HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/25/2023 Item 4b, Bohr
Gregory Shannon Bohr <
To:CityClerk
Subject:Regarding 9-25-23 Hearing for Palm Tree Removal at 1250 Palm St. in San Luis
Obispo
Attachments:Support for palm tree removal.docx
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
Hello –
A?ached is a le?er of support for Michael Dubin’s applica?on to remove a tree at 1250 Palm. Please let me know if you
have any ques?ons.
Thanks!
Greg Bohr
805-441-9954
Dr. Gregory S. Bohr
Associate Professor of Geography, Social Sciences Department
Chair, Academic Senate Curriculum Committee
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
(805) 756-1322, Building 47 - 12C
1
September 22, 2023
To Whom It May Concern:
I am wri�ng in support of Michael Dubin’s applica�on to remove the large palm tree in the lawn of 1250
Palm Street. I am the tenant of 1248 Palm (the upstairs unit of 1250 Palm) and have lived here for at
least eight years. The palm tree is located 15-20 feet from my front door and the walkway leading to the
door, directly outside my living room, and overhangs the area of the yard that I use for recrea�on
(gardening, grilling, etc).
I have two reasons to support this applica�on. Primarily, the palm sheds heavy dry fronds. Even a�er
pruning, I’ve no�ced that the stubs of the fronds (s�ll heavy enough to be a hazard) occasionally detach.
These falls are unpredictable and do not always correspond to a wind event. Given the possibility of
something falling on my head, I tend to avoid a por�on of the yard that I would otherwise enjoy. Also,
since the tree is close to my walkway, this hazard extends to guests, mail carriers, delivery people, and
anyone else approaching my door.
Secondly, I am uncertain about the stability of the soil in which the palm is located. Although very hard
when dry the lawn is undermined with extensive gopher tunnels. During heavy rain events it becomes
so� and saturated. Last spring, during a par�cularly heavy rainstorm, I observed that the lawn was
saturated to the point where water was bubbling up through a tunnel and shee�ng down towards the
tree. While looking at this, I sank ankle-deep on several steps owing to the presence of the gopher holes.
If this tree was to fall, there is no safe direc�on for it to happen: it will either end up in my living room,
on one of our neighbors, or—best case—smash a car on the street.
For these reasons, I support the applica�on to remove the tree. If you have any ques�ons or wish to
contact me, my phone number and email are below.
Sincerely,
Gregory S. Bohr
1248 Palm Street
805-441-9954
gbohr@calpoly.edu