City of Falls Church

City of Falls Church 1 2 Meeting Date: 01-22-19

Title: (TR19-03) RESOLUTION DESIGNATING FOUR NEW FALLS CHURCH SPECIMEN TREES

Agenda No.: 1

Proposed Motion: None – discuss and schedule public hearing for February 11, 2019. Originating Dept. Head: Mike Whitfield, Director of Public Works 703.248.5331 MJW 1-17-19

Disposition by Council:

City Manager: Wyatt Shields 703.248.5004 FWS 1-17-19

City Attorney: Carol McCoskrie 703.248.5010 CWM 1-17-19

CFO: Kiran Bawa 703.248.5092 KB 1-17-19

City Clerk: Celeste Heath 703.248.5014 CH 1-17-19

REQUEST: The City Council is requested to consider designating four additional 3 specimen trees in the City Of Falls Church as recommended by the Tree Commission 4 5 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends scheduling a public hearing and 6 consideration of (TR19-03) for the February 11, 2019 regular City Council meeting. 7 8 BACKGROUND: Under City Code Section 44-90, the Tree Commission may 9 recommend that certain trees located within the City be officially designated by the City 10 Council as historic or specimen trees. The City Council is required to hold a public 11 hearing prior to officially designating historic or specimen trees. Trees may be 12 designated as specimens because they are of particularly good size or form, or are 13 otherwise worthy of special protection. 14 15 Specimen Trees receive additional protection from removal during development, but no 16 tangible benefits are offered to the trees’ owners. 17 18 The Tree Commission has nominated the following trees to be designated as Specimen 19 Trees: 20

1) 32” Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus ‘Kanzan’) at 105 W. George Mason Road 21 2) 44.5” American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) at 209 Noland Street 22 3) 22” Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) at 517 Timber Lane 23 4) 12” & 16.5” (two stems) Forest Pansy Redbud (Cercis canadensis 24

‘Forest Pansy’) at 617 Poplar Drive 25 26

The arborist has examined the four trees nominated and found them to be of good form 27 and worthy of Specimen Tree designation. 28 29 Owners of the properties on which these trees stand have been informed about the 30 Specimen Trees program and have agreed to have their trees so designated. 31 32

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Falls Church had twelve Specimen Trees in 1981. The number had grown to fifty-four 33 Specimen Trees by 2002, but since then, more trees have died than been nominated. 34 The City presently has forty-three living Specimen Trees. 35 36 FISCAL IMPACT: None 37 38 TIMING: Routine 39 40 ATTACHMENTS: 41

1) City Code Section 44-90, Historic or Specimen Trees 42 2) Approved Tree Commission minutes, dated July 18, 2018 43 3) Photos of the nominated trees 44 4) Current Falls Church Specimen Trees List 45 5) Property owner permissions 46

47


(TR19-03) 48

49 RESOLUTION DESIGNATING FOUR NEW FALLS CHURCH 50 SPECIMEN TREES 51

52 WHEREAS, Falls Church takes pride in the health and extent of its urban forest, 53

which is made up of both private and publicly-owned trees; and 54 55 WHEREAS, under Section 44-90 of the Falls Church City Code the Tree Commission 56

may recommend that certain trees located within the City be officially 57 designated as Specimen Trees; and 58

WHEREAS, eight Specimen Trees have died since the last trees were added to the list 59 of Falls Church Specimen Trees in 2016, leaving forty-three trees 60 currently so designated; and 61

62 WHEREAS, The City’s Tree Commission has recommended that four trees located in 63

the City should be officially designated as specimen trees; and 64 65 WHEREAS, the Council finds that, based on the reasons set forth in the Tree 66

Commission’s recommendations, and the Arborist’s finding that all four 67 trees are large examples of their species, with particularly attractive and 68 strong architecture, the recommended trees are worthy of Specimen Tree 69 designation; and 70

71 WHEREAS, four private property owners have each agreed to have a tree on their 72

properties added to Falls Church’s Specimen Trees. 73 74 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of 75 Falls Church Virginia, that the following four trees be added to the City’s Specimen 76 Trees: 77

