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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5a. Tree Removal Application (TREE-0179-2025) TREE COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR THE REMOVAL OF 5 PALM TREES LOCATED AT 2777 FLORA ST (APPLICATION NO. TREE-0179-2025) FROM: Walter Gault, City Arborist Phone Number: (805) 781-7578 Email: wgault@slocity.org RECOMMENDATION Review the proposed tree removal application for consistency with the Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(E) and provide a recommendation to the Community Development Director. 1.0 APPLICATION DESCRIPTION Joshua Davis, the applicant, has requested the removal of five (5) Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm) at 2777 Flora Street located within the R-1 zone. The applicant has indicated in their application that the trunks and roots of the palms are impacting an existing solar thermal system, have outgrown their planter boxes and that the fronds have become dangerous. The applicant would like to remove the palm trees and replace them with five (5) compensatory trees onsite including one (1) Dogwood in the front yard, two (2) Jacaranda mimosifolia (Purple Trumpet) in the parkway along El Paseo Ct, and two (2) non-fruiting Olive trees in the backyard. Meeting Date: 5/19/2025 Item Number: 5a Time Estimate: 30 Minutes Figure 1 – Site of proposed tree removals Page 9 of 29 Item 5a TREE-0179-2025 Tree Committee Report – 5-19-2025 2.0 COMMITTEE PURVIEW The Tree Committee’s role is to review the removal request in accordance with the process set forth in San Luis Obispo Municipal Code (SLOMC) Chapter 12.24, specifically Section 12.24.090(E)(3) - tree removals related to property owner convenience. This code section utilizes the process set forth in subsection F(2), the relevant additional application requirements in subsection (D)(2) and the criteria set forth in subsection (G). 3.0 TREE REGULATIONS The City’s Tree Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 12.24) was adopted with the purpose of establishing a comprehensive program for installing, maintaining, and preserving trees within the City. This ordinance establishes policies, regulations, and specifications necessary to govern installation, maintenance, removal, and preservation of trees to beautify the city; to purify the air; to provide shade and wind protection; to add environmental and economic value; and to preserve trees with historic or unusual value. Criteria for Convenience Tree Removal Applications. SLOMC §12.24.090 subsection (E)(3) requires review by the Tree Committee using the criteria set for in SLOMC §12.24.090(G). Applicable criteria are provided in italics below and followed by a description of the proposed tree removals as it relates to that criterion.  (G)(1). Size of Tree. The scale of the tree shall be considered, as well as the size of the tree’s canopy. Larger, more visually prominent trees may have a higher preservation priority than smaller, less visually prominent trees. The trees proposed for removal are large and visually prominent in the neighborhood.  (G)(2). Location of Tree on Private Property. The location of the tree on private property shall be considered. Trees located in a private rear yard, which are not highly visible from the public right-of-way, may have a lower preservation priority than trees with a high visual impact to the neighborhood. Figure 2 – View of palm trees (on left) from El Paseo Ct. Page 10 of 29 Item 5a TREE-0179-2025 Tree Committee Report – 5-19-2025 The tree proposed for removal is located in the backyard but it is also highly visible from the public right of way.  (G)(3). Species of Tree. Native trees shall have a higher preservation priority than non-native trees. The trees proposed for removal are non-native.  (G)(4). Forestry Best Practice. The number of healthy trees that a given parcel of land will support shall be considered, and whether removal would enhance the health or survival of remaining trees. Applications that increase biodiversity of native trees and tree age distribution within a given area are preferred. The removal and replanting would increase the biodiversity of the urban forest and tree age distribution.  (G)(6). Compliance with Subsection J of This Section Regarding Compensatory Plantings. The approving authority may consider an application proposal to provide compensatory plantings in excess of required minimums in evaluating this criterion. The applicant is proposing to meet the minimum required replanting rate of 1:1.  (G)(7). Heritage Trees. Heritage trees have the highest preservation priority. The trees are not heritage trees. 