This transcript is from a **Minneapolis Planning Commission** meeting. Based on the context provided and the internal dialogue, I have identified the speakers, including Commission Chair Chris Meyer, various Commissioners, City Staff (Aaron Hanauer and Planning Manager Kimberly Holien), and the Applicant (Cathy Osborne). [0:13] **Chris Meyer**: GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, WELCOME TO THE MINNEAPOLIS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR NOVEMBER 17, 2025. MY NAME IS CHRIS MEYER. I'M CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. [0:25] **Clerk**: COMMISSIONER CHOWDHURY IS ABSENT. CONLEY. [0:28] **Commissioner Conley**: PRESENT. [0:30] **Clerk**: FORNEY IS ABSENT. GORDON IS ABSENT. JONES ABSENT. SKJEFTE IS ABSENT. SHEPPARD. [0:40] **Commissioner Sheppard**: PRESENT. [0:41] **Clerk**: WAGNER. [0:42] **Commissioner Wagner**: HERE. [0:43] **Clerk**: VICE PRESIDENT BAXLEY. [0:44] **Vice President Baxley**: HERE. [0:45] **Clerk**: AND PRESIDENT MEYER. [0:46] **Chris Meyer**: HERE. [0:47] **Clerk**: THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT. [0:48] **Chris Meyer**: THAT IS A QUORUM. FIRST, WE'LL MOVE TO THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 3, 2025. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THOSE MINUTES? IS THERE A SECOND? [0:58] **Commissioner**: SECOND. [0:59] **Chris Meyer**: ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [1:01] **Commissioners**: [CHORUS OF AYES] [1:02] **Chris Meyer**: OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED. I WILL NEXT MOVE TO ORGANIZE THE AGENDA. ONE NOTE THAT I'VE BEEN ASKED TO MAKE ABOUT THIS IS THERE WAS A CLERICAL ERROR. SO THERE WAS AN INCORRECT PUBLIC NOTICE FOR PUBLIC HEARING PUBLISHED FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING FOR A LAND USE APPLICATION AT 5462 NICOLETTE AVENUE AND 5453 BLAZEDALE AVENUE. THE ITEM IS NOT ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT. BUT IT IS GOING TO BE SCHEDULED TO BE CONSIDERED AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON DECEMBER 8TH. BEFORE I PROCEED WITH THE REST OF THE AGENDA, I WANT TO CHECK IF ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM WAS HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT ITEM? YOU CAN SPEAK NOW IF YOU CAME FOR THAT. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT ITEM? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL HAVE THAT ITEM ON OUR DECEMBER 8TH AGENDA. FOR THE REST OF THE ITEMS, WE HAVE ONE ITEM WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC HEARING, ITEM NUMBER FOUR FOR THE TIF DISTRICT MODIFICATIONS AND THEN WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. THE FIRST IS ITEM 5, 315 27TH AVENUE NORTHEAST. I'VE ASKED TO DISCUSS THAT ITEM TO DISCUSS THEIR LANDSCAPING PLAN. ITEM SIX HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR CONSENT 3201 6th STREET NORTH WARD 4. WAS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX? NOT SEEING ANY, SO WE'LL HAVE THAT ON CONSENT. AND THEN THE LAST ITEM AFTER THAT WILL BE OUR 2026 CALENDAR OR JUST THE CALENDAR FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MOVE THAT AGENDA? [2:34] **Commissioner**: SO MOVED. [2:35] **Commissioner**: SECOND. [2:36] **Chris Meyer**: ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES] OPPOSED? THAT IS ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT, SO FIRST WITH OUR FIRST ITEM NUMBER 4, COMMISSIONERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE TIF DISTRICT MODIFICATIONS? ALL RIGHT WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR? [3:01] **Commissioner**: SO MOVED. [3:02] **Chris Meyer**: IS THERE A SECOND? [3:03] **Commissioner**: SECOND. [3:04] **Chris Meyer**: ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES] OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? THAT IS ADOPTED. NOW WE'LL TURN TO OUR CONSENT ITEM, SO I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 3201 6th STREET NORTH. IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS AT ALL, YOU CAN NOW. NOT SEEING ANY SPEAKERS. COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER SIX? WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER SIX? [3:35] **Commissioner**: SO MOVED. [3:38] **Chris Meyer**: IS THERE A SECOND? [3:39] **Commissioner**: SECOND. [3:40] **Chris Meyer**: ANY LAST DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT ALL IN FAVOR OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX SAY AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES] OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? THAT IS ADOPTED. AND NOW FOR ITEM NUMBER 5, 315 27TH AVENUE NORTHEAST. STAFF IS AARON HANAUER. [4:17] **Aaron Hanauer**: GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS. FOR 315 27TH AVENUE NORTHEAST, LOOKING TO JUST DISCUSS THE LANDSCAPING PLAN AND THEN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PROPOSED TREE PLAN FOR THEIR SITE. HERE'S THE SITE PLAN THAT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET. THE PLANS NOTE AND THE STAFF REPORT REFLECTS SEVEN EXISTING TREES AND IT STATES 19 PLANTED TREES WOULD BE PART OF THIS PROJECT WHEN GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE LOT WHICH IS SIX ACRES AND THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, THERE WOULD BE 80 CANOPY TREES REQUIRED. AFTER SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE APPLICANT TODAY, STAFF AND THE APPLICANT REALIZED THAT THERE ARE 30 EXISTING TREES ON SITE. 11 OF THEM BEING EVERGREEN TREES. AND WITH THE PROPOSED TREES ON SITE, THERE WOULD BE 57 TREES WITH EXISTING AND PROPOSED AND AGAIN 11 OF THOSE BEING