1) 32” Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus ‘Kanzan’) at 105 W. George Mason Road 78

2) 44.5” American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) at 209 Noland Street 79

3) 22” Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) at 517 Timber Lane 80

4) 12” & 16.5” (two stems) Forest Pansy Redbud (Cercis canadensis 81 ‘Forest Pansy’) at 617 Poplar Drive 82

83 Reading: 84 Adoption: 85 (TR19-03) 86


Attachment 1

Sec. 44-90. - Historic or specimen trees. (a) The tree commission may recommend to the city council that certain trees located within the city be officially designated as historic or specimen trees. Prior to such recommendation, the tree commission shall obtain the comments and recommendations of the arborist and shall notify the owner of property on which the tree is located. The tree commission shall present its recommendation to the city council for determination, considering the reports of the arborist and the tree commission. The city council shall hold a public hearing prior to officially designating any historic or specimen trees. The initial action on such a procedure may be taken by a citizen, citizen's group, or organization by submitting a complete report to the tree commission describing the trees in question and their significance in needing protection. (b) In the event that the application of this chapter regulating the removal of heritage, specimen, memorial or street trees results in any taking of private property for a public purpose or use, the city shall compensate by fee or other consideration the property owner for such taking, to the extent that such claim is recognized and compensable under state or federal law, and shall notify the owner of such owner's right to seek such fee or compensation. (Code 1982, § 35-9; Ord. No. 811; Ord. No. 1704, 5-14-2001) State law reference— Tree conservation, Code of Virginia, § 10.1-1127.1.


Attachment 2 Tree Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, July 18, 2018 7:30 - 9:30 pm George Mason High School Library

Present: Dennis Szymanski, Kathy Philpott Costa, John Tesner, Karen Jones, Kate Reich (staff liaison), Tim Stevens, Zach Holmes (youth representative)

1. Approval of June 20Minutes: The minutes from the June 20, 2018 meeting were approved.

2. Public Comments: None

3. Staff Updates/ Informational Items

• Status of greenspace expectations on the George Mason campus project and West Falls Church Development: Tim Stevens, a member of the “Down Select Committee” for the RFDP, reported that the Committee selected contractor Gilbane Construction and architect Stantec for the school project. The project’s landscape architect will be Jonathan Fitch. The design, landscaping, and other aspects of the project are still open for discussion. There will be a public information meeting on August 5. The contractor believes that the project can be completed by end of 2020, but the construction cannot begin until a contract is also signed for the commercial portion of the property.

4. Current Business

• Greenspace voluntary concession for Founders Row: The TC will send a memo to the City Council requesting a Voluntary Concession contribution of $30,000 to compensate in part for the loss of tree canopy. The memo also comments on the overall disregard for green space and tree canopy in this project. In addition, the arborist provided comments that the project’s open space, which lacks trees and vegetation, is contrary to the principles of Falls Church. The developer’s response stated that the main purpose of the space was community use as a flexible and open gathering space. Parks and Rec has pointed out the lack of space for pets, as the TC did in the early stages of the special exception application process.

• Future of Special Exception proposal: 15% green space requirement / Canopy Fund payment, requirement to preserve mature trees: There is now a starting point “template” (based on the Insight model) for requesting a developer voluntary concession in the form of a financial contribution to


green space. However, the TC feels strongly that the City should initially require adequate green space and tree canopy on special exception projects rather than defaulting later to a voluntary concession contribution in lieu of trees and green space. The TC discussed how to most effectively promote this approach while the Chapter 5 of the Comp Plan is still in flux and undeveloped on this question.

• Update of Environmental Chapter of City Comprehensive Plan: A public meeting on Chapter 5 is set for August 18. Kathy will draft a list of TC goals and concerns for distribution at the meeting.

o Establish Urban Forestry goals: TC will review latest draft and comment further.

o Urban Forestry definition and vision (subject to ongoing input): TC will review the latest draft and comment further.

