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Board Member Max noted an area of interest might be to look at grading policies and ask <br />if by grading, there is a diminished chance for natural regeneration of native species. <br />Chairperson McDilda stated that prior to the establishment of the EPB, all the city had <br />was a grading policy for development. He stated that whatever happened, happened. He <br />stated there was more interest in where the water was going to flow and how streets were <br />put into developments than about environmental preservation. <br />Mr. Nicholson stated that now communities are saying they want to slow things down so <br />it doesn't overload the system. Trees may play a part in that. <br />Chairperson McDilda stated that the EPB recognized early on that some of the things <br />proposed might be at odds with other things currently in ordinances, mainly the grading <br />policy. He stated that somewhere there is a middle ground that has yet to be defined. He <br />stated the EPB is always looking for information and data to allow the board to make a <br />case for creating questions and conversation about various approaches. <br />Mr. Nicholson stated that people bring a tree back from their cabin because they need <br />trees. He stated now, fewer people have that place up north. Thirty years ago when the <br />subdivisions were being built it occurred more often. He stated that nurseries were <br />probably growing trees that were very easy to grow. <br />Board Member Bentz stated that the report mentions exotic species. He asked if they <br />were coming from other parts of the state. He asked if 20 -30 years ago there was a lot of <br />transplanting going on. <br />Chairperson McDilda stated that home improvement stores didn't have the foothold so <br />nurseries were probably utilized more. <br />Nicholson stated that easy to grow materials were used more often than not by nursery <br />growers even if it is not popular. He stated cities may try to buy certain species, but they <br />can't afford to pay the going prices. He stated plans for species diversity can be made, <br />but it can't be purchased. <br />Chairperson McDilda stated he found it remarkable that the number of oaks were so <br />limited in this development. <br />Mr. Nicholson stated he came to the conclusion that when foresters talk about a forest <br />dominated by oak or sugar maple, they talk about dominance in terms of what's in the <br />canopy instead of in terms of numbers. He stated the oaks dominate in height, not in <br />numbers. As evidenced in the maple basswood forest, the most common tree was <br />actually something other than oaks. He stated that there aren't a lot of aspen because <br />they die off. <br />Chairperson McDilda asked Mr. Nicholson if there was another piece of data that has all <br />the diameters of the surveyed trees. <br />Environmental Policy Board/ December 4, 2006 <br />Page 4 of 19 <br />