CANOPY TREES. GIVEN THE REDUCED AMOUNT OF TREES THAT THEY HAVE AND ARE PROPOSING, THEY NEED ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE. THEY'RE REQUESTING ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE FOR THE LANDSCAPING PLAN FOR THIS SITE PLAN REVIEW APPLICATION. AND THIS IS TO ESTABLISH THAT. WE, STAFF, RECOMMENDED SUPPORT FOR THIS ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE REQUEST FOR A FEW REASONS. ONE, THE RETENTION OF A NUMBER OF, I THINK IT WAS SEVEN OF THOSE LARGE TREES HAVING ACCOUNT FOR SIZE AROUND 180 TO 220 INCHES. SO THAT WAS SEEN AS A BIG POSITIVE. AND THEN JUST THE EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS OF THERE IS A BRIDGE EMBANKMENT ALONG UNIVERSITY AVENUE AND THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THIS AND ALSO A STORMWATER POND ON THE NORTHEAST END OF THE SITE. JUST THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE ABILITY TO PUT ADDITIONAL TREES. GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THE APPLICANT. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE HERE AND CAN DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING SOME MORE TREES IN THAT POND AREA. AND POSSIBLY ALONG 27TH AVENUE AS WELL. I COULD PAUSE THERE, HAVE THE APPLICANT SPEAK IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM SPEAK AND THEN ANSWER QUESTIONS NOW. AND/OR AFTER THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO PRESENT. [6:47] **Chris Meyer**: SURE. SO LET ME ASK YOU JUST A FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TURN TO THE APPLICANT. SO THEY WOULD NORMALLY BE REQUIRED TO HAVE 88 CANOPY TREES. YOU'RE SAYING THEY'LL HAVE 57 TREES AFTER WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS TODAY. SO HOW MANY OF THOSE WILL BE CANOPY ONES? [7:14] **Aaron Hanauer**: THERE WOULD BE -- I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION. AND I THINK WE SHOULD DELINEATE. THE EVERGREEN TREES ARE GOOD. BUT LET'S FOCUS ON THOSE CANOPY TREES WHEN DISCUSSING THE NUMBER MAYBE FOR SIMPLICITY. BUT THERE WOULD BE THE 46 CANOPY TREES, I DO BELIEVE. [7:34] **Chris Meyer**: 46 CANOPY TREES, OKAY. AND THEN 11 OTHER TREES. COMMISSIONER BAXLEY. [7:38] **Vice President Baxley**: AARON, I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SORT OF AGGREGATING CALIBER INCHES AS A FORM OF -- IS THAT A NEW THING OR IS THAT JUST a CREATIVE WAY TO -- [7:53] **Aaron Hanauer**: YEAH, DEFINITELY IN THE ZONING CODE AND SITE PLAN REVIEW THAT'S, THE ZONING CODE ENCOURAGES THE RETENTION OF LARGE, MATURE TREES. BUT FOR THIS SITE PLAN REVIEW APPLICATION, THERE IS NOT LANGUAGE IN THE SITE PLAN REVIEW CHAPTER ALLOWING THE RETENTION OF CALIBER TO COUNT TOWARDS THE NUMBER OF TREES. BUT IT WAS SOMETHING STAFF THOUGHT WAS RELEVANT AND SEEING THE LARGE TREES AND PERHAPS SOME LIMITATIONS ON WHERE NEW TREES COULD BE PLACED ON THIS SITE THAT HAS A LOT OF EXISTING CONDITIONS. [8:39] **Vice President Baxley**: SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU. [8:41] **Chris Meyer**: SIR, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT THE CALIBER INCHES THING WAS. SO WHAT IS IT THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THAT IS A BENEFIT? [8:51] **Aaron Hanauer**: BOILED DOWN, THEY HAVE SEVEN LARGE, MATURE TREES THAT THEY WOULD BE RETAINING FOR THIS PROJECT. INSTEAD OF NOT SEEING ALL TREES BEING EQUAL, BUT THOSE MATURE ONES THAT CAN PROVIDE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SCREENING AND OTHER BENEFITS. THOSE WERE RETAINED. AND SO WE APPRECIATED THE APPLICANT DOING THAT AND INCORPORATED THAT AS SOME OF THE REASONING WHY STAFF WAS SUPPORTIVE FOR GRANTING ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE FOR THE NUMBER OF TREES THAT WOULD BE ON SITE FOR THAT PROJECT. [9:31] **Chris Meyer**: AND THEN I WANT TO ASK ON THE RECORD A QUESTION I ASKED YOU BY EMAIL ALREADY, BUT FOR THE STORMWATER POND AND OTHER WATER FILTRATION AMENITIES THAT THEY PROVIDE, THAT'S NOT FACTORED INTO THE SITE PLAN AS OF NOW, RIGHT? [9:48] **Aaron Hanauer**: RIGHT. THE PROJECT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WOULD NEED TO MEET ON SITE STORM WATER RETENTION REQUIREMENTS SET BY PUBLIC WORKS AND THE NUMBER OF CANOPY TREES FOR A SITE. ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS A BRAND NEW BLANK SLATE, THEY WILL HAVE TO MEET THE STORM WATER RUNOFF REQUIREMENTS. THAT WILL BE SEPARATE FROM THIS LAND USE REVIEW. IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT IT IS A LARGE PART OF THIS EXISTING SITE AND IT IS THERE NOW TODAY. SO THAT WAS SEEN AS A LIMITING FACTOR WHERE NEW TREES COULD BE PLANTED. BUT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE APPLICANT, THERE MIGHT BE NOT NECESSARILY CANOPY TREES THAT COULD BE PLANTED WITHIN THAT AREA, BUT YOU COULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON OTHER TYPES OF TREES THAT COULD BE PLANTED IN THAT AREA TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TREES ON SITE. [10:47] **Chris Meyer**: OKAY. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE PUBLIC HEARING, I JUST WANT TO SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND ABOUT WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE VARIANCES THAT ARE BEING OFFERED. IF IT WAS A NEW PROJECT, I PROBABLY WOULD FOR HAVING MORE PARKING THAN THE 100 PARKING SPOT LIMIT. THIS IS JUST A RECONFIGURATION OF THE EXISTING ONE. