HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/17/2021 Item 1, Vujovich-La Barre
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Mila Vujovich-LaBarre <
To:Advisory Bodies; Whipple, Anthony
Subject:Re: May 17, 2020 - Public Hearing Item Number #1: 468 & 500 Westmont Ave.
“Review of the proposed removal of 51 onsite trees and replanting of at least 20
street trees on site”
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To: San Luis Obispo Tree Committee
Re: May 17, 2020 - Public Hearing Item Number #1: 468 & 500 Westmont Ave. “Review of the proposed
removal of 51 onsite trees and replanting of at least 20 street trees on site”
From: Mila Vujovich-La Barre - San Luis Obispo, California
Date: May 17, 2021
Dear Honorable Chair Alan Bate and Committee Members -
As a resident of the Ferrini Heights neighborhood, I urge you to continue this item today. From my research,
there is not enough information available to adequately inform your recommendation. In order for you to have a
better understanding of the developer’s opportunities and constraints, the following revisions should have
originally been made to your submittal package.
1) First of all, the Tree Inventory Data Table in Appendix D fails to identify which trees will be removed.
2) Secondly, the tree removal plan should have been superimposed upon the new plot plan.
3) Finally, “staff states that tree removals are necessary to facilitate grading and drainage of the proposed
project. However, Section C on Sheet C4 & C5 fails to show any new grading within the creek bank or within
the riparian corridor. Moreover, there appears to be an insignificant amount of grading throughout the length of
Section C. Therefore, the applicant should submit additional site sections that might better illustrate the
developer’s claim that ‘tree removals are necessary to facilitate grading and drainage’.”
The applicant should not be allowed to remove 17 trees located within the riparian corridor of Twin Ridge
Creek. Thirteen of these non-native trees, including 11 acacias, are reputedly being removed for fire protection
purposes. However, these trees are more fire resistant when they are healthy, free of dead wood and well-
hydrated. Being located within a riparian corridor almost guarantees that these trees will be well-hydrated and
healthy.
We are headed into another summer of drought. Please maintain existing healthy mature trees, particularly
those located within riparian corridors in our city.
Please do not “fast-track” this development. I sense that new construction can be completed while working
around healthy mature trees in order to preserve them.
Thank you for your consideration.
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Sincerely,
Mila Vujovich-La Barre
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