[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6341805,"mediaKeyId","2256371-a6ceaafbfb3f869c97824e076ff59e10","parentId",2256371,"title","Bexley tree commission reports: slate preservation work, community garden donations and fall planting progress","audioSeconds",314,"startMs",3456000,"endMs",3770000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256371-a6ceaafbfb3f869c97824e076ff59e10&start=3456&end=3770","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256371-a6ceaafbfb3f869c97824e076ff59e10/thumbnail_3456000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6341805/Bexley/Franklin-County/Ohio/Bexley-tree-commission-reports-slate-preservation-work-community-garden-donations-and-fall-planting-progress","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341805-1d9db50e828a4ae020f87a0f797f36da/orig.mp4?Expires=1776394430&Signature=KiKeqG1GBbFmO8A~9KhPmEjwH5mh~NkZF5-2pADh~ZZR1oLw-G1Nf1EmH8Z-GPRtkk4sBm77Iv5NbfPpF091bZ45QMCrmJwcMRDAHn5nRNegKA1WLCXoC9t~TrcBaCEl6JeoLylACmrGXvJCi78Qa8AAmttcsblWFhYAZQFhqfNXzzdYWcHcw9IYr~Bzs0TScsFeINeDMSv82pK7yORw23dlLshf1ycYccrXyzGVvRPKMz5mau1OMm4KdNtSSVQW-EJejPtLTKMRttJHEDbySMAtYwzhzW0aVgZehoIHNaBalQAqcPc4yNwCqEFtWpBugy2DZoc4f9DdI8Ro0mTPXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bexley OH","date","2025-02-10T20:22:11Z","article","The Bexley Tree and Public Gardens Commission heard updates on several ongoing programs: historical slate preservation outreach, community garden donations and volunteer hours, fall street-tree planting and a draft memorial-tree policy.

Karen Volker, staff consultant, and contractors held a recent slate demonstration and inventory session for commissioners and two tradespeople; staff plan a street-by-street slate survey to add a GIS layer to owner records. “We actually didn’t have a lot of people at a 4 p.m. meeting, but we were able to touch and feel all the slate and understand the differences,” Volker said, summarizing the session.

Mary McMunn reported the Community Gardens donated 1,225 pounds of produce this season and that the gardens have donated 10,755 pounds since 2011. The gardens logged more than 750 volunteer hours this year and the community’s fund at the Community Foundation had raised $14,875 at the time of the meeting. The Bexley Bloomers reported about 860 volunteer hours this year.

Fall street-tree planting continues: staff reported roughly 30 trees installed to date and about 70 trees remaining for the current planting cycle. Staff and commissioners noted occasional resident objections to on-property plantings behind sidewalks; those objections were the subject of the separate 290 Ashbourne discussion and a planned code review.

Grama (city tree crew/staff) described planting practices: crews are removing the top two-thirds of wire baskets and cutting burlap/twine as part of planting protocol, and many recently planted trees are using watering bags. Grama confirmed installers generally remove synthetic twine and wire baskets to permit root development.

City staff are drafting a memorial-tree policy with the Community Foundation to standardize donations and plaques. Staff presented working figures: a suggested minimum donation of $500 for a tree without a plaque and $1,000 for a tree with a plaque; plaques would be installed in parks only (not in tree lawns) and recognized via an online mapping system.

Mayor Kara Kessler and staff also reviewed budget items in the draft city budget: an additional $20,000 for the street-tree program (bringing proposed street-tree funding to $100,000 total) and funding for invasive species removal on Livingston and Jeffrey parks. Commissioners discussed whether to pilot more species diversity on selected streets to reduce monoculture risk and asked staff to prepare species suggestions.

The commission agreed to continue working on a tree-planting and maintenance plan and to present recommended ordinance clarifications to the city attorney for review in December.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","11-20-2024 Tree and Public Gardens Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Commission staff and volunteers reported on historical-slate outreach, community garden donations and volunteer hours, fall street-tree planting progress and a draft memorial-tree policy.","taxTitle","Bexley, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",72409,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6341810,"Commission allows removal of newly planted Ashbourne tree while city reviews right-of-way planting rules",171,5143000,5314000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256371-a6ceaafbfb3f869c97824e076ff59e10&start=5143&end=5314","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256371-a6ceaafbfb3f869c97824e076ff59e10/thumbnail_5143000.jpg","/articles/6341810/Bexley/Franklin-County/Ohio/Commission-allows-removal-of-newly-planted-Ashbourne-tree-while-city-reviews-right-of-way-planting-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341810-65455dbe179f1f3f99c492131e032a4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776394430&Signature=f~nq98lSyeMnq~Ax66XJj3SF~axOeGkuCbawmczeWDaElMS5sRY1yOmsE8kDBrQGtkaSREP~5NcS0YJ73BSme9fkZiFJBIMTF21StnitRPWNr0~Wl-5O1epCXMMpVbiqC40BGITrvBWslWl695O~oAQ0G7iynTYh8bhOZt0yeEdf8zYcViW3BhfAcEVbU7sFMoXC8vInYpHbXOrT4~X9gXWvx~YJy05g65J3geeliXsSVA54T4oCMpm8PNe-CnzaOxQmYztVgnBh509Y0aF1CIDABI5r3fl0fqwC9pg0czy~oomnHag8VEaEZXDHExGncUFzqrjY8sEKir~0go45FQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bexley Tree and Public Gardens Commission voted to allow the removal of a recently planted tree at 290 Ashbourne while the city evaluates whether and how to require trees in the narrow space between sidewalks and houses.

Commissioner Jim Wilson moved to authorize removal of the newly planted tree with notice to the property owner; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The action followed resident objections to the tree’s placement and a wider discussion about whether the commission can — or should — compel tree plantings behind sidewalks.