• Proposed new Specimen Trees: The TC voted to nominate the following four specimen trees: a hickory at 517 Timber, a Kwanzan cherry at 105 W. George Mason, a redbud at 617 Poplar, and an American beech at 209 Noland. Kate will proceed with the communication to the owners.

5. Plan Reviews

• Founders Row site plan submission #3: The TC reviewed the third Site Plan. Kate will clarify compliance with the City Streetscape plan on Broad Street, movement of Park Street trees to the street edge for more growing room, and clarification of planters (pots or pits?) for trees along Founders Lane. The TC will submit a memo requesting a voluntary concession (see item 4 above).

6. Future Business

• Standard private maintenance agreements for streetscapes

• Code updates/modifications relating to urban forestry

• Tree canopy goals and strategies

• Urban Forest Management Plan

• Enforcement of site plan tree violations

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10.


Attachment 3 Photos of Nominated Specimen Trees 1) 32” Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus ‘Kanzan’) at 105 W. George Mason Road

Large and healthy, and in a prominent location

2) 44.5” American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) at 209 Noland Street

Large, with an unusually graceful, wide-spreading form that arches over the street


3) 22” Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) at 517 Timber Lane

Well-loved by its owner, and in a rapidly redeveloping area

4) 16.5” Forest Pansy Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’) at 617 Poplar Drive

Remarkably large and well-shaped, and in a prominent location


Attachment 4 Falls Church Specimen Trees List 2018

Address Street Common Name Botanical Name Diameter

708 Berry Street Silver Maple Acer saccharinum 58” 513 Broad Street, E Sugar Maple Acer saccharum 50” 716 Broad Street, E American Elm Ulmus americana 44” 106 Buxton Road Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera 52” 108 Cameron Road, W Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera 72” 218 Cherry Street, N Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua 44” 222 Cherry Street, N American Basswood Tilia americana 40” 114 Cherry Street, S Black Oak Quercus velutina 34” 120 Cherry Street, S Black Oak Quercus velutina 43” 122 Cherry Street, S Black Oak Quercus velutina 28” 109 Columbia Street, E Norway Spruce Picea abies 42” 215 Columbia Street, W Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum 36” 215 Columbia Street, W Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum 34” 115 Fairfax Street, E Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera 80” 115 Fairfax Street, E White Oak Quercus alba 72” 410 Great Falls Street American Elm Ulmus americana 38” 117 Gresham Place Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata 32” 206 Jefferson Street, E Willow Oak Quercus phellos 56” 411 Jefferson Street, E White Oak Quercus alba 40” 604 Laura Drive Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides 80” 508 Lincoln Avenue Bigleaf Magnolia Magnolia macrophylla 18” 704 Lincoln Avenue Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides 46” 706 Lincoln Avenue Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides 48” 325 Little Falls Street Deodar Cedar Cedrus deodara 32” 325 Little Falls Street Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 32” 335 Little Falls Street American Elm Ulmus americana 49” 106 Noland Street Willow Oak Quercus phellos 64” 202 Noland Street Pin Oak Quercus palustris 38” 613 Oak Haven Drive Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora 22” 209 Oak Street, N Black Walnut Juglans nigra 40” 203 Oak Street, S Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera 45” 601 Oak Street, S (TJ) American Sycamore Platanus occidentalis 57” 604 Oak Street, S Southern Red Oak Quercus falcata 60”

1015 Parker Street White Oak Quercus alba 60” 702 Poplar Drive Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera 57” 118 Tollgate Way Pecan Carya illinoensis 36” 201 West Street, N Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 20”

Wren's Way Empress Tree Paulownia tomentosa 30” Cavalier Trail Park River Birch Betula nigra 27” Cherry Hill Park American Holly Ilex opaca 20” Cherry Hill Park Cucumber Magnolia Magnolia acuminata 30”

Tripps Run nr Sherrow American Sycamore Platanus occidentalis 42” West End Park Pecan Carya illinoensis 36”

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Attachment 5 Property Owner Permissions

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Documents

City of Falls Church