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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-2008 TC Minutes1 CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TREE COMMITTEE CORPORATION YARD MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008 MEMBERS PRESENT:Sara Young, Craig Kincaid, Ben Parker and Ellen Dollar STAFF PRESENT:Keith Pellemeier, Barbara Lynch, and Ron Combs PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. SWEARING IN Audrey Hooper swore in the newest Tree Committee member, Ellen Dollar. 1.APPROVAL MARCH 24, 2008 MINUTES The minutes were unanimously approved as submitted. 2.TREE REMOVALS 1919 WILDING LANE (1 INDIAN LAUREL FIG) The applicant and her son Michael McNamara were present. Mr. McNamara stated that the tree in the parkway is overgrown and tearing up the sidewalk. The City has repaired the sidewalk at least 3 times. They would like to re- landscape and install steps and replant with Chinese Fringe trees. Mr. Combs stated that this was a large Ficus that was lifting the newer sidewalk and damaging the curb and gutter. It has been root pruned several times. He says it’s a healthy tree but is the wrong tree in the wrong place as noted by several wounds due to car doors hitting it. Ms. Dollar asked if the eucalyptus was on their property and the owner says its ½ on theirs and ½ on the neighbors and they are making that planter larger. Mr. Parker moved to approve based on undue hardship and to promote good arboricultural practice and that they replace with 2 trees per their landscape plan. Ms. Dollar seconded the removal. The motion passed unanimously. 2 1173 & 1187 LAUREL LANE (2 EUCALYPTUS) The applicant, Terry Leigan was present. He explained that the complex, Southwood Chalets, was built in the 60’s and believes the trees were planted then. Over the years several Eucalyptus have been removed because they have lifted concrete and broken plumbing pipes. He also stated that they have had to replace sewer lines in the last year. The 2 trees are located in a “problem” plumbing area and also lifting the sidewalk. There is also a lot of limb drop. Mr. Combs stated that they are large healthy eucs. He noted some sidewalk displacement. He explained that roots aren’t able to get into sewer lines unless the sewer lines have problems in the first place. He said that the Association has been very good about replacing the trees over the years. Mr. Parker says that he noticed recent ground disturbance but that it was well outside of the canopy. He did notice a lot of ivy and shrubs and feels that those roots also pose a problem. Mr. Leigan explained that the trees are less than 10’ from the buildings and that the sidewalks have been ground down before. Ms. Young asked if they had applied for a permit before and he said yes but they had failed to realize that they needed someone to attend the meeting. Ms. Dollar asked if the trees were mature. Mr. Combs said they could still grow 10-20% more. If the sewer work is done properly the trees shouldn’t have a problem. The applicant stated that the roots have intruded under the slab of Unit 1113 Laurel. Mr. Kincaid moved to approve removal of the two Eucalyptus based on undue hardship and to replace them with 1-15 gallon redbud per removal. Ms. Young seconded it. Mr. Parker doesn’t favor removal. He feels the trees are nice and the ivy roots are the bigger problem and that they should look into removing the ivy before the trees. 603 JOHNSON (3 MONTEREY PINES) Fred Temple, owner of Paramount Landscape was in attendance. He explained that they have already planted 8 replacement trees that were planted with root barriers 7’ behind the sidewalk. They have also replaced the irrigation and water services. They stated the trees are unsightly and have been trimmed a lot over the years to remove the canker. They are also encroaching into the utilities, are near a drain inlet and the curb, gutter and sidewalk. They had to do root pruning to plant the new trees. They are concerned about liability and the 3 pines are shading the redwoods they’ve planted. The neighbors are not happy about the pine needles. The applicant feels the trees are 40 or more years old and at the end of their life expectancy. Mr. Combs said that they are large relatively healthy Monterey Pines that have caused some hardscape damage. He thinks the redwood trees look good. Mr. Parker didn’t see any evidence of disease and that the trees have been trimmed, sprayed and well taken care of. He stated the life expectancy of the trees is 70 years. He feels the root barriers will constrain the redwoods and that the redwoods will get larger than the pines are now. Ms. Dollar feels removing the pines would change the look of the neighborhood. Ms. Young agrees. Mr. Kincaid says they are beautiful trees and great asset to the neighborhood and didn’t see any evidence of damage. Mr. Young motioned to deny removal because it would harm the character of the neighborhood. