Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-24-2002 TC MinutesCITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TREE COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2002 MEMBERS PRESENT: Linda Hauss, Teresa Larson, Jim Lopes and Steve Caminiti STAFF PRESENT: Ron Combs, Lisa Woske MEMBERS ABSENT: Laura Rice 1. REVIEW MINUTES OF MAY 20, 2002 The minutes were approved as submitted. 2. TREE REMOVAL REQUESTS -- NW CORNER OF MADONNA ROAD AND LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD (Eucalyptus) The applicant's representative discussed the approved apartment construction project and the handicap areas that affected the tree location. He stated that the public art piece was ready to be erected and that tree location was in direct conflict with the art installation site. He discussed past actions and input for the site and stated that past Committee member Peggy Mandeville had requested the eucalyptus be retained until the apartment development had been coordinated. The applicant was now requesting to remove the tree so the project could be completed. The Committee discussed the item and stated they would like to see a landscape and walkway plan, as well as a picture of the actual artwork, for the corner development area. Mr. Caminiti moved to continue the item until the next regular meeting, pending review of the above-mentioned plans. Ms. Hauss seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. „ 2675 JOHNSON (Monterey pine) The applicant discussed several crowded trees in the planter area that were in declining health and too close to the sewer line and stated the line had to be cleared every 18 months. He also discussed re-landscaping plans and requested removal of the 15" Monterey pine closest to the street. Mr. Combs noted that the smaller diameter trees in the planter area could be removed without requiring a permit. Mr. Caminiti stated he supported the re-landscaping of the front area and would consider removal of the large tree with replacement of three trees in the area. He suggested re- working the plan to retain the large tree. Ms. Larson requested the applicant return with the actual landscaping plan and ideas for the replacement trees. Mr. Lopes did not feel the large tree was causing the sewer line problems and was in good health and therefore, he could not make the findings for removal. Ms. Hauss felt that once the smaller trees were removed, the larger tree could be retained and incorporated into the landscaping plan. Mr. Caminiti moved to deny the removal request, as he could not make the necessary findings. Ms. Hauss seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. „ QUESTION/ANSWER PERIOD WITH RESIDENTS OF SOUTH OCEANAIRE NEIGHBORHOOD John Ofstead, 1966 Huasna Dr., discussed many concerns with the proposed removal of 200+ trees in the South Oceanaire neighborhood and stated that the removal of so many trees would absolutely destroy the urban forest and severely impact the comfort and character of the neighborhood. While he understood that many of the trees were causing sewer problems, he stated that old sewer lines were more the cause of the problems and that those old lines needed replacement. He felt the problems cited with curbs and sidewalks were almost a decade old and part of basic street maintenance. He agreed that the problem trees should be replaced, but felt a compromise would be to retain 70% of those proposed and work around them. He also suggested that only the people who specifically wanted their trees removed should have them taken out and the majority of the neighborhood who wanted trees retained should be accommodated. He also stated he had a petition of 35 signatures in favor of retaining the trees and asked that the removal plan be reviewed again. He also stated that the notices of the removals were sent out less than a week prior to the proposed construction start and that as of this date, no notice of the 7 p.m. neighborhood/staff meeting at the Firehouse Station for June 25 had been received. Diane Anthony, 1970 Oceanaire, discussed the beauty of the tree-lined canopy in the neighborhood and agreed that the proposed removal would leave a devastated, bleak landscape. She also stated that her notification of this removal process had only allowed 5 working days to respond and that she had not received any notification of the June 25 meeting to date. Ron Combs discussed the general scope and history of the proposal, little of which staff was aware of at this point in time. He agreed that details were sketchy and was unclear as to how the project had progressed to this point. He reported that the scope of the June 25 meeting was to discuss possible compromises to mitigate neighborhood concerns and objections. There was much Committee discussion based on the fact that the Committee had not been aware at all of this project, had not reviewed any of the trees for removal, and only had just seen the site map that identified over 200 trees for removal at this meeting. The Committee was unanimously "concerned" that the project had proceeded to such an advanced stage without their input and were equally uncomfortable with the lack of proper and timely notification for the neighborhood and staff meeting discussions, e.g. June 25. Jim Lopes requested that staff acquire copies of any Tree Committee and City Council minutes and documents that pertained to this removal project so the Committee could understand the project progress and approval phases. Christine Mulholland, Council member, stated she had never seen the site plan document that outlined such "clear cutting" and that, upon recollection, she believed that any mentions of tree removals for this project were intended to mitigate damage and property problems, but had not implied the scope of the removals as outlined. She was concerned with the late notification to the neighborhood of the construction and the apparent lack to date of notification for the June 25 meeting. She stated that the project needed to be put on hold immediately, until some background and review could be more clearly involved. Steve Caminiti reiterated that tree removals would not solve the sewer line problems for residents and that replacing the old line materials would be the only damage control that would be successful, as any type of landscaping roots could creep into old, broken lines and create problems. Mr. Lopes suggested that individual tree inspections should be performed to determine which trees truly had to be removed. He determined that CDBG grant money was funding this construction project and that grant money could be used for infrastructure improvements, e.g. sewer line replacement, and project re-designs as opposed to simply engineering solutions with mass removals of trees. The Committee agreed that the project tree removals needed to be reviewed by them. Mr. Lopes moved to direct staff to prepare a written project history summary, to include pertinent details from Tree Committee and Council meeting minutes, a recap of any neighborhood/staff meetings held, and an outline of all support documents and reasoning for removing 200+ trees, and bring the summary back to the next Tree Committee meeting. And until such information could be reviewed and appropriate neighborhood notifications were in place, all tree removal actions should be postponed. Mr. Caminiti seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Lopes moved to request that the Tree Committee be part of the approval process for tree removals for this project. Mr. Caminiti seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 3. OLD BUSINESS „ DISCUSS SOUTH OCEANAIRE TREE RE-PLANTING The Committee discussed possible replacement ideas and requested Mr. Combs return with 3-4 specific species recommendations for planting in that area so the Committee could review the suggestions. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 to the next regular meeting of July 22, 2002 at 5 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske Recording Secretary