HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/27/2020 Item 8, Pinard
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Peg Pinard <
To:Cohen, Rachel; Advisory Bodies
Cc:Dave Congalton; Allen Cooper
Subject:Tree Committee Mtg. (7/27/20 Item #8)
(Please see that this gets to the Tree Committee Members and w ould you also please place this letter in the
City's correspondence file?)
Re: Proposed Removal of 206 Trees at 650 Tank Farm Rd.
San Luis Obispo's Tree Committee
We are putting more carbon into the atmosphere than the world as we know it can handle. Given our current global
conditions, decisions must be made taking the need for carbon sequestration into account. The city says addressing
climate crisis is one of its top goals. You have a chance to actually do something about it. There is absolutely no need to
do so much damage! There can be a perfectly good, environmentally sensitive project that respects the natural
area. The question is “Do you care?”
If you approve the destruction of trees in this application you will, in essence, be personally responsible for the loss of
hundreds and hundreds of mature trees - trees that are one of the most effective tools for carbon sequesters that we
have. Each tree can absorb about 48 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. That means that the destruction would result in
an increase of approximately 10,000 lbs. of carbon in our atmosphere every year!
The developers will say that one of their options will be to plant with new trees. Think about it. You can’t replace what
these mature trees - the ones that have already survived many drought cycles and that provide huge benefits for
wildlife, water retention, shade and surrounding ambient temperature, transpiration and carbon sequestration - already
give. Not in our lifetime!…and probably not in our children’s or grandchildren’s either!
Trees give us the air we breathe - and the amount of that oxygen is in direct proportion to the size of the trees! Once
you lose these mature trees then there’s no going back. The damage will be done. In this age of global warming, why
would you even think of doing that? How can this even be a ‘talking point’ anymore? Around the world, so many
countries are planting millions and millions of trees to try and make up for the impacts of global warming. And here you
are, being asked to approve the irresponsible action of chopping them down…hundreds and hundreds of them! Again,
why would this amount of environmental damage even be considered in any plan?
I am hoping that you care…and care enough to give deny the tree removals and give feedback to the developer and the
council about the importance of doing everything we can to aid in carbon sequestration. Our planning process and
committee reviews are supposed to be to achieve the BEST possibility…not the other way around!
We are in a time of climate crisis and no environmental impact should be ignored. This destruction will be totally of your
own making! For the sake of our children and grandchildren we can no longer afford to be so careless and destroy our
natural assets. We absolutely need every one of them!
The question again is, do you really care? Do you care enough to do something to put this project back on a reasonable
path? Each one of you is responsible for the answer - and I hope you make the right one.
Sincerely,
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Peg Pinard
Former: Mayor, City of San Luis
Obispo and
Chairperson, San Luis Obispo
County Board of Supervisors
As County Supervisor I fought for
(and accomplished) the clean-up of
Unocal's massive contamination at
Avila Beach
for which I received a personal
appreciation from Ken Alex, Senior
Advisor/California
Governor’s Office.
Recipient of the American Planning
Association’s Small Jurisdiction
Award
Founder, the SLO City’s (first)
Historical District and Old Town
Neighborhood Association.
Implemented a neighborhood Street
Tree Planting Program along with
restoration of a
Nationally Registered Historic Home
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