09/21/2004 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 9/21/2004 residents thought would happen as faz as the landscaping of the 75 foot buffer zone between the mounding and the residential property lines and what the City Forester and ARB chairperson believe. The residents were under the impression that the City Forester was going to mark all the trees that had to be taken out. Whatever remained would be covered with grasses that ARB chairperson Zergott had recommended. It now appears that all the trees in a 50 foot area from the base of the mound towards the residential area is to be cleaz-cut. He presumes that area will be planter with some type of grass. The remaining area is going to be left as it is. According to Mr. Zergott, that area. is to be left in its natural state. The question is what is a natural state? The residents expected that Carnegie Management would take out all of the trash, stones, bricks, etc. that have accumulated over the last 30 to 40 years. From the residential side looking into the Parcel E property, it looks pretty bad in many areas. The residents are asking that Carnegie Mgt. at least take the trash out and take out all the dead bushes and so forth. Their representative have said they will not touch anything in that azea until they are told to. On June 28, Council had a special meeting specifically for that 75 foot buffer zone. After a great deal of discussion on that particular topic, it was agreed that the azea was going to be excavated. That setback area would be covered and landscaped in conformity and discussion with the Architectural Review Boazd. The City Planner noted as much when she said that, "... on June 28, 2004 Council approved Carnegie Management's development plan for Parcel E, but would like the Architectural Review Board to advise the applicants as what should be used as plantings for the areas disturbed by the construction of the mounds and the removal of the trees. Council requested that the Architectural Review board address what ground coverings should be used in the buffering areas between the back of the mounds and the rear residential lines." To him, that is perfectly clear that what is being talked about is the area from the base of the mound to the property lines. Mr. Zergott stated at the ARB meeting that, if any trees are removed or planted, the grounds could not remain in a natural state. He noted that placing the mounds and the drainage system in place is going to alter the state of the grounds. He would like the applicants to use a highway grass which grows up to 3 feet tall or a clover in the buffering area. The City Engineer said they had to attend to the drainage to make sure that water doesn't drain off partially onto the residential area. Mr. Skoulis would like Council to be aware that we do have a problem. He spoke with Planning Director Wenger this evening and she said that she would address this with the City Forester and the chairman of the ARB. But we have a problem, There seems to be a difference as to what is going to be done on that property. Carnegie Mgt. is saying they're not going to do anything in that zone directly behind the houses. Mr. Zergott's motion at the ARB meeting requested that Carnegie Management use highway grass, crown vegetation, or green erosion control plantings on the homeowner's side of the mounds. He was addressing the mound, not the 75 foot area. Technically, that landscaping has never really been resolved. He did not make a recommendation on the 75 foot area between the base of the mound and the residential property. Councilman Gateau said the issue Mr. Skoulis is describing as apparently not resolved came about because the committee was talking about who was going to maintain the area to the north of the mound between the edge of the mound and the back of the rear of the residences. If grass was planted, 12