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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-28-2005 TC MinutesCITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TREE COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005 MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Lopes, Don Dollar, and Linda Hauss STAFF PRESENT:Ron Combs, Lisa Woske, Todd Beights, PUBLIC COMMENTS: Council member Christine Mulholland introduced herself as Committee liaison and offered to be available for any discussion. Victoria Wood, 972 Church, stated that a large Camphor tree on the corner of Santa Barbara and Church had a large amount of deadwood with live growth in the center and that she had called the City to ask them come out to prune the tree and to help revive it. She was very upset to find it totally removed instead of being pruned. She stated that there had been a program offered for planting trees and she passed on the opportunity, because she had a large tree already. She asked to have a larger tree planted as replacement in front of her home, as there is a significant impact on her property without the Camphor tree there. Mr. Combs reported that the tree had severe root fungus that would have killed the live growth in the center systemically and that as the Camphor tree was beyond reclamation, it needed to be removed. He stated he would work with Ms. Wood to have the stump ground and determine a suitable size for the replacement tree. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 28, 2005 The minutes were approved as submitted. 2.TREE REMOVAL REQUESTS 1384 FAIRVIEW DRIVE (Camphor) Mr. Combs reported that the tree was healthy and vigorous, but was too large a tree for the parkway. He noted sidewalk damage and that the curb and gutter had been replaced. He felt the roots would cause ongoing problems and suggested a smaller species as replacement. Ms. Hauss agreed it was a healthy, attractive tree, but agreed with the hardship as the tree grew larger. The Committee agreed with Ms. Hauss. Ms. Hauss moved to approve the removal request, based on undue hardship and promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring one 15-gallon replacement tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree List, coordinated with the City Arborist, and planted within 45 days of issuance of permit. Mr. Dollar seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 75 STENNER STREET (Misc. trees) Mr. Lopes reported that the Committee had made a site visit. He felt most of the trees were smaller than the minimum 24” diameter requirement needed for permit approval. He did not think these small trees needed a permit for removal. Staff agreed that no permit was necessary. Mr. Lopes was concerned with any conditional use permit that City might have on file regarding the original landscaping plan for this development when it was approved. He suggested the applicants contact the Community Development Department with their removal/replacement plan and get their feedback. 34-36 and 21 ZACA LANE (Misc. trees) Mr. Lopes noted that the applicant had submitted no certified arborist hazard/removal report and that no second site Committee visit had taken place. Ms. Hauss moved to continue the item to the next regular meeting to allow applicants to submit a certified arborist hazard/removal report. Mr. Dollar seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 3960 S. HIGUERA (Italian Stone pines) Steve Caminiti, applicant’s representative, summarized the arborist report submitted and the removal request made. He noted there was significant hardscape damage and the applicant made a previous removal request, which had been denied. The applicant spent $50,000 to try to mitigate the hardscape/root damage and the same problems had subsequently returned. Mr. Caminiti had submitted an extensive tree hazard evaluation, which had involved many contractors at significant cost to the applicant. He stated it would take an additional $100,000 to continue to try to mitigate the problems the trees are causing if they remain and that one cannot fix the streets and sidewalks without cutting the roots. He discussed the replacement planting plan. Mr. Combs reported that the trees were fairly healthy with large root masses and included bark. He agreed they were a continuing problem and that pruning was not an option. He felt the suggested replacement species of Incense Cedars was a good choice. Mr. Dollar determined that if the median were expanded four feet wider on each side, the same problems would ensure in the future. Ms. Hauss felt that while the trees were attractive, due diligence had been done on the part of the applicant to try to maintain the trees with reasonable mitigations and the efforts weren’t successful enough to retain the trees. She felt the landscaping/replacement plan was acceptable. Mr. Dollar agreed with the undue hardship and they were the wrong trees for the area, but was concerned that Incense Cedars were too large when mature. Mr. Lopes suggested the Community Development Dept. sign off on changing the land use permit. Mr. Combs agreed to coordinate the species selection with CDD. Mr. Dollar moved to approve the removal request, based on undue hardship, with a replacement plan to be coordinated and implemented with City Arborist direction. Ms. Hauss seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 3.NEW BUSINESS Mr. Combs presented a brief Arbor Day update, stating the event was scheduled for April 16, 2005 at 10 a.m. The Committee agreed to judge the Art/Prose Contest on Monday, April 11, 2005 at 5 p.m. 4.ON-GOING BUSINESS Master Street Tree List Update The Committee agreed that there should be separate Master Street Tree lists created for the Downtown Core and Residential areas, with Gateways being a separate project. The staff agreed to come back to the Committee with a targeted downtown core project outline. Gateways There was no discussion on this item at this time. Tree Ordinance Update There was no discussion on this item at this time. Mr. Beights noted there was an Advisory Body Quarterly meeting coming up and outlined the Committee’s accomplishments during that timeframe. Mr. Lopes and Mr. Dollar discussed the recent march workshop held with Paul LeSage about the southern area city planting plan (i.e. water reclamation site). The Committee agreed to make their Zaca Lane site visit on April 21, at 5:15 p.m. Mr. Dollar clarified that Neil Havlik did plan to re-evaluate the Zaca Lane removal project to make any environmental/habitat determinations. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. to the next regular meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2005. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske Recording Secretary