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Home My WebLink About06/02/2021 cc - Carroll (Tree Removal 470 Pismo St. ) City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Attn: Anthany Whipple, City Arborist re: request for permit to remove two Liquidambar trees @470 Pismo Street Dear Anthony Whipple and Tree Committee Members: As 20-year neighbors of the home at 470 Pismo Street, we would like to express our concern over the proposed removal of the two Liquidambar trees from the front yard of the property. These mature, healthy trees are of great value to the landscaped arboreal environment of our 400 block of pismo street. Their removal will have an enormous impact on the visual grace of the street. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they add elegance to the block, they absorb sounds of the traffic they provide shade, shelter for wild birds and they do their part to clean the air. They are two of the more sizable trees on the block. We need substantial trees to remain. We understand that two possible reasons given for the removal of these trees have to do with the slightly raised root system in the yard area: it is claimed that 1) the area cannot be utilized for a child's play space and 2) the roots pose a danger to elderly people walking in the yard. Attached is a photograph of the house at 470 pismo street, taken in 2016, prior to the sale in 2017. The root system has not changed dramatically since this image was taken. However, the landscaping has been modified by the current owner to fully expose the tree roots. As you can see, before it was �w9uy�; w%,�✓✓�u . � � 9l � �d�//�" ,'�il�� '� � � ,,. � �� wouuu x,. � oi disassembled, the landscaping ;��';� ,�'! �°�`,��'°�""�"� '� "��y��U �,,�!,�'�� " �' '� y�,,�� accommodated the raised root � �� ; � �o � �,r�,� �� systems of the two � � �� :��r � `" Liquidambars. � %�y�Jf, n � � �� ,�,�r1'��f��' The front space was used by � �� ti ��' �� r °� �, the tenants as a play yard for , � '�'r �,��"t� „ �,�� r �� „ � � � their young child. %, : u ,�� '� � � ��,� � /� The concrete walks provided, `� � � �� , �� ', '� � , t„�� , , . i�� , � „ �o� � , id ' '� �'� �s ,, as they do now, safe access to � , � �� ,'�� ` f� '� ` �� the porch from the driveway �� " ' �''' � �,� ' � ��ti'�� , and from the sidewalk. No �;% � �� ° ° �° '� � t' �fa r��' � �G!4�f�hi� 6 �ruti�� ' " c,�, '(0 � �G� ��" �� @IC�@PI�/ pGfSOlI WOUIC� IJe rrhrl'i� ' � ' u�� ri� �^ uu��i��uuwruu�ui � . �� ; IIII ul�uu I�III�VIVVV IVu� required to walk over the tree �� ' �`�� , , � . ;��! p�� 1 �� p ��,� � roots in order to get to the ��,t�,�',��' , �,,�� a u�° ��- � y ��1�� '�°'�` � � door. (the ramp has been �� '�� '��` �"�� "�� r, e ,� �l � �� removed) �.,� �FJ��,,�,� ,.� �,,��,r� ;��%'�"�`% � „�� ,�� ,,: ,� �Ip,m.. �� i�mio�,. �/N�'�l✓�,f�G ,, u»�l� ��I�J��in�,�r//G,�r,.e�,flla rar,ili4� ,i �i%, These would be fallacious and invalid reasons to remove the trees. At present, it does not appear that the roots are endangering the sidewalk or the driveway. They do not pose a current threat to either. And, as the trees are fully mature and healthy, the roots would be growing deep to find water; they would not be expanding up or wide. The trees do not appear to be diseased or compromised in any way. General maintenance will keep them so for years to come. This pair of Liquidambars are an asset to our steadily-trafficked, densely-built urban community: • most importantly they provide visual beauty to the neighborhood year-round. •they mitigate noise generated by traffic on the street. •they provide cooling shade in the summer. •they provide a home and shelter for local birds. • they are healthy for the environment because their ability to add oxygen to the air and to clean it of carbon monoxide. •they are an established, living part of this 400 block of Pismo Street The main reason for removing them may be "leaf-maintenance", which is definitely a nuisance, but not a "hardship" on an owner. We understand this seasonal inconvenience and, as neighbors and permanent residents of six and twenty years, we would like to offer the property owners our assistance in the yearly task of raking the considerable number of leaves dropped by the trees each fall. We offer help with the collection and disposal of the leaves. As long-term residents of the 400 block of Pismo, we are protective of this special, "urban forest" as it is called by your office. We would like to do what we can to assure that these important community trees are not in jeopardy. We ask you to allow these trees to remain as they are..stellar members of our urban arboreal community. We ask that the permit to remove one or both of the Liquidambars at 470 Pismo Street be denied. Thank you, ' s; esi ent l � � � ,y�� a0� Ch e� ��n �la Parker �� ,, � Pismo Street ��"�� SanLuis Obispo 93401