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 672 SERRANO DR. #10 (2 BLUE GUM EUCALYPTUS) Neil Havlik, President of the Board of Director’s, and Kristin Buttery, Association Manager, were present. Mr. Havlik explained that Serrano Sircle was developed 30 years ago and the trees there are very large. An arborist that they had hired noticed some rot at the base of one of the trees. He feels the trees are too large and that 30-40 vultures roost in the trees at any given time creating a health hazard. He has researched the vultures and says they are young juveniles and they are not nesting, just roosting and if trees are cut down they will move to other trees. The owner’s of the unit would like to plant pittosporum. Mr. Combs stated that he had granted permission to remove the one tree closest to unit #9 because of the rot.He feels the remaining tree is suffering from previous grading, is in the utility lines and has the start of a fungus causing the trunk to become pithy. Ms. Dollar asked if the association has tried to scare the vultures off and Mr. Havlik said no because it wouldn’t do any good. Mr. Parker recommends approval of tree because of the fungus but asks the homeowner’s associations to keep the remaining eucalyptus healthy because removing anymore would alter the neighborhood. Mr. Kincaid seconded the removal and would like to hear in a year or so how the vultures are doing. 4 The motion passed unanimously. 277 GRANADA (3 Canary Island Pines) Don Barton, Director of Promega was in attendance. They have a total of 15 pine trees with 3 located in the parking area. He stated that they drop needles and pitch and are too large for the area. Although they haven’t caused any damage he anticipates they will and if allowed to remove they do not want to replant in this area. Mr. Combs stated that they are 3 large healthy Canary Island Pines under 24” and were originally approved by Community Development. Mr. Parker says when he was inspecting there were lots of open parking spaces. He feels the trees provide needed shade and this species is well suited to urban areas, they mitigate hardscape areas and break up the heat and visuals of the asphalt areas. They are relatively young and if they coned off parking spaces for a few days after pruning, the pitch wouldn’t drop onto the cars. Ms. Young motioned to deny based on no findings. Mr. Parker seconded it. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT Barbara Murphy, past Tree Committee member, asked the Committee to please take the Bradford Pear off of the Master Street Tree List and add the Raywood Ash. The Committee informed her that the list had been updated and the Bradford Pear removed and there had been some discussion about adding the Raywood Ash. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Pellemeier asked if anyone would like to attend the Quarterly luncheon with the Mayor and the Advisory Bodies. It will be on April 10th in the Council Hearing Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mr. Kincaid volunteered to attend. ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs reported that the tree crew had planted 35 new street trees in March and that he had approved 4 removals. The Art and Prose judging had been done and we had 16 more entries than last year. This year Ron gave tree talks to 4 schools, comprising 10 classes. The Commemorative Grove clean up is on going and we have 20 booths lined up for our Arbor Day celebration. MEMBER COMMENTS 5 The Heritage Tree Brochure should be done by the Council meeting and Mr. Hampian would like to hear about the progress. Mr. Parker says the Sycamore tree in front of Fire Station #I is beautiful, has a nice sweep to it and is very appropriate for the site. Ms. Dollar says there is a nice old Sycamore at California and Marsh, an Oak at the end of San Luis Drive and a Redwood at Rabobank worth looking at. Mr. Kinkaid asked when the Floss Silk tree will be removed from in front of the Mission. Mr. Pellemeier said it will be removed later in the spring. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. to the next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. for a Work Session and a 5:00 p.m. public meeting. Respectfully submitted, Sheila New, Recording Secretary Filling in for Lisa Woske