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Home My WebLink About7/28/2021 Item 4a, Stansfield Wilbanks, Megan From: To:Advisory Bodies Cc:'Becky Keehn'; 'Genevieve Czech'; 'Bill Stansfield' Subject:PC Communication Attachments:Euc trees #33 #34 from Westmont property_two pines to the left #88 #89 are tagged for removal.jpg; Euc trees#33 #34 from backyard of 653 Stanford Drive_adjacent to Westmont Development.jpg; Euc Tree Canopy #33 #34 behind 653 Stanford Drive Adjacent to Westmont Development1.jpg; Euc trees #33 #34 from street in front of 653 Stanford.jpg This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. Dear Planning Commissioners, My name is Maryann Stansfield and I live at 643 Stanford Drive, adjacent to the 500 Westmont Avenue Development Plan that was before you at the June 26, 2021 meeting. I want to thank you for voting to continue the review of this development to look deeper into both environmental and safety/parking issues. Many of our Stanford Drive neighbors and friends attended that meeting and brought up many concerns about safety, parking and how narrow Stanford drive is. Also, asked great questions about why the plan presented did not connect to Westmont on the other side of the creek to help mitigate traffic issues, and whether or not the biological study went deep enough into the riparian areas and drainage basin options and how they will effect both wildlife and the community of neighbors who live there. This email is specifically about the Tree Committee voting to approve the Action recommending the retention of 4 specific trees by a vote of 5 to 2, which was not adopted in the plan or recommended by the city PC staff. Content cited from the June 23, 2021 PC meeting cancellation notice: On May 26, 2021, the Planning Commission voted to continue review of the item listed below to a date certain, the June 23, 2021 Planning Commission meeting. With this cancellation notice, review of this item is now continued to a date uncertain. Review of a Tentative Tract Map (Tract 3157) to create 23 residential lots on an existing 4.98-acre site within the Low-Density Residential (R-1) zone. Project includes the extension of Stanford Drive, which will connect to an extension of Cuesta Drive. An Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration is proposed (CEQA); Project Address: 500 Westmont. Case #: SBDV-0169-2020 & EID-0170-2020; Alice Jo Meinhold Survivors Trust/Andrew G. Meinhold, owner/applicant. Staff Recommendation: Adopt a resolution recommending the City Council approve Tentative Tract Map (TTM) No. 3157 and adopt the associated Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Minutes from May 17, 2021 Tree Committee Regarding Approved Tree Removal Application Action: TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS 1. 468 & 500 Westmont Ave. Review of the proposed removal of 51 onsite trees and replanting of at least 20 street trees on site, with the remainder of compensatory tree plantings required as a condition of approval. Compensatory planting will be required at a rate of 1:1 onsite or 2:1 offsite, consistent with Tree Regulations standards. Tree removals are proposed to facilitate a proposed tract map development (TR 3157), a 23-lot subdivision in the Low-Density Residential (R-1) zone (SBDV-0169-2020). Associate Planner, Kyle Van Leeuwen, provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries. Public Comment: Becky, Genevieve Czech 1 ACTION: UPON MOTION OF VICE CHAIR MINNICK, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROSTEN, CARRIED 5-1-1 (Member Root dissenting and Member Thurman absent), to recommend that the Planning Commission approve the project with the following recommendations:  All regulated trees shall be replaced at a 1:1 ratio, on the site, with 15-gallon or 24-inch box trees  Require 50% of the replacement trees to be native species  Require the developer or the property owner to irrigate and maintain replanted trees until they are established  Retain tree #33, #34, #91, and #114 The SLO City Planning Commission Staff and 500 Westmont Plan Did Not Adopt Approved Tree Committee Action re: Retaining Trees Myself and several of our Stanford Drive neighbors attended the May 26, 2021 Planning Commission Meeting where the PC staff and plan did not adhere to the TC recommendations of retaining trees #33, #34, #114, and #91. The first 3 are Eucalyptus Trees with a DBH (diameter at breast height) of 33 inches, 54 & 41 inches, and 42 inches respectively. These are mature, vibrant, vigorous, beautiful trees and butterfly habitats. #91 is a Coast Live Oak with a DBH of 16 & 8 inches that is growing adjacent to #33 and #34. The plans call for a drainage basin in the location where trees #33, #34, #91 currently stand, so we were left wondering why they would take out these trees that could potentially help do the job for them. According to the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources website, Eucalyptus trees, as you may well know:  Can extract water from the soil at even higher soil moisture tensions than most mesophytic plants.  Due to their extensive root system they were even used to drain the swamps in the fight against malaria ( McBride, 2014; California Invasive Plant Council, 2014 ).  Pioneer planters and state authorities promoted the planting of eucalyptus as a preserver of soil and climate.  They are an integral part of the ecosystem, providing habitat for many native species, such as nesting sites for migratory bird species, and critical habitat for migratory monarch butterflies (Stock et al, 2004; McBride, 2014).  Eucalyptus globulus, for example, is able to withstand prolonged dry summers by tapping into the deep water reservoirs with its far-reaching root systems (California Invasive Plant Council, 2014). Invitation to See the Trees from Our Backyard. My husband Bill Stansfield and myself want to offer an invitation to come witness these trees from our back yard. I’ve attached some images, but want to let you know you are welcome to come by at any time to see what the TC recommendations mean to us. They are filled with nature that we see every day, including morning doves, hawks, owls, butterflies and squirrels. These trees are part of our neighborhood, and have been a part of our yard for decades. We love them, wake up to them, are in awe of them, watch wildlife enjoy them and hope that we can persuade the planning commission to adhere to the TC recommendations regarding these 4 trees. We as a neighborhood are heartbroken to loose 50 trees for the development, but understand the need and honor the owner’s rights to develop their property. Which makes us even more grateful that at the very least these 4 trees have been identified by the TC as ones worth saving. That is our feeling as well. Feel free to respond to this email if you’d like to schedule a time to come by and see these magnificent trees up close and from our yard. We would be happy to share them with you. Thank you for your time. Looking forward, Maryann 2 Maryann Stansfield | Vice President 805.283.6251 (direct) | 805.215.3331 (m) 653 Stanford Dr., San Luis Obispo, Ca. 93405 www.mentalmarketing.com 3 4M {III1 "A� a 1 it �C u F b r�Y r f�11J �` i�r ? 'AI � ♦,n4 y ��\ ) Fa It Im �� '�# i. ° -+r R7i`v 9:"`Y 4,r,�'SaCRi`�F - $ \ Y""`^ - � 4 � -.--• - �'°�, . T�ce Iik�t Orr Ito rr��`� -i A l N, a +` nrIr- - _ _ T i LL Lik i�1 i i 1 I t L� ip iY:•ll �� vl. .. I. J S �tll 11i� i1 r ` a yea 4a FIBODGRI 4�— l 4 won > 4 5 3 d F` § 6 J ZED % y i Y 41k i q bxIrIf jt 10 l e t t ,-_ -- 'S itr_'+Y'S �' f Ll etet tet ` :di" _ ey�� i ';7 ./ r� �''��4 t�y.$P✓i°'� *�`�'r,�� ^'�, < '+ ��'.. !.>'V;l"'!r�l�y �t, r�`.3 � �+�o.`»� s 4 \4s��: yt