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT. BUT IN THE ORIGINAL STAFF REPORT IT WAS MOVING FROM 88 TREES TO 26, I THINK, WHICH WAS A PRETTY SHARP REDUCTION FROM WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED. AND FOR INDUSTRIAL SITES LIKE THIS, PEOPLE WANT TO TRY TO PROVIDE ECOLOGICAL REFUGE FOR WILDLIFE. SO I WANTED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION TO SEE IF WE COULD BRING UP THAT NUMBER. AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT WE'RE ALREADY AT 46, IT TURNS OUT. BUT YEAH, I WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT. I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, IF THE APPLICATION TEAM WANTS TO COME UP. YOU CAN GIVE WHATEVER PRESENTATION YOU WANT. BUT OUR FOCUS IS I THINK MOSTLY GOING TO BE ON THE LANDSCAPING. [12:17] **Cathy Osborne**: SURE, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CATHY OSBORNE WITH LRS OF MINNESOTA. WE WERE FORMERLY ATOMIC RECYCLING IN CASE YOU RECOGNIZE THAT NAME. WE'VE BEEN AT THIS PROPERTY FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. I'M HERE WITH OUR AREA VICE PRESIDENT AND OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER SO THAT WE COULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. AND I DO WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I WANT TO THANK AARON FOR ALL OF HIS TIME AND EFFORT FOR BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH US ON THIS PROJECT. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. SO DO YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT THE TREES SPECIFICALLY OR DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS? [13:04] **Chris Meyer**: WE CAN GO INTO QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANYMORE PRESENTATION YOU WANTED TO OFFER. SO AARON, CAN YOU PULL UP THE PHOTOS THAT THE APPLICANT PROVIDED? THEY'RE ON PAGE 27 ON MINE. I JUST WANTED TO WALK THROUGH THE DIFFERENT PHOTOS OF THE EXISTING LANDSCAPE AND COMMENT ON WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED ON THEM. AND TO JUST SEE IF THERE ARE SPACES ON THE PROJECT WHERE MORE TREES COULD BE FIT IN WITHOUT TAKING AWAY FROM PARKING OR STORAGE, BUT JUST MAKING BETTER USE OF THE LANDSCAPED AREA. SO LIKE THE PHOTO NUMBER ONE WHEN HE GETS TO IT -- [13:51] **Cathy Osborne**: AARON, YOU'LL HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS, HOW YOU COUNT IT A CANOPY TREE VERSUS THE EVERGREEN TREES IF THOSE DON'T COUNT AS CANOPY TREES. [13:56] **Aaron Hanauer**: RIGHT. A CANOPY TREE BEING A DECIDUOUS TREE THAT CAN GROW TO A HEIGHT OF AT LEAST 35 FEET. [14:10] **Chris Meyer**: OKAY. FOR THIS ONE, IT'S GREAT THAT THERE'S A RAIN GARDEN THERE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE COULD BE SPACE FOR MORE TREES AROUND THAT AND LESS GRASS. [14:15] **Cathy Osborne**: SO IF YOU CAN'T QUITE SEE, SO ON OUR DRAWING, THERE'S ANOTHER BIG PINE TREE. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU SEE WHAT I'M POINTING AT, BUT THERE'S EROSION OR WOODCHIPS AROUND THAT. SO THERE'S A BIG PINE TREE RIGHT THERE BY OUR EXISTING ENTRANCE. SO THAT'S A BIG PINE TREE. WE'VE GOT RIGHT BEHIND THE RIGHT OF OUR SIGN, THERE'S A COUPLE OF BIRCH TREES RIGHT IN THERE. THERE IS STORMWATER AND OTHER UTILITIES. THIS LITTLE BEEHIVE RIGHT THERE. SO THE WATER, IF IT OVERFLOWS FROM THE RAIN GARDEN WILL ACTUALLY GET TO THE STORMWATER PIPE. SO THERE IS A SERIES OF PIPES AND THEN THERE'S ALSO EXCEL ENERGY HAS NATURAL GAS PIPE THAT GOES FROM THE STREET 27TH AVENUE TO OUR BUILDING AS WELL. SO THERE ARE SOME UTILITIES WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK AROUND TO BE ABLE TO PLANT ADDITIONAL LARGE TREES IN THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION. WE'D ALSO LIKE TO NOT COMPLETELY HIDE OUR SIGN, YOU KNOW, JUST SO YOU CAN SEE OUR NAME. [15:26] **Chris Meyer**: RIGHT. OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE. [15:33] **Aaron Hanauer**: IS THAT SOMETHING THEY CAN TURN ON? [15:34] **Cathy Osborne**: ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAD PROPOSED ONE TREE KIND OF RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS AREA. POTENTIALLY WE COULD REORGANIZE AND PUT A SECOND TREE. THEY'RE BIG TREES. AND THE TREES THAT ARE EXISTING RIGHT HERE ARE VERY LARGE TREES. I MEAN, THEY TAKE UP A FAIR AMOUNT OF SPACE. SO YOU CAN'T GET ANOTHER TREE RIGHT UNDERNEATH THAT TREE. THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH TRYING TO ADD MORE TREES IS THAT THE CANOPY THAT IS ALREADY THERE, WHAT OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT SAID IS IF THEY'RE TOO CLOSE THEY WON'T GROW OR THE BIG TREE WILL SHADE THE NEWER, YOUNGER SMALLER TREES. SO YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH SPACE. SO IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE ANOTHER TREE, WE COULD TALK TO THEM ABOUT 1 OR 2 MORE TREES ALONG HERE. THERE IS A FIRE HYDRANT, BUT I THINK, WE HAVE TO MOVE THAT OVER, I'M NOT SURE, I THINK THE WATER MUST COME FROM THE STREET, SO THAT SHOULD BE FINE. I KNOW THAT THERE'S NATURAL GAS THAT COMES UP TO OUR BUILDING. IN BETWEEN THE TWO LARGE TREES THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR ENTRANCE, THERE'S A WATER VAULT HERE. SO WE HAVE WATER THAT COMES INTO THE BUILDING IN THIS WAY, AND THERE'S ANOTHER NATURAL GAS PORT ON THIS PART OF THE BUILDING AS WELL. SO THERE ARE UTILITIES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PLANTING LARGE TREES. [17:15] **Chris Meyer**: OKAY. SO THAT WAS ONE AREA WHERE I THOUGHT MORE COULD FIT IN THAT AREA. ANOTHER AREA I THOUGHT MORE COULD FIT WAS AROUND THE STORMWATER POND. [17:18] **Cathy Osborne**: SO THE STORMWATER POND, RIGHT NOW THIS IS AN EXISTING POND. IT DOES GO FAIRLY DEEP. THERE ARE WEED TREES IN IT RIGHT NOW. WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PDR PROCESS TO GET OUR ENGINEERING COMPANY THAT IS WORKING ON THE SITE PLAN HAS TO UPDATE THE WATER CALCULATIONS. SO I WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT HOW HIGH IS THE WATER LEVEL AT WHATEVER RAIN EVENT THAT THEY WANT TO DESIGN FOR SO THAT THE CORRECT TYPE OF TREE WOULD BE PLANTED FARTHER DOWN IN CASE THEIR ROOTS WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH ADDITIONAL WATER. MAYBE A WILLOW TREE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT CAN TAKE WET TOES. THERE ARE TREES ALONG OUR PROPERTY LINE. I DON'T KNOW, AARON, IF WE SCROLL DOWN TO ONE OF THE OTHER PHOTOS WE CAN KIND OF SHOW YOU THE TREES THAT ARE EXISTING IN THIS AREA AROUND THE LANDSCAPE OR AROUND THE INFILTRATION BASIN. OH I CAN JUST SCROLL? OKAY. SO YOU CAN SORT OF SEE, ARE YOU SEEING THIS SCREEN NOW? SO THERE'S SOME TREES IN THE BACK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRUCKS. AND YOU CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE CANOPY OF SOME OF THE OTHER TREES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY. [18:37] **Chris Meyer**: IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT BACK UP THERE FOR PHOTO NUMBER EIGHT, THAT AREA, THAT GRASS AREA WAS ONE AREA THAT IT SEEMED LIKE MORE COULD FIT. I DON'T KNOW -- [18:50] **Cathy Osborne**: SO WE ARE ADDING FIVE CANOPY TREES. AND THAT'S ALSO WHERE WE'RE ADDING MORE SCREENING. THE THING HERE IS THAT OUR PROPERTY LINE IS ACTUALLY TO THE WEST OF THIS RETAINING WALL. THE ACTUAL PROPERTY LINE DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE RETAINING WALL. THE RIGHT-OF-WAY WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS MAINTAINED BY THE CITY, AND THERE'S AN EASEMENT ALONG JUST TO THE LEFT OF THIS RETAINING WALL. SO IT'S EITHER THE COUNTY, BECAUSE THIS IS UNIVERSITY AVENUE OR THE CITY, WHOEVER MAY HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE RETAINING WALL HAS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE RETAINING WALL. SO WE CAN ONLY PUT THE TREES AS CLOSE TO THE EDGE AND WE HAVE GOT OUTLETS. ALL OF THESE TRUCKS ARE PLUGGED IN IN THE WINTER BECAUSE THEY'RE DIESEL TRUCKS. SO WE HAVE OUTLETS ALL ALONG THIS ROW OF PARKING AS WELL. WE TALKED WITH THEM. WE HAVE THE TREES KIND OF SPACED OUT AS WELL SO THAT THE UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL WIRES IN BETWEEN ALL OF THE OUTLETS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY ROOTS THAT COULD IMPACT THOSE AS WELL. SO THAT WAS ONE REASON WHY WE WENT WITH THE FIVE CANOPIES AND THEN THE ARBORVITAE TREES OFFER MORE SCREENING AS THE GRADE OF UNIVERSITY COMES BACK DOWN TOWARDS 27TH AVENUE. OKAY. SO THIS ONE, PHOTO NUMBER 14, THAT'S THE INFILTRATION BASIN. SO THERE'S TREES, THERE'S VEGETATION. RIGHT NOW WE CAN ONLY MOW KIND OF AROUND PART OF IT BECAUSE IT'S FAIRLY STEEP. AND THERE ARE NICE TREES THAT ARE EXISTING THAT WILL STAY THAT ALL OF THOSE TREES THAT ARE KIND OF RIGHT ALONG UNIVERSITY AVENUE AND WE'LL BE ADDING SOME MORE TREES CLOSER TO THE SIDE WHERE THE PARKING IS TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT FOR ONE TREE EVERY 50 FEET OF PARKING SPACES. SO WE'RE MEETING ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS. YOU CAN SORT OF SEE WITH THE LITTLE CIRCLES ABOUT MEETING THAT REQUIREMENT FOR THE SPACING FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL TREES. BUT SOME OF THESE TREES ARE FAIRLY BIG RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE EXISTING TREES THAT ARE STARTING TO TURN RED, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL TREES. SO THERE IS SOME OPPORTUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO ADD MORE TREES AS YOU COME THIS WAY INTO THE PHOTO WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE SOME ADDITIONAL PINE TREES THAT WILL HELP WITH SCREENING FOR THE FUTURE ON SITE STORAGE. [21:17] **Chris Meyer**: AND THIS IS THE MAIN ONE WHERE I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE MORE OPPORTUNITY? BECAUSE I'M WONDERING COULD YOU PLANT MORE TREES AND MOW LESS OR IS THERE A REASON THAT YOU WANT THAT AREA TO BE MOWED? [21:50] **Cathy Osborne**: THIS IS FAIRLY STEEP. SO I MEAN I GUESS WE COULD FIND OUT ABOUT PUTTING SOME MORE TREES. WE DO NEED TO HAVE SOME SPACE TO PUT SNOW. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST IS OUR SNOW GETS PUSHED TO THIS END OF THE PARKING LOT AND THEN KIND OF TOWARDS THE INFILTRATION BASIN. SO WE CAN'T PUT THE TREES SO TIGHTLY PACKED UP AGAINST OR IN FRONT OF THAT BASIN, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN'T GET THE SNOW BACK THERE. SO THAT WOULD BE ONE THING AS WELL TOO. NOW I COULD SEE WE COULD TRY TO PUT ANOTHER TREE. NOW THESE PINE TREES, AND I'M TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, WHAT KIND OF PINE TREES THEY MADE THOSE. BUT THEY GET FAIRLY BIG. SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY WE COULD ADD ONE MORE TREE. BECAUSE THIS IS AN EXISTING TREE AND TRY TO GET SOME MORE IN THERE TOO. AS LONG AS WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT KIND OF TREE THAT WILL GROW IN THAT CONDITIONS WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF THE SLOPE OR BECAUSE IT'S AN INFILTRATION BASIN, I CAN CERTAINLY CHECK WITH THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY RECOMMEND. [22:59] **Chris Meyer**: OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ALREADY GOING TO SCROLL DOWN TO THIS, BUT FOR ME IT'S PAGE 40. IT'S THE FIRST DIAGRAM THAT YOU HAVE THAT LAYS OUT WHERE THEY ARE. WHAT I NOTICED ABOUT IT WAS THAT YOU PUT TREES ON THE DIAGRAM IT'S ON THE LEFT AND UPPER SIDE OF THE POND AND DIDN'T HAVE THEM ON THE BOTTOM AND RIGHT SIDE. AND NOW THAT YOU MENTION THE SNOW, I'M WONDERING WHICH SIDE YOU BRING THE SNOW IN ON. AND IF THE SNOW COULD JUST BE ONE AND IF TREES COULD BE ADDED -- IF