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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-24-2003 TC MinutesCITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TREE COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2003 MEMBERS PRESENT: Laura Rice, Jim Lopes, Steve Caminiti, Ty Griffin (interim) STAFF PRESENT: Ron Combs, Lisa Woske, Todd Beights 1. REVIEW MINUTES OF OCTOBER 27, 2003 The minutes were approved as submitted. 2. TREE REMOVAL REQUESTS „ 1625 EL PASEO (4 Liquid Ambers) Al Wighton, 1625 El Paseo, applicant, discussed concerns about the sidewalk damage caused by the tree roots and the liability for littering of large seedpods. He felt the trees were inappropriate to the space planted and requested to replace them with a species such as crepe myrtle. Mr. Combs agreed they were the wrong trees for the location and would get larger quickly. He noted there was minor hardscape damage and that the trees were healthy parkway trees, and he could not make his findings for removal. He suggested a staggered approach to the removals, should they be approved. Ms. Hauss agreed they were problem trees and favored staggered removal: two now, with replacement plantings, and remove the remaining two after two years when the replacement trees were established. Ms. Rice agreed with Ms. Hauss and did not favor a clear-cutting approach. Mr. Caminiti felt the sidewalk displacement was significant and favored staggered removals. Mr. Griffin favored removal of the trees, noting that doing so would not harm the character of the neighborhood. Mr. Caminiti moved to approve the removal of Tree #1 and Tree #3 as outlined on the site sketch, based on promoting good arbori-cultural practice and undue hardship on the property owner, replacing those trees with two 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. He further approved the removal of Tree #2 and Tree #4 after two years, once the first replacement trees were established, and required two more 15-gallon replacement trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree List, coordinated with the City Arborist, and planted within 45 days of issuance of that permit. Ms. Hauss seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. „ 1822 CONEJO (Canary Island pine) Don and Ellen Smilovitz, 1822 Conejo, applicants, discussed concerns with the liability and littering caused by the large tree and noted many mitigating pruning measures had been taken, but that many of the limbs remained weak and were a liability. They were also concerned about being able to maintain the needle littering and felt a different tree would enhance the neighborhood. Miriam Butler, 1394 Andrews, neighbor, stated she was very concerned about the large tree falling on her property. She also reported that her citrus trees were failing due to the pine taking all available water and that she could not landscape anywhere around the tree. Mr. Combs stated that the tree was healthy, but agreed it was too large for the area and would keep growing. Ms. Rice felt the pruning had created the weak limb structure and agreed it was too large for the spot. Ms. Hauss agreed with Ms. Rice and felt the tree caused a hardship for the owners. Mr. Lopes felt that while the tree might be able to be further pruned effectively, he could favor removal with replacement planting. Mr. Griffin and Mr. Caminiti agreed with the previous comments. Ms. Rice moved to approve the removal of the tree, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree List, coordinated with the City Arborist, and planted within 45 days of issuance of permit. Ms. Hauss seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. -- 1247 SAN CARLOS (2 Sequoia) Frieda Wittmeyer, 1247 San Carlos, applicant, discussed the two trees on site and stated they had been pruned, but were too large for the location and were causing structural and foundation damage. She noted there was a tree in the side yard that was being crowded out and could not thrive. Mr. Combs stated they were healthy, skyline trees, but inappropriate for the location. He noted there was some walkway damage. Ms. Hauss agreed they were skyline trees, but was concerned they would just get larger and felt she could favor removal of the largest tree. Mr. Lopes stated he favored removal of both, based on hardship. Mr. Griffin and Ms. Rice agreed with Mr. Lopes. Mr. Caminiti agreed the trees were too large and favored a staggered removal. Ms. Hauss moved to approve removing the largest tree, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree List, coordinated with the City Arborist, and planted within 45 days of issuance of permit. She further moved to approve removing the second tree two years later, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and did not require a replacement planting at that time. Mr. Caminiti seconded the motion. Mr. Lopes reiterated that he favored removing both at once, so as not to create further financial hardship for the applicant with a staggered removal. He stated the second tree, while not as large, would just present a nuisance to the owner. The motion failed, with Mr. Lopes, Mr. Griffin, and Ms. Rice voting against. Mr. Griffin moved to approve both trees, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required 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. There was no second; the motion died. Mr. Lopes moved to approve the removal of both trees, based on undue hardship on the property owner, and required two 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. Ms. Hauss seconded the motion. The motion passed. „ 753 PASATIEMPO (Cedar) There was no applicant or representative to speak to this item. Mr. Griffin reported he had not been able to review the tree. Mr. Combs stated some minor sidewalk damage was beginning, but it was a healthy skyline tree and he could not make the findings for removal. The Committee discussed the application and determined they could not make the findings necessary for removal. Mr. Caminiti moved to deny the removal request, as he could not make the findings necessary for removal. Ms. Hauss seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Mr. Griffin abstaining. 3. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Combs discussed the recent Morro Street tree planting project along the bike path and reported that many different groups in the community participated in the planting. He felt it was a positive community-building project and stated they were able to plant approximately 90 trees. Mr. Lopes suggested the Committee look at tree cover gaps along streets and target some areas (e.g. planting trees on both sides of a street) as an effort to enhance the parkway improvement efforts. Mr. Caminiti stated the Committee should set some project priorities for the City to review. He also suggested finding funding for these projects through donations and grants. Mr. Lopes asked that the topic be set on the next meeting agenda and have a representative from Parks and Rec Dept. investigate the status of the parkways effort and have someone report back to the Committee. He further requested that the Committee agree with Mr. Caminiti’s recommendation of outlining a priority list of projects and possible funding options. Mr. Caminiti agreed to check with Debbie Black, who has been involved with the parkways effort and he would bring back a status report. Mr. Beights agreed to check with Paul LeSage on the same issues and report back. Mr. Caminiti moved to cancel the December 22, 2003 regular meeting, due to holiday schedules. Ms. Hauss seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. OLD BUSINESS Ms. Hauss asked for an update on the Fixlini area eucalyptus removal project. Mr. Combs reported that they were planting 3 native species for every eucalyptus removed and that each lot will have a separate removal permit required to better review the trees. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske Recording Secretary