20 ATTACHMENT 05 - Laserfiche WebLink

were not typically done, although the applicant is willing to do so only because it absorbs the heat from sun as it stands in the open. Ms. Decker stated that using materials other than planting for screening sometimes makes something that is not so visible much more visible with the addition of fencing, lattice, or other structures. With respect to mitigation with 25-gallon shrubs, she noted that the largest shrubs are 15 gallons, which is a tree size. She noted that shrubs generally establish better five gallons. She added that if mitigation were being considered by the Commission, she would like to suggest language such as "The applicant shall consider planting shrubs to screen the tank with such plantings that would be not be harmful to the health of the stock, subject to the review and approval of the Director of Planning and Community Development." Commissioner O'Connor commented that as a former painting contractor, although the tank could be painted with the proper type of painting preparation, these tanks are meant to be low maintenance and do not need to be painted. He stated that applying paint would result in ongoing maintenance issues, and if the tank were not property maintained, the paint could crack and peel through the years. Chair Blank noted that when he had things painted, with the proper preparation of the surface, to the right kind of painting on the surface, the paint could last for a long time with low maintenance. Commissioner O'Connor stated that his comment was meant to call the Commission's attention to the maintenance issue. He added that he did not think painting the tank brown as mentioned by Ms. Decker would be a big improvement. In response to Ms. Decker comment about 25-gallon bushes not being available, Commissioner Narum commented that she thought that the plants specified for the Sarich property were 60 gallons in size. Ms. Decker clarified that those were box sizes. She stated that trees generally come in one-, five-, 15-, 24-, and 36-inch boxes. She added that trees that come in the 24-inch box had a trunk diameter of 1 to 1 '/2 inches, with the trunk getting larger as the box gets larger. She noted that the larger the plant material installed, the longer it takes to establish the root system; the younger variety would a little bit more quickly and would catch up within a year or so. She further stated that the applicant had expressed concern not only about the cost for putting in appropriate size shrubs or shrub materials but also the fact that stock is in the field and that there is very small range of materials that would not be harmful to the stock. Ms. Decker proposed that the Commission not specify the type of shrubs at this time so that staff may be able to work with the applicant on what would be best for the site. Chair Blank proposed an amendment to the motion to adopt the language proposed by Ms. Decker in terms of planting the shrubbery around the tank. EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, April 9, 2008 Page 14 of 15