THERE COULD BE TREES ON THREE SIDES OF THE POND. [23:41] **Cathy Osborne**: SURE, LET ME SHOW YOU TOO THAT THIS IS OUR STORMWATER UTILITY PIPING. WE HAVE CATCH BASINS AROUND OUR PARKING LOT THAT COME ALL DRAINED TO THE INFILTRATION BASIN. AND THERE ARE OUTLETS INSIDE THE BASIN. SO WE HAD TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE TREES DIDN'T IMPACT THAT PIPING. SO THERE'S A PIPE THERE, PIPE THERE, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PIPE OVER HERE. SO IF WE ADD ADDITIONAL TREES ON THIS FARTHER NORTH SIDE, THAT WOULD AT LEAST BE AWAY FROM THAT PIPELINE. THE SNOW, THE WAY THAT THEY USUALLY PUSH IT WITH A LOADER OR A BOBCAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY WOULD PUSH IT KIND OF IN THESE OPENINGS RIGHT HERE. IT'S IN BETWEEN THE NEW TREES THAT WERE PLANTED -- [24:30] **Chris Meyer**: WE CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU'RE POINTING. [24:31] **Cathy Osborne**: MAYBE IF I SHOW YOU ON HERE, CAN YOU SEE WHERE I'M POINTING HERE? SO RIGHT NOW THE SNOW MIGHT GET PUSHED IN BETWEEN THESE NEW TREES. AND THEN GETS PUSHED IN BETWEEN THESE TWO TREES. THAT'S WHAT WE DO NOW. AND THERE'S NO TREE RIGHT THERE SO EVERYTHING KIND OF GETS PUSHED -- [24:51] **Chris Meyer**: POINT TO WHERE THE PIPE IS. [24:52] **Cathy Osborne**: SO THERE'S THE PIPE HERE, THIS LINE. AND THERE'S A PIPE HERE ALONG THIS LINE. AND THEN THERE'S TWO OUTLETS KIND OF ON THE EDGE OF THE BASIN RIGHT THERE. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PIPE THAT COMES THIS WAY AND COMES OVER HERE. SO THESE THREE UNDERGROUND PIPES HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED. WE COULD TRY TO PUT SOME MORE TREES ON THIS SIDE. SO IF WE TRY TO PUT MORE TREES HERE, IT WOULD BE COMING DOWN THIS SLOPE. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE WHAT KIND OF TREE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN BE A FULL CANOPY TREE OR IF THEY'D BE A WILLOW TREE OR IF THEY WOULD BE MAYBE A RED TWIG, SOME SORT OF SHRUBBERY THAT COULD HANDLE WET TOES KIND OF THING. BUT YEAH, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO PUT MORE TREES BACK THERE IF THAT IS HELPFUL. [25:59] **Chris Meyer**: THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION. I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR STAFF AFTER THIS. COMMISSIONER WAGNER. [26:06] **Commissioner Wagner**: THANK YOU, CHAIR MEYER. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND PUTTING SO MUCH THOUGHT INTO THIS LANDSCAPE PLAN. I THINK FOR ME THE AREA THAT IS MORE INTERESTING IS THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE LOT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO POINT TO CONFIRM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING ON THE DIAGRAM, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE ADDING ONE TREE FACING, I BELIEVE, 27TH AVENUE. DO YOU WANT TO TRY POINTING FOR ME WHERE YOU THINK I'M TALKING ABOUT? YES, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I'M TALKING ABOUT. WHAT WOULD YOUR THOUGHTS BE ON ADDING AN ADDITIONAL TREE OR TWO ON THAT LOCATION? [26:41] **Cathy Osborne**: I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK ON UTILITIES. BUT I THINK WE COULD REARRANGE WHERE THAT ONE PROPOSED TREE IS SO THAT THERE MIGHT BE 2 OR 3 NEW TREES POTENTIALLY ON THE CORNER. YOU DON'T WANT IT TOO CLOSE TO WHERE ALL OF THE TRUCKS ARE DRIVING IN. SO YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T OVERHANG INTO THAT DRIVE LANE. BUT YOU COULD PUT ONE THERE, THERE, AND THERE. KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE WATER AND THE NATURAL GAS COME INTO THE BUILDING SOMEWHERE RIGHT IN THROUGH HERE. SO THERE'S A UTILITY RIGHT -- [27:03] **Commissioner Wagner**: THANK YOU FOR THAT DESCRIPTION. I THINK IT MIGHT BE LABELED ON THE SITE PLAN IN THE PACKET WE RECEIVED. AND I'M NOT SURE, THERE'S ARCHITECTS ON THIS BOARD, ON THIS COMMISSION THAT COULD CONFIRM MY READING OF WHAT I'M SEEING. BUT I THINK THAT ALIGNS WITH PERHAPS WHAT I WOULD HAVE IN MIND. [27:23] **Cathy Osborne**: YEAH, ON THIS IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ONE ON THE SCREEN, SO THERE'S OUR EXISTING TREE, AND THEN THERE'S A LINE THAT'S KIND OF LIGHT, I CAN'T SEE IT ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE I MADE IT AS A PHOTOCOPY, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ONE ON THE SCREEN, THERE IS A LINE RIGHT THERE. SO THAT SAYS GAS LINE RIGHT THERE. AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT OUR WATER LINE MUST BE DOWN NEXT TO THIS AREA OR UP IN HERE IS THE WATER LINE. BUT THIS TREE AND THIS TREE ARE THE TWO EXISTING VERY LARGE TREES. [28:00] **Commissioner Wagner**: THANK YOU, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION. [28:02] **Chris Meyer**: MR. SHEPPARD. [28:03] **Commissioner Sheppard**: IF I MAY, SO ONE OF THE GOALS WITH TREE ORDINANCE IS TO REDUCE URBAN HEAT EFFECT AND YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT BMP AND I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. I GET KIND OF HUNG UP ON THE PROPERTY LINE WHERE YOU'VE GOT ALMOST NO ROOM. I COMPLETELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. BUT IS THERE ANYTHING, I DON'T CARE WHAT WE CALL IT IN TERMS OF TREE OR SHRUB, IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT HITTING THE PAVEMENT ON THAT WEST SIDE OF THE SITE? YOU'D HAVE TO SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT. BECAUSE THE WEST IS TOP OF THE SCREEN. [28:50] **Cathy Osborne**: NORTH IS OVER HERE. SO YOU'RE LOOKING ALONG HERE. [28:58] **Commissioner Sheppard**: I'M HUNG UP ON WHAT'S ON THE SOUTH AND WHAT'S ON THE WEST. [29:05] **Cathy Osborne**: THE STRIP THAT WE HAVE HERE IS LIKE NINE FEET, I BELIEVE. 