We are always looking for community members that want to be involved. Whether you choose to be a committee coordinator or a committee member let us know how you’d like to help. Fill out our Join Us! form.
Primary Role:
- Handling of Type II tree permit applications which concern residential property for the entire Palisades Neighborhood Association (PNA), as they are related to PNA’s role in the application process.
Process:
- The PNA Tree Permit Coordinator (TPC) is the single point of contact with the City of Lake Oswego and receives notices. The TPC determines which PNA area the property is in and forwards the request to the respective PNA Area Representative (AR). The AR may then choose from the following options: Engage personally, request the TPC to work with them in a joint engagement, or defer it back to the TPC. The AR will be presumed to be handling the matter, unless they respond back to the TPC and notify them otherwise. In any case, the TPC will perform the following services when practical:
- The AR’s responsibility is to review the application, and respond as they see fit, in keeping with their area’s specific views on trees, and how that relates to the specific tree(s) involved with the application. The most common result is expected to be that there is no characteristic about the tree that warrants further action. And, in such cases, the AR can simply take no further action on it. However, if there is something about one or more of the trees involved with the application that the AR thinks further action is warranted, the AR can talk to the applicant directly (encouraged, before other further action is taken), ask the TPC for help/advice, submit astatement into the record for the application, or bring it to the entire PNA board for possible Board action. Note that the AR is not allowed to go onto the applicant’s property, without the resident’s permission.
- For areas that have no AR active when the application is being processed, the TPC will, at their discretion, either process it as if it is located within the TPC’s area, or send the relevant information about it to the PNA webmaster so that an email about it can be sent to the residents in that area, from the PNA members’ contact list.
- The TPC will communicate all significant activity to the applicable AR and/or the PNA Chairperson. This is not expected to include routine applications, or when no further action is deemed necessary.
- The TPC reviews permits as submitted, balancing property rights with desired native tree support and provision of native plant alternatives for mitigation plants and trees.
- The TPC may visit the site to assess circumstances and escalate to PNA Chair for action or appeal if compelling neighborhood interest is present (it is estimated that 90% of permits will not require escalation.) Note that the TPC is not allowed to go onto the applicant’s property, without the resident’s permission.
- If a permit is escalated to the PNA Chairperson, the Chair is responsible to organize PNA board review and action or appeal as voted on by the PNA board.
- The TPC acts as a resource to answer questions and educate property owners regarding existing codes and permits and possible native plant alternatives for remediation.
- The TPC will keep an ongoing log of the applications that have been processed, and note at least the following data, when practical: Application #, Prop. Owner/Applicant Name, Prop. Address, Area #, Date Submitted, Date of Tent. Decision, Which type (Outgr. Area, Landsc. Impr., or Develop.), if Significant Tree, if Appealed, if Approved or Denied, and if PNA Took Action.
- The TPC coordinates activities with the Oswego Lake Watershed Council’s Tree Committee.
If you’d like to get involved with our Tree and Parks Committee, please contact us here.
