WW, as neighbor noticed house on 7 Acre Lane sold and probable tear down,
need to make sure comes before OSC. KG suggested writing a note to the city.
ii.PB announced that EPDC needs new members, please forward interested parties
to him
iii.KG OSC also needs new members
2.Planning
a.Update from Planning Director Zach Dahl:
i.KG asked about OSC receiving plans during Shelter In Place. ZD replied that
not many plans have been submitted. But that the town is using this opportunity
to move over to Digital Plan submission . The committee would have access to a
shared folder containing these plans. Committee reports may be included in the
shared folder, but privacy concerns are still being thought through.
ii.LAH ADU ordinance would go before council in May and come into effect in
mid June. The State mandates that any property can have an 800□’ ADU, the
city may tweak the MDA, MFA formulas to accommodate. ADUs will not
necessarily come before committees, the Town must review within 60 day.
Contrary to OSC understanding of Town Code, Zach stated that no discretionary
easements can be applied unless a new residence or over 900□’. Nevertheless
zoning will still prohibit development with 25’ of top of creek bank, within root
zone of heritage trees or on slopes >30%. `JS asked about septic hookup - this
would be up to the County Health Department.
Open Space Committee Meeting Minutes
May 14, 2020
iii.Tree Ordinance is on hold because of other priorities. To make more
manageable, may request a smaller number of protected tree species or protect
based on size (with some exclusions).
iv.Fence Ordinance :PB should go before council again. ZD accepted PBs invite to
next EDPC meeting for more discussions. Fence permits are routed to OSC on a
case by case basis. NC noted that OSC used to get all Fence Permit applications
and KG noted we used to have a Fence subcommittee. ZD was not aware of this
and asked if there was anything in writing. JS is bothered by white fences along
road sides and asked if there was a paint color restriction in the proposed Fence
ordinance amendment, PB said not yet, but EDPC would look into it
v.ZD generally ok with the input from committees. Finds it useful if members
attend Site Development or Fastrack meetings. Also useful if committees keep
comments within their charter.
3.New & Continuing Business
a.Sudden Oak Death GC noted that SOD survey was starting soon, and proposed asking
the Town to give a small grant toUC Berkeley for their SOD research. KG suggest we
ask council liaison (who had left meeting). GC proposed motion ‘OSC is interested in
finding out how to ask Town to support Berkeley SOD research’. KG noted that Oaks
were super important to the town and seconded. Eventually was passed by roll call vote
of PB, SW, RC, JS, KG, GC, WW.
b.Presentation on Native Plants. JS has located two speakers, Paul Heiple and Stephanie
Morris. Date still to be determined. Was general feeling that October would be a good
time as it is then that native plants should be planted. Will probably be an on line
presentation now, so the dates are more flexible. But shouldn’t conflict with-
c.Nesting Bird Talk. Set for 4th October at 4pm, will be on line.
d.Native Plants for Landscapes. KG Proposed reviewing document on Native Plants and
Landscape Plans, however most of committee had not yet read it. Proposal was
postponed till next meeting
e.Weed Management JS would like to preserve wildflowers along roadsides during the
annual mowing taking place about now. Mowing 3’ from road is ok, but is it necessary to
scrape everything up to 6’ above roadside? Putting up signs was suggested. PB asked if
the Stink Wort mapping would be undertaken again this year, GC affirmed it would,
maybe earlier than last year, but currently no evidence of 2020 Stink Wort.
f.26400 Eshner Court A neighbor of this property (which, due to a lot line adjustment,
was reviewed by OSC) is concerned over possible fencing around (and through) the
conservation/view easement. There has been some recent activity in this area and
neighbor is very supportive of the View and Slope Easement on the property and would
like to be sure no fencing impinges on it. There is a planning commission hearing on
June 4th and all members are urged to attend.
g.24752 Olive Tree Lane KG noted that at the last meeting (March) the owner
approached OSC with a request to move the suggested Open Space Easement, at that
time, since the item was not on that meetings agenda, we could not do anything. RC
urged that, as the owner was not currently present, OSC still not change anything The
discussion was postponed
4.Open Discussion
a.NC Noted that there is a proposal to move OurTown to a web only document,
encouraged OSC to contact council members and encourage them to keep OurTown in
its printed form.
Meeting adjourned at 10:56 am
Attachment A Native Plants and Landscape Plans
Minutes submitted by Richard Contreras