7 OR 9 FEET WE HAVE THAT AS. SO IF YOU'RE PICTURING OUR ENTRANCE WILL HAVE TRUCKS GOING IN, THE NEIGHBORS USE THE EASEMENT WHICH IS OWNED BY THE RAILROAD AS THEIR ENTRANCE FOR LARGE SEMI TRUCKS. AND CURRENTLY THAT WHOLE AREA IS, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S ALL PAVEMENT AND ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTH, IT'S ALL CURRENTLY PAVEMENT AS WELL. AND THERE'S KIND OF THE WAY EVERYTHING DRAINS, I GUESS IT WILL BE SORT OF INTERESTING, ONCE OUR ENGINEERING FIRM DOES THAT GRADING PLAN THROUGH THE PDR PROCESS, THE ORDINANCE DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY GREEN FOR SCREENING ON THIS SIDE BECAUSE IT'S NOT NEXT TO A PUBLIC STREET. SO WE WANTED TO USE THAT SPACE AS BEST WE COULD FOR OUR USE. THERE IS ALL OF THE EVERGREENS ON THE FAR NORTH SIDE AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO ADD MORE GRASS AT THE VERY FAR NORTH. I SUPPOSE ONE OPTION IS TO MAKE THIS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT WIDER AND ADD MORE TREES THERE. [30:21] **Commissioner Sheppard**: YEAH, AGAIN MY QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH SHADING, NOT SCREENING. SHADING YOUR SITE IN PARTICULAR. JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET ANYTHING AT ALL FOR LACK OF A BETTER PLANT SPECIES? [30:56] **Cathy Osborne**: ARE YOU THINKING IN THE AREA UP THERE? WE COULD CHECK TO FIND OUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO ALONG HERE. WE PROBABLY DON'T WANT A LARGE CANOPY TREE BECAUSE OF THE TRUCK TRAFFIC THERE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LIGHTING THAT IS IN HERE IS ALSO ABLE TO LIGHT THE PARKING LOT. THIS IS THE SIDE WHERE WE'D HAVE VISITOR PARKING. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT'S DARK THAT THE LIGHTING IS ABLE TO WORK. BUT MY THOUGHT, I WANT TO HAVE AN AREA TO PUT SOME NATIVE GRASSES AND SOME NATIVE PLANTS AND THAT WOULD BE KIND OF A GOOD AREA TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE LOW. BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT. [31:32] **Commissioner Sheppard**: THAT'S MY TWO CENTS WORTH. JUST TO GET A LITTLE MORE SHADE IN THE PARKING LOT. NOT A COMPLETE WALL. [31:48] **Cathy Osborne**: SO YOU'RE THINKING MORE LIKE AN ARBORVITAE. [31:51] **Commissioner Sheppard**: YEAH, SOMETHING 15 FEET FROM THE GROUND. [31:55] **Cathy Osborne**: OKAY, WE CAN FIND OUT HOW WIDE THOSE GET. [31:57] **Commissioner Sheppard**: THERE ARE MANY KINDS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VARIETIES. SO THAT YOU'RE AMENABLE TO LOOKING INTO THAT IS ALL I'M LOOKING FOR. [32:15] **Cathy Osborne**: ABSOLUTELY. [32:17] **Commissioner Sheppard**: OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION. I'M SORRY, IT WASN'T. THE ISLAND IN THE CENTER OF YOUR LARGE LOT, YOU HAVE FOUR TREES. IS THAT -- [32:27] **Cathy Osborne**: YEAH, SAME THING HERE. WE'LL HAVE OUTLETS EVERYWHERE WHERE THERE'S TRUCK PARKING BECAUSE THERE'S TRUCK PARKING HERE, HERE, AND HERE. THERE WILL BE ELECTRICAL CONDUITS IN BETWEEN AND UNDERNEATH THERE. WE'VE GOT TWO LIGHT POLES HERE. AND THEN THE LIGHT POLES HERE AND HERE, I BELIEVE TOO. SO THAT ALL HAS ELECTRICAL CONDUIT THAT RUNS TO THAT AREA. [33:00] **Commissioner Sheppard**: UNDERSTOOD. THANKS. [33:04] **Cathy Osborne**: I GUESS IF I WAS TO TRY TO OFFER THESE WERE SMALLER TREES JUST BECAUSE IT'S AN EXISTING. WE HAVE TRUCKS HERE RIGHT NOW. AND THIS IS AN EXISTING GREEN SPACE ISLAND RIGHT NOW. IF WE WERE TO ADD ANOTHER TREE THERE, SOMEHOW REPOSITION THEM SO THAT YOU COULD PUT THREE THERE IF THAT WOULD BE, IF YOU'D LIKE THAT. [33:28] **Commissioner Sheppard**: MORE SHADE ON PAVING IS ALL GOOD TO ME. SO THAT WOULD BE GREAT. [33:33] **Cathy Osborne**: OKAY. [33:34] **Chris Meyer**: COMMISSIONER BAXLEY. [33:35] **Vice President Baxley**: AGAIN, I ECHO COMMISSIONER WAGNER'S THANKS FOR KIND OF WORKING THIS OUT. I GUESS I'VE LEARNED THIS FROM MY WIFE WHO'S A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, WHEN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS START PLANNING WHERE TREES GO, THAT'S WHERE WE RUN INTO TROUBLE. WHATEVER GETS APPROVED, MAKE SURE A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT GETS INVOLVED I'M CONCERNED FROM THE GET GO. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT SKINNY ISLAND, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH SUBSTANTIAL THERE TO GET A TREE TO GROW. [34:15] **Cathy Osborne**: WELL WE HAD THE SEVEN FOOT AND WE MADE IT NINE BECAUSE WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT TREE BRANCHES AND TRUCKS. EITHER THE TRUCK GETS SCRATCHED OR THE TREE BRANCH GETS BROKEN. BUT WE DID MAKE THE OTHER ONE WIDER BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A NEW ONE. [34:26] **Chris Meyer**: COMMISSIONER CONLEY. [34:27] **Commissioner Conley**: THANK YOU. AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION AND YOUR WILLINGNESS. I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND AND WHAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO DO. I ALSO THINK THAT LANDSCAPING IS, TREES ARE INFRASTRUCTURE IN MY OPINION. THEY'RE PART OF THE OVERALL LANDSCAPING. