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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-22-2004 TC MinutesCITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TREE COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2004 MEMBERS PRESENT: Laura Rice, Pete Dunan, Steve Caminiti, Laura Hauss STAFF PRESENT: Ron Combs, Lisa Woske, Todd Beights 1. REVIEW MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 23, 2004 The minutes were approved as submitted. 2. TREE REMOVAL REQUESTS „ 54 HIGHLAND (2 Monterey pines) Neil Maloney, applicant, discussed the removal request, reporting that trees were leaning too far by the house and were planted too closely together. He noted there was drainage pipe and curb damage due to roots and was concerned about safety hazard and liability with the unstable trees. Mr. Combs agreed that the tree leaned, but noted that if they fell, they would damage the pool area and not the house. He cited evidence of pitch canker beginning. He reminded the Committee that they had previously approved seven pines to be removed in that stand and had requested the applicant come back at a later date to pursue removal of the remaining trees. Mr. Lopes felt the two trees enhanced the neighborhood and did not feel there was much root damage visible or that they posed a high risk to the property. Mr. Caminiti favored removal, as the applicant had showed good faith to the environment and character of the neighborhood, the trees were in marginal health, and due to upcoming roadwork that would further accelerate the trees' decline. He was also concerned with the fire hazard they posed. He suggested two 15-gallon live oaks as replacement plantings, placed mid-slope. Ms. Rice agreed with Mr. Caminiti and felt the trees were poor specimens in bad locations. Ms. Hauss also agreed with Mr. Caminiti and Ms. Rice and felt root pruning would cause further damage to the trees' health. Ms. Hauss moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required two replacement 15-gallon live oak trees to be planted mid-slope within 45 days of issuance of permit. Mr. Caminiti seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. „ 2250 KING (3 Canary Island pines; 1 Monterey pine) Mr. Combs reported that the trees were fairly healthy, but suggested removing the large Canary Island pine and the Monterey pine, and leaving the small Canary Island pine to flourish. Ms. Rice felt one tree could be removed without requiring replacement plantings, as the site was already heavily planted. Mr. Caminiti and Ms. Hauss favored Mr. Combs' suggestion for removal and retention. Mr. Lopes agreed with Mr. Combs' suggestion and discussed two replacement plantings to be placed closer to the street. Ms. Hauss moved to approve the removal request for the large Canary Island pine and the Monterey pine only, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required two replacement 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list, coordinated with the City Arborist, and planted within 45 days of issuance of permit. Mr. Caminiti seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Dunan arrived at the meeting at this point in the agenda. 3. NEW BUSINESS - ORDINANCE REVISIONS There was discussion about potential changes to the Tree Ordinance, as well as re- designing the document itself to make it more user-friendly. Some of the concerns by the Committee included: „ Language for pruning of native oaks, e.g. Paso Robles document „ Tree protection plan measures with development building, including potential for shutting down projects that do not conform There was also a request for setting a work project for the Downtown Core tree species selection list and for Clarifying language defining jurisdiction of ARC and Tree Committee over new development and subdivision plans. Mr. Beights agreed to attend an ARC meeting to explain tree removal roles at the ARC level. He also distributed a departmental responsibility flowchart to accompany the Ordinance. Mr. Lopes moved to have the Committee gain access to a Word document of the actual Tree Ordinance for review, revision, and comparisons to the supporting flowchart. Mr. Caminiti seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Caminiti stated concerns about saving specimen trees within project re-designs and the realistic evaluation of whether a specimen tree needs to be retained, due to possible compromising of the specimen within the building project, e.g. Monterey Street. 4. OLD BUSINESS There was general discussion of Arbor Day plans. The celebration was scheduled for 10 a.m. in Saturday, April 24. Mr. Caminiti agreed to act as emcee for the event, which would include a BBQ and Commemorative Tree planting ceremony. Committee judging for the Art & Prose Contest submissions by the schools was scheduled for Friday, April 9, 2004 at 4 p.m., with a dinner to follow at 6 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. to the next regular meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2004. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske Recording Secretary