Mayor Kara Kessler and other members said the question touches property rights and inconsistent practice across Bexley. Kessler told commissioners the city council had reviewed the issue and “felt like we should offer it. And if a property owner doesn't want to have a tree in that space, that we shouldn't force it in that space.”

Commission members said the situation exposed ambiguity between the tree-protection provision in the city code (Bexley Code §10/26.16) and the demolition and building permit checklist. Planning staff said the demolition permit packet lacked the tree-ordinance checklist language; staff committed to adding that language to future demolition permits so applicants see tree-protection requirements earlier.

Commissioners asked staff to study the policy and propose clarifications. Commissioner Jim Wilson recommended a process that would notify homeowners before planting and allow owners to bring concerns to the commission; other commissioners suggested criteria (available front-yard square footage, neighborhood canopy coverage, and utility conflicts) to guide decisions.

The commission’s vote permits the immediate request to remove the new planting at 290 Ashbourne while a broader code review proceeds. Staff said they will reach out to the homeowner and determine whether the homeowner requests removal or replanting in another location.","The commission authorized removal of a newly planted street-adjacent tree at 290 Ashbourne and directed staff to study how city code treats plantings behind sidewalks and between sidewalks and houses.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6341813,"Bexley commission approves landscape plan for North Columbia house with conditions",3026,243000,3269000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256371-a6ceaafbfb3f869c97824e076ff59e10&start=243&end=3269","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256371-a6ceaafbfb3f869c97824e076ff59e10/thumbnail_243000.jpg","/articles/6341813/Bexley/Franklin-County/Ohio/Bexley-commission-approves-landscape-plan-for-North-Columbia-house-with-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341813-144ff78b29672eb99c4e30e10bc8123b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776394430&Signature=emZ3O0sguSFiAPKedIfL9rS3tVWJCXmeFkP0CDQSF8veaZ6c36JXfSinc1amFWA75yxbeWR2glB~qJxg1Wh15OwfSnSg3bdOD4XqLOQjRodduLoRhVZ0hBLZUHDRVug7SUVxbBHp5MyulorIDRB~-MEbTeNHi56CHYuWsAmgiLqLF-yvUwSsKcxkzc58WKZTgtNUcBhjbPcjV2W6VYxj6--Nn7cb2firzSZ192zYUGAbSbIr3M-kawkELtCCDwI-~8EwoJb2tftyyBE4UKm8cUn36LXfck5Iqyb5vm8ydIueU3jjs4dvWiXeMaEX0K1aVoXXlDJ-PfKFLN9GOrXRFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bexley Tree and Public Gardens Commission on a routine agenda item approved a landscape plan for a large house project on North Columbia, with conditions on planting standards, timing and screening.

The commission’s approval requires that “all plantings of trees and shrubbery be in conformance with Ohio Nursery Association standards,” that peripheral plantings be installed “as soon as practical within the construction process,” and that if the homeowner does not replace a deteriorated fence the homeowner must present an alternate screening solution to the commission’s landscape consultant. The motion was made by Commissioner Jim Wilson and seconded by Linda Zubnick; the motion carried with no opposition recorded.

The plan submitted by architect John Beahall and landscape designer Laurie Botkins (Oakland Nursery) removes a former circular driveway and replaces earlier hardscape with additional greenspace and a new planting palette. Architect John Beahall summarized the project’s intent, saying the redesign “is increasing the green, decreasing the hard surface cover and increasing the amount of greenscape we have on this lot,” and described the property’s history as former estate lots that had grown over time.

Laurie Botkins said the plan keeps several large, viable trees identified by the project arborist and proposes 71 new trees to replace about 69 removed specimens and volunteers. Botkins said an arborist from Russell Tree Service inspected the site and that the design intentionally retains a sugar maple at the street and several large specimens while removing trees judged to be hazardous. “Any trees that we felt…were potentially hazards in the future, we’re definitely going to ask your permission to remove,” she said.

Neighbors raised concerns about screening and a failing fence along the north property line. Neighbor John Warchanski, whose property abuts the site, said he was “not necessarily in opposition or in support” but asked the commission to consider fence quality, topography differences affecting privacy and pool safety. Architect Beahall said the homeowner understands the fence needs replacement and that the project team had discussed options such as brick columns with wood infill to tie into existing walls.

Commissioners pressed for planting and installation details during questions. Botkins told the commission the project’s planting list shows removal of 69 inches-caliper of tree material and proposes 71 trees in replacement, including canopy specimens such as three red oaks. She confirmed Oakland Nursery follows an industry standard one-year warranty on plantings and said she would pursue replacements if specimens failed beyond initial transplant stress.

Commission staff said construction activity has already begun on the lot and staff reiterated that tree-protection measures and curb/brick protections are permit conditions. Matt Klingler, a city staff reviewer, said demolition permits currently do not carry the same checklist language as the tree-ordinance provision (Bexley Code §10/26.16) and that staff will add the language from the ordinance to demolition permit materials going forward.

The commission attached the Ohio Nursery Association standard and the replacement/timing and screening conditions to its approval. Staff said follow-up inspections and the project’s permit file will document compliance.

The commission’s approval concludes the commission’s review; other city reviews such as BZAP or zoning or final building permits remain as required under city processes.","The Bexley Tree and Public Gardens Commission approved a landscape plan for a large remodel on North Columbia, requiring installations to meet Ohio Nursery Association standards, setting timing for peripheral plantings and requiring alternative screening if a shared fence is not replaced.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bexley tree commission reports: slate preservation work, community garden donations and fall planting progress

Commission allows removal of newly planted Ashbourne tree while city reviews right-of-way planting rules

Bexley commission approves landscape plan for North Columbia house with conditions