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT LANDSCAPING IS A PART OF THE BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. AND I WONDERED IF YOU HAD CONSIDERED GREEN ROOFING. THERE'S A LOT OF FLAT ROOF SPACE. AND GREEN ROOFS CAN DO THE SAME THING. THEY CAN DO A LOT AROUND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, REDUCING THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND, IMPROVING AIR QUALITY, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN LARGE INDUSTRIAL SPACES AND WHAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO DO. SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE CONSIDERED. I KNOW THAT THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE OUT IN THE WORLD FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO DO THINGS LIKE GREEN THEIR SPACES. SO A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT FOR LARGER BUILDINGS WITH FLAT ROOFS LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE IS TO MAKE IT A GREEN ROOF. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING OR WOULD CONSIDER? [35:39] **Cathy Osborne**: WE ACTUALLY WERE CONSIDERING SOLAR, PUTTING SOLAR ON THE ROOF. BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME OTHER AREAS IN NORTHEAST THAT WAS OPEN TO ADDING MORE TO I GUESS THE COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDENS. SO THERE'S A DIFFERENT ROOF DESIGN THAT YOU NEED EVEN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STRUCTURE CAN SUPPORT SOLAR PANELS. WE HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO DOING A GREEN ROOF BECAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE SOLAR SIDE. [36:13] **Commissioner Conley**: YOU COULD DO BOTH. [36:14] **Cathy Osborne**: [LAUGHS] OKAY. [36:16] **Chris Meyer**: OKAY. SO FOR THE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, WE HAVE TO SPECIFY THE NUMBER OF CANOPY TREES THAT ARE REQUIRED. SO AFTER TODAY'S UPDATE, YOUR PROPOSAL IS AT 46. AFTER DISCUSSIONS THAT WE JUST HAD, HOW MANY ADDITIONAL CANOPY TREES DO YOU THINK WE COULD FIT IN THERE, LIKE IF WE SET IT AT 50, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT? [36:47] **Cathy Osborne**: SO THAT'S FOUR MORE CANOPY TREES? YEAH, I THINK WE CAN ADD FOUR MORE. [36:58] **Chris Meyer**: AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR AARON. JUST TO -- SO WE HAVE CONDITIONS AROUND CANOPY TREES AND SHRUBS. DO WE HAVE A CONDITION AROUND TREES IN THE MIDDLE? LIKE THAT ARE BENEATH 35 FEET? LIKE WE DON'T REQUIRE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THOSE? [37:16] **Aaron Hanauer**: THOSE ARE, THOSE COUNT TOWARDS SOME PARTS OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW CHAPTER. I COULD LOOK QUICKLY TO SEE HOW MANY ORNAMENTAL TREES, NOT CANOPY TREES, THEY ARE PROPOSING. BUT IF YOU WANT TO CALL OUT A NUMBER OR IF THERE'S A NUMBER THAT WITH YOUR DISCUSSIONS -- [37:37] **Kimberly Holien**: CHAIR MEYER, TO ANSWER YOUR DISCUSSION, ORNAMENTAL TREES DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE TREE OR SHRUBBERY REQUIREMENT. WE OFTEN USE THOSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO GRANT ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, AND WE CAN USE THAT AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT. AND IN THIS CASE IN GUIDING THE DISCUSSION, I WOULD JUST SAY, COMMISSIONER BAXLEY DID BRING THIS UP, I WOULD CAUTION AGAINST ANY SPECIFICS ON PLACEMENT AND STEER THE COMMISSION TOWARDS JUST A GENERAL NUMBER IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT ADDING OR CHANGING A CONDITION OF APPROVAL RELATED TO THE TREES. [38:14] **Chris Meyer**: OKAY. SO I'M FINE WITH SETTING THE CANOPY REQUIREMENT AT 50 AND THEN THEY MEET THE SHRUBBERY REQUIREMENT AND THE OVERALL LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENT. SO I GUESS I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. COMMISSIONER SHEPPARD, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A CONDITION AROUND THE ONE -- [38:39] **Commissioner Sheppard**: NO, I JUST WANTED YOU TO LOOK INTO IT. THAT'S ALL. AND NINE FEET IS WIDER THAN EVERY CITY BOULEVARD EVERYWHERE. SO IT'S DOABLE. [38:46] **Chris Meyer**: OKAY. THANK YOU FOR WORKING THAT THROUGH WITH US. [38:50] **Cathy Osborne**: YOU'RE WELCOME. [38:51] **Chris Meyer**: WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS? I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM, BUT JUST IN CASE. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO COMMISSIONERS, I SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OVER, BUT WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS TO SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THE MODIFICATION THAT THE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE WOULD BE 50 CANOPY TREES INSTEAD OF 26. ANYMORE DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER WAGNER? [39:21] **Commissioner Wagner**: I DO HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THAT. I THINK GETTING TO 50 WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO BE USING THAT AND I'M GETTING THROWN OFF BY THE ORIENTATION OF THE DIAGRAMS, BUT I BELIEVE THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE LOT WHERE THE STORMWATER POND IS. IF THEY WERE TO ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES AT THAT LOCATION, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE STANDPOINT? [39:50] **Kimberly Holien**: THAT'S WHY I WAS CAUTIONING AGAINST CHOOSING SPECIFIC LOCATIONS. THERE'S A VERY HEFTY MANUAL THAT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS USE WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT CERTAIN PLANTINGS CAN BE USED IN CERTAIN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE LOCATIONS. SO THE APPLICANT SHALL WORK WITH STAFF COULD BE ADDED INTO THE CONDITION AND IN THAT CASE IF IT'S FOUND THAT THERE AREN'T FEASIBLE LOCATIONS FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL TREES, WE COULD WORK THAT OUT ADMINISTRATIVELY. [40:15] **Commissioner Wagner**: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT ADDING THAT VERBIAGE. I WOULD TRUST STAFF TO WORK WITH THEM WITH THIS SITE. I