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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-23-2009 TC Minutes1 TREE COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009 Corporation Yard Conference Room 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo MEMBERS PRESENT:Sara Young, Ellen Dollar, Allen Root, and Ben Parker STAFF PRESENT:Keith Pellemeier and Ron Combs PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of February 23, 2009 Ms. Dollar moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS 1.591 ISLAY (Calif. Sycamore) Catherine Tait, applicant, discussed the removal request and stated the tree had grown too large for the area and littered constantly. She reported that the Mills Act Committee – which supports older homes – sent a complaint letter stating the plantings obscured too much of the home frontage. She noted the property was heavily planted. Mr. Combs reported it was a healthy, young native tree. Mr. Parker agreed the property was heavily planted and that the tree was not the ideal specimen for the site and would become a true problem tree in the future. He felt a replacement tree would be a reasonable requirement. Ms. Dollar and Ms. Young felt the tree was a healthy native skyline tree and did not feel they could make the findings necessary for removal. Mr. Root felt the tree would potentially grow too large for the site. Ms. Dollar moved to deny the removal request, as she could not make the findings necessary for removal. 2 Ms. Young seconded the motion. The motion was locked: Ms. Dollar and Ms. Young voting for; Mr. Parker and Mr. Root voting against. As there was not a majority vote available, the item was continued to the next regular meeting agenda. 2.1328 MADONNA RD. (Canary Island pine) Randy Poltl, applicant’s representative, stated the tree next to the power pole/lines and that pole serviced the entire middle section of the complex. He noted many nearby pines were dying due to beetle strikes. He discussed the proposed upgraded landscape plan for the property, noting the previously removed trees, as well as dead ones, would be replaced with street trees. He reported that he was investigating re-configuring the entry access from Madonna Road into the shopping center. Mr. Combs reported the tree was a large, healthy specimen that had been regularly topped by PG&E. Mr. Parker moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required one 15-gallon replacement tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of issuance of permit. Mr. Root seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Parker suggested the applicant consider Cork Oaks as a replacement variety for the trees to be planted. 3.865 VIA ESTEBAN (Eucalyptus and bottlebrush) Casey Babcock, applicant, discussed the removal request and stated that the trees’ littering was interfering with the “clean room” business practices on site and provided too large of a maintenance issue. She also noted ivy was choking the trees. She discussed replacement plantings. Mr. Combs reported that the commercial landscape plan needs to be reviewed and that the ivy should be removed if the trees were to be retained. 3 Ms. Young thought one of the eucalyptus appeared healthy, but the other looked dead and the bottlebrush appeared to be in only fair health. She agreed with the hardship claim for this particular business. Ms. Dollar noted to the applicant that any new plantings required a commitment for maintenance and significant watering to establish. Ms. Dollar moved to approve the removal request, based on undue hardship to the property owner, and required three 15-gallon replacement trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of issuance of permit. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Pellemeier introduced David Savory and Matt Ritter, new Tree Committee members to be sworn in at the next meeting. ON-GOING BUSINESS Arbor Day ’09: Mr. Pellemeier noted the city celebration would be held April 25 from 10a-noon at Laguna Lake. He reported the city would have an informational booth set up at the 4/18 Earth Day event held at the Mission Plaza. The Committee agreed that the Art and Prose Contest entries would be judged on April 13 at the Corporation Yard beginning at 5pm. Cal Trans Heritage Grove Mr. Parker distributed a document outlining 10 significant trees (5 CA Sycamores, 2 Coast redwoods, 1 palm, 2 Incense cedars) and their historic connection to the 1930’s building. He reported that Cal Trans understood their maintenance commitment re the Heritage designation. Mr. Parker will get a formal letter of intent from Cal Trans for staff. Ms. Young moved to direct staff to draft a resolution for Council acceptance designating the Cal Trans Heritage Grove as outlined. 4 Ms. Dollar seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. By-Laws Amendment Mr. Pellemeier reported on the formalized by-laws amendment regarding residency requirements for advisory body members. Mr. Parker moved to approve the amended by-laws as presented. Mr. Root seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor’s April 9, 2009 Quarterly Luncheon Ms. Young agreed to provide staff with a quarterly report on behalf of the Tree Committee and Mr. Root agreed to represent the Committee at the luncheon. ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs reported that he had approved 21 trees for removal within the past month. LIASON REPORT Mr. Pellemeier reported that the applicants were appealing the Tree Committee actions pertaining to 1745 and 1750 De Anza Court to Council. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. to next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, April 27, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. in the Corporation Yard Conference Room, 25 Prado Road. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary