HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/28/2021 Item 2, Brogdon
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Rebecca Brogdon <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:TC Communication: Comment on 355 N Chorro Street Tree Removal Application
(6/28/2021)
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Hello Tree Committee,
I'm reaching out with regards to the application regarding the Coastal Redwood at 355 N Chorro
Street to speak against its removal, which is posted for continued review on June 28, 2021.
Since 2017, I've been a resident of the 355 N Chorro Street Alta Vista Woods complex and have
made the following observations on this tree:
- When looking around the complex, there appear to be no cracks in the foundation
surrounding my unit, which is the closest unit (about 10ft away from the tree). The closest
evidence of exterior foundation damage I have seen are several minor cracks in the foundation
of separate apartment buildings which are farther away from the tree (>50ft away), but I
assume are too far to be caused by the tree's roots.
- Inside my unit, there are no cracks in the ceiling, floor, or walls. There does not appear to
be any uneven flooring or ceiling bulges that would have been caused by foundation damage. I
did not receive a request or notification by the HOA to inspect inside my unit for possible
indicators of foundation damage.
- There is a crack in the sidewalk just beside the tree which has no lift, and other cracks in
the sidewalk nearby the tree have little to no lift (<1in high).
I would also like to note that there are cracks in the sidewalk surrounding the entire complex
that are farther away (>50ft away) from the tree, namely in the parking lot, which show that the
sidewalk's age, weather, soil conditions, and the fact that the sidewalk is not reinforced with
rebar may have caused cracking and wear over time. Some of the sidewalk cracks farthest away
have greater lift than those closest to the tree, and in my several years of living in this complex,
there has been no notification or attempt by the HOA to replace or repair the sidewalk.
- Of the several years I've lived here, only one small branch (about 5 ft long) has dropped
during a particularly intense windstorm, and the branch did no damage to my unit--I received no
notification of damage or repairs by the HOA. Since 2017, I have not received notification of
roofing damage from the HOA.
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- By a layman's eye, it looks to me like the tree is the largest and oldest tree on the property
and in the neighborhood. Judging by its trunk size, it must be or close to becoming a centennial
tree. According to records, this complex was built in 1984, putting it at about half of the age of
the tree, and clearly the complex was built with the tree in mind--my unit is offset and does not
line up with other units in order to accommodate the growth of the tree, which brings privacy,
shade, and character to the area.
I know these comments are probably anecdotal and there are many factors the Committee must
consider in your decision. I only wanted to voice my concerns and my hopes for the tree's
preservation as a resident of the Alta Vista Woods complex. Thank you for the Committee's time
and consideration of any of this information.
Best,
Rebecca
Rebecca Brogdon
cell: (805) 610-3085
work: (805) 439-1797
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