HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-14-2003 TC MinutesCITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TREE COMMITTEE MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2003
MEMBERS PRESENT: Laura Rice, Linda Hauss, Jim Lopes, Pete Dunan, and
Steve Caminiti
STAFF PRESENT: Ron Combs, Lisa Woske
1. REVIEW MINUTES OF MAY 27, 2003
The minutes were approved as submitted.
2. TREE REMOVAL REQUESTS
1805 SAN LUIS DR. (Chinese Elm and Liquid Amber)
The applicant discussed the liability of dropping limbs, which continue to fall and she
reported that the neighbors were concerned with liability and her insurance company
won’t cover the trees or their damage. She noted the trees had been trimmed. She
discussed replacement plantings and possible landscaping ideas.
Mr. Combs agreed the branches were tearing and there was potential hazards posed by
the trees.
Mr. Caminiti stated he spoke with the neighbor about the elm by the driveway and
reported that the neighbor strongly favored removal.
Ms. Rice felt the trees represented undue financial and possible legal hardship.
Mr. Dunan was concerned that the trees interfered with the power lines.
Mr. Caminiti favored removal of both trees, as the liquid amber was too close to the
house and elms were known for limb breakage and that tree was too close to the
neighbor’s property.
Ms. Hauss, Mr. Lopes and Mr. Dunan agreed there was undue hardship.
Mr. Lopes moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good
arboricultural practice and undue hardship on the property owner, and required
replacement of two 5-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and
planted within 45 days of issuance of removal permit.
Ms. Hauss seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
880 LEFF (Two palms)
There was no representative present to speak to the item.
Mr. Combs noted that Dale Anderson, JDR Property Management, had contacted him
and proposed to replace the trees with a jacaranda and evergreen pear planted on site.
Ms. Rice was concerned about the confusion as to which two palms were proposed for
removal.
Mr. Lopes stated he favored removing all four palm trees on site and having the site
landscaping be re-done.
The Committee discussed the application and the possibility of pruning mitigation
measures.
The Committee also discussed the lack of pertinent information for the application,
leaving questions unanswered due to no representatives being present to discuss the item
and Committee concerns.
Mr. Caminiti moved to continue the item, as there was not sufficient information
available to discuss making Committee findings for removal or retention.
Ms. Hauss seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
3. NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Caminiti discussed concerns with the removal being done at 247 Rosita.
Mr. Combs reminded the Committee that the approved removal permit had a contingency
that the applicant must contact Neil Havlik and get administrative approval for the timing
of removing the trees, due to the hawk nests in those trees.
He reported that the applicant had scheduled removals for a Monday and that she stated
she had contacted Mr. Havlik on the Thursday afternoon prior and when she had not
heard back by the end of the next day, she believed that the be implicit approval and
proceeded with the Monday removal.
The Committee unanimously agreed the applicant was premature in her actions and had
not given Mr. Havlik sufficient time to respond to her phone call, especially given that he
was out of the office that Friday.
The Committee stood firm on the fact that the issued permit was valid with its
contingencies as stated and therefore the applicant was in violation of that permit.
Mr. Combs also discussed the illegal tree removal at 2675 Johnson, stating that the
Committee had previously denied the removal request. He recapped his discussions with
the property owner and the fines/penalties therein.
An agreement was reached for the applicant to plant four 24-inch box Live Oaks on his
property as a replacement requirement for the removed tree. Mr. Combs noted that the
value of the replacement trees was consistent with the cost of due fines.
There was Committee discussion about drafting a letter outlining the parameters of
permit removals within the city to be distributed to local arborists so the arborists
understand the requirements and limitations of legal tree removals.
Ms. Rice moved to direct staff to draft a letter outlining the parameters as discussed,
including the section of the Ordinance that pertains to the legality, get the City Attorney’s
approval on the draft, and mail the letter certified mail to local arborists and tree removal
companies.
Mr. Caminiti seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Combs discussed the update on the Laguna Village Shopping Center landscaping
proposal, citing Crepe Myrtle as a species possibility.
The Committee did not favor that species for that area.
Ms. Hauss favored an evergreen species.
Mr. Caminiti reminded Mr. Combs that the owners agreed to hire a landscape architect
for the project.
Mr. Lopes moved to recommend that the property owner submit a phasing process
replacement planting proposal, to include evergreen species, for Committee review.
Ms. Hauss seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. to the next regular meeting of Monday, August 25,
2003 at 5 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Woske Recording Secretary