WOULD HATE FOR ALL OF THE WORK THEY PUT INTO THIS PLAN TO BE DETERRED BECAUSE WE PICKED 50 AND THEY COULDN'T GET TO 50. I WOULD SUPPORT THAT MOTION IN ADDING THAT LANGUAGE. [40:34] **Chris Meyer**: I THINK I'D RATHER JUST LEAVE IT AT 50. BECAUSE THAT IS THE GUIDANCE THAT KIMBERLY WAS GIVING US. WE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY WHERE EXACTLY IT WAS PLACED. WE COULD JUST REQUIRE 88 AND REQUIRE IT TO BE TAKEN FROM PAVEMENT OR WHATEVER ELSE IF THAT WAS WHAT IT CAME TO. I THINK THE APPLICANT WAS RECEPTIVE TO 50 AND I THINK WE SHOULD JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. [40:55] **Commissioner Wagner**: I'D BE HAPPY WITH THAT AS WELL. I THINK THAT AND I'D BE CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT COMMISSIONER SHEPPARD OR BAXLEY THINK. I'M STRUGGLING TO SEE A LOCATION FOR FOUR TREES WITHOUT THE STORMWATER POND. IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO ADD THEM BECAUSE OF THE SLOPE, THEY COULD BE IN A TIGHT SPOT. [41:20] **Chris Meyer**: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SLOPE MATTERS. YOU HAVE TREES ON HILLS ALL THE TIME. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER SHEPPARD. [41:27] **Commissioner Sheppard**: IT'S THE PROXIMITY TO THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. THE BMP IS ITS OWN SPECIAL THING THAT HAS TO BE MAINTAINED. SO THERE'S SOME CONCERNS AROUND GETTING ACCESS TO IT AND MAINTAINING THAT SLOPE. I BETTER NOT TOUCH THAT. IF THE APPLICANT IS AMENABLE TO 50, GREAT. I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC. AND WHEREVER THEY GO, THEY GO. THEY LOOK CONFIDENT. [42:10] **Chris Meyer**: OKAY. HOW WOULD THE LANGUAGE READ? I'M HEARING LANGUAGE WORK WITH STAFF TO GET TO 50. AND THEN JUST KEEPING THE NUMBER AT 50. SO A HAPPY MEDIUM, RIGHT, IS WHAT WOULD THE AMENDED LANGUAGE SOUND LIKE? [42:20] **Kimberly Holien**: SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE WOULD ADD UNDER SITE PLAN REVIEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF 50 CANOPY TREES PLANTED ON SITE. [42:35] **Chris Meyer**: THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE, YES. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? [42:47] **Commissioner Wagner**: SO MOVED. [42:48] **Chris Meyer**: SO YOU'RE MOVING THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THE CONDITION OF 50 CANOPY TREES ON SITE? [42:58] **Commissioner Wagner**: YES. [42:59] **Chris Meyer**: ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? [43:03] **Commissioner**: SECOND. [43:04] **Chris Meyer**: MORE DISCUSSIONS? COMMISSIONER CONLEY. [43:05] **Commissioner Conley**: SO JUST GOING TO ASSUME THAT WITH NUMBER SIX MINIMUM OF 50 TREES PLANTED ON SITE, THAT APPLICANT AND STAFF WOULD WORK TOGETHER ON PLACEMENT. SO THEN THAT DOES BEG THE QUESTION, ABOUT LOCATION, RIGHT? SO IF THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER AND THEY SAY MAN, WE'VE SCOURED THE ENTIRE SITE. ALL HOWEVER MANY ACRES IT IS. AND THEY CAN FIT THREE MORE AND THAT'S IT. THEN WHAT HAPPENS? [43:40] **Kimberly Holien**: THEN THE APPLICANT COMES BACK TO THIS COMMISSION FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THEIR SITE PLAN REVIEW APPLICATION. [43:46] **Commissioner Conley**: SO THEN IS THERE LANGUAGE THAT AVOIDS HAVING TO COME BACK? [43:50] **Kimberly Holien**: YES SAYING THE APPLICANT SHALL WORK WITH STAFF TO PLANT A MINIMUM OF 50 CANOPY TREES ON SITE. [44:02] **Commissioner Conley**: THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO. [44:03] **Chris Meyer**: WELL, OKAY. I THINK WE CAN WORK IT OUT WITH THE APPLICANT. DID YOU WANT TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO IT OR CAN WE LEAVE IT AS IT IS, COMMISSIONER CONLEY? [44:21] **Commissioner Conley**: I'M HEARING THAT STAFF WILL WORK WITH THE APPLICANT AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE. SO I'M GOING TO TRUST STAFF EXPERTISE. [44:30] **Chris Meyer**: ANYMORE DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [44:33] **Clerk**: COMMISSIONER CONLEY. [44:34] **Commissioner Conley**: AYE. [44:35] **Clerk**: COMMISSIONER SHEPPARD. [44:36] **Commissioner Sheppard**: AYE. [44:37] **Clerk**: COMMISSIONER WAGNER. [44:38] **Commissioner Wagner**: AYE. [44:39] **Clerk**: VICE PRESIDENT BAXLEY. [44:40] **Vice President Baxley**: AYE. [44:41] **Clerk**: AND PRESIDENT MEYER. [44:42] **Chris Meyer**: AYE. [44:44] **Clerk**: THERE ARE FIVE AYES. [44:45] **Chris Meyer**: THAT CARRIES. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROJECT. OUR LAST ITEM, ADOPTION OF THE 2026 TRANSITION CALENDAR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MOVE ADOPTION OF THE TRANSITION CALENDAR? [45:10] **Commissioner**: SO MOVED. [45:11] **Chris Meyer**: IS THERE A SECOND? [45:12] **Commissioner**: SECOND. [45:13] **Chris Meyer**: ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES] OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? THAT IS ADOPTED. SO WE HAVE NO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THIS WEEK FOR LACK OF AGENDA ITEMS. AND THEN OUR NEXT AND I THINK LAST REGULAR MEETING WILL BE DECEMBER 8, 2025. ARE THERE ANY UPDATES FROM STAFF OR COMMISSIONERS? [45:26] **Kimberly Holien**: ONE UPDATE FROM STAFF, WE DID RECEIVE AN APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION FOR THE PROJECT AT 4109 AND 4113 SHERIDAN. AN APPEAL OF ALL APPLICATIONS SO THAT WILL GO FORWARD TO THE DECEMBER 2ND BIZ COMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL. [45:40] **Chris Meyer**: ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO ONE ELSE, THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF OUR BUSINESS SO WE ARE ADJOURNED.