Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a. 10-10-2022 TC Draft Minutes - Special Meeting 1 Tree Committee Special Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022, 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Members Present: Member Alan Bate, Member Emily Rosten, Member Sadie Weller, Vice Chair Elizabeth Lucas, Chair Daniel Canella Tree Committee Members Absent: Member Henry Bonifas City Staff Present: Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple, Deputy City Clerk Megan Wilbanks _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on October 10, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Canella. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Public Comment: Will Powers --End of Public Comment-- 3. CONSENT 3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - JULY 25, 2022 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Motion By Member Rosten Second By Vice Chair Lucas To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of July 25, 2022. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Rosten, Member Weller, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella Absent (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (5 to 0) Page 5 of 95 2 Chair Canella reordered the agenda to hear the Tree Removal Appeals first (Items 5a and 5b), then the Tree Removal Application (Item 4a). The m inutes have been reordered to reflect this change, but the original numbering remains the same. 5. TREE REMOVAL APPEALS 5.a 56 CHUPARROSA DRIVE TREE REMOVAL APPEAL Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple presented the staff report and responded to Commission inquiries. The Appellants, Robert and Debbie Soto, provided a brief overview of the project and responded to questions raised. Chair Canella opened the Public Hearing Public Comments: Will Powers --End of Public Comment-- Chair Canella closed the Public Hearing Motion By Vice Chair Lucas Second By Member Weller The Tree Committee approved the appeal to allow removal of one (1) Magnolia grandiflora tree and required the Appellants to replace the tree with (2) two 24-inch box trees on the site. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Rosten, Member Weller, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella Absent (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (5 to 0) 5.b 905 BLUEBELL WAY TREE REMOVAL APPEAL Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple presented the staff report and responded to Commission inquiries. The Appellant, Steven Long, provided a brief overview of the project and responded to questions raised. Page 6 of 95 3 Chair Canella opened the Public Hearing Public Comments: Will Powers Darline Serrano Lura Gann Ben Parker --End of Public Comment-- Chair Canella closed the Public Hearing Motion By Member Bate Second By Member Rosten The Tree Committee denied the appeal and upheld the City Arborist's decision to deny removal of four (4) London Plane (Plantus x acerifolia) trees. The Appellant is encouraged to collaborate with the Summerhill Garden Homeowners Association on ways to mitigate root intrusion without removing the trees. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Rosten, Member Weller, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella Absent (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (5 to 0) 4. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 4.a 1422 MONTEREY ST. (ARCH-0020-2022) REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED REMOVAL OF 54 TREES AND REPLANTING OF 54 TREES. TREE REMOVALS ARE PROPOSED TO FACILITATE A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF 106 AFFORDABLE UNITS AND UP TO 4,366 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE Member Weller announced that she would be recusing from this item as her residence resides within 500-feet of the project site, then she exited the room. Housing Coordinator Kyle Bell presented the staff report and responded to Commission inquiries. Applicant representatives Jake Minnick and David Gibbs with RRM Design Group and Scott Smith and Jim Rendler with HASLO provided a brief overview of the project and responded to questions raised. Page 7 of 95 4 Chair Canella opened the Public Hearing Public Comments: Will Powers David Brodie Teresa Trejo --End of Public Comment-- Chair Canella closed the Public Hearing Motion By Vice Chair Lucas Second By Chair Canella The Tree Committee finds the proposed tree removal and compensatory planting plan as part of the 1422 Monterey Mixed -Use Affordable & Senior Housing project consistent with the Tree Regulations and forwards the following recommendations to the Planning Commission:  The applicant shall preserve and protect trees #14 and #34.  The applicant shall review the project design to consider the possibility of modifying the retaining wall along the west side of the property to retain trees #24 and #25.  The final project plans shall ensure that 50% of the replacement trees must be of a size of at least 36-inch box, and the remaining 50% must be at least 24-inch box in size. The project plans shall provide at least 25% of the replacement trees with a minimum height of 10-feet. Ayes (3): Member Rosten, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella Noes (1): Member Bate Recused (1): Member Weller Absent (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (3 to 1) Page 8 of 95 5 6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 6.a ARBORIST REPORT Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple provided the following update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree Division:  The Urban Forestry Division received approval to hire a Contract employee for a 12-month term; their duties will entail small tree maintenance and watering.  Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple signed a 12-month contract to continue serving as the City Arborist.  Tentatively scheduled for the January 10, 2023 City Council Meeting, is a Study Session to review the Urban Forestry Program.  The Urban Forestry team will host a booth at the Farmers Market on November 3, 2022 to promote the upcoming Arbor Day celebration.  Arbor Day celebration will take place on November 5, 2022 in Mitchell Park, San Luis Obispo, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Arbor Day web page: https://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/public- works/trees-and-urban-forestry/arbor-day 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for October 24, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. _________________________ APPROVED BY TREE COMMITTEE: XX/XX/2022 Page 9 of 95 Page 10 of 95