4.0 ACTIONS 4.1 Recommend findings of consistency with the Tree Regulations. An action recommending approval of the proposed tree removals based on consistency will be forwarded to the Community Development Director for final action. This action may include recommendations regarding the compensatory replanting plan with size and species of tree. 4.2 Recommend findings of inconsistency with the Tree Regulations. An action recommending denial of the proposed tree removals should include findings that cite the basis for denial and should reference inconsistency with the General Plan, Tree Regulations, or other policy documents. 4.3 Continue the project to a hearing date certain, or uncertain. An action continuing the review of the proposed tree removals should include direction to the applicant and staff on pertinent issues. Page 11 of 29 Item 5a TREE-0179-2025 Tree Committee Report – 5-19-2025 5.0 ATTACHMENTS A - Tree Removal Application Form B - Site Plan C - Photo Catalogue & Replanting Plan D - Arborist Report Page 12 of 29 Page 13 of 29 Page 14 of 29 Page 15 of 29 Page 16 of 29 Photo Log for 2777 Flora St Tree Removal Application for Five Palm Trees in Backyard 1. Picture of all five Washingtonia Robustas palm trees. Palm trees are marked by pink ribbons. Trees 1-3 are in a cluster on the right-hand side and are marked by one ribbon on each trunk. Tree 4 is in the middle and is marked by 2 pink ribbons on the trunk. Tree 5 is on the left-hand side and marked by three pink ribbons on the trunk. Page 17 of 29 2. Trees 1-3 cluster. Each tree has a single ribbon around the trunks. First picture is the base. Second picture is looking at the trees from the other side. Page 18 of 29 Page 19 of 29 3. Tree 4. The tree has two ribbons around the trunk. First picture is the base. Second picture is full height. The third picture shows the solar thermal pipes that transports the pool water up to the roof of the house to heat. The pipes are at the base of the fence and go behind the tree trunks. Page 20 of 29 Page 21 of 29 Page 22 of 29 4. Tree 5. The tree has three ribbons around the trunk. First picture is the base. Second picture is full height. Page 23 of 29 Page 24 of 29 Replanting Plan for 2777 Flora St in accordance with 12.24.090(J) Notes:  Application is for removal of five trees  Intent is to compensate each tree removal with one new tree, if needed Compensatory plantings:  a dogwood tree in the front yard adjacent to existing dogwood  two jacaranda trees on street frontage to match neighbor’s street frontage plantings  two non-fruiting olive trees along back fence by pool to match neighbor’s olive trees in their yard Page 25 of 29 Page 26 of 29 Palm Assessment at 2777 Flora Street San Luis Obispo, CA Joshua Davis 1 | P a g e Memorandum To: Joshua Davis From: Sam Oakley 2777 Flora Street Master Arborist WE-9474B San Luis Obispo CA 93401 Consulting Arborist #556 503.329.9580 415.407.6995 joshua.ac.davis@gmail.com sam@oakleygroup.org Subject: Tree Assessment at 2777 Flora Street, San Luis Obispo Date: February 17, 2025 Introduction We were asked to prepare an arborist report for five (5) Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm) tree at 2777 Flora Street in San Luis Obispo, California. Observations The five subject trees are Washingtonia robusta, 17-, 26-inches DSH, and a 21, 22, and 36-inch DSH cluster (Fig. 1). They are growing in a narrow, raised planter bordering the northwest property line in the backyard of the 2777 Flora Street property (Fig. 2). The palms are in fair health with front tip necrosis and frond dieback typical of the species. They are 60- to 70-feet in height. The palms share their planter with a native oak, pittosporum shrubs, and several smaller palm trees (Fig. 3). Figure 1: image of the subject palms in their planter. Page 27 of 29 Palm Assessment at 2777 Flora Street San Luis Obispo, CA Joshua Davis 2 | P a g e Figure 2: subject palms location at 2777 Flora Street (grey marker). Figure 3: the narrow planter the palms are growing in (red arrow showing the heat pipe that need replacement). Page 28 of 29 Palm Assessment at 2777 Flora Street San Luis Obispo, CA Joshua Davis 3 | P a g e Discussion The palms are considered regulated pursuant to Chapter 12.24.090 of the SLOMC. The primary concern regarding these palms is that the palms have outgrown their planter, and you would like them removed. I agree that the planter is inadequate for their future growth and they should be removed. Secondly, you have had several near- misses of fronds that have fallen and struck the ground at terminal velocity, and you are concerned that eventually a falling frond will injure someone. Annual pruning can mitigate the potential for fronds to build up in the crown and fall. Lastly, you expressed that the pool’s solar water heater piping needs repairing and cannot be done without the palms removed. I have confirmed that the palm trunks are growing directly into the pipe. Removing and repairing/replacing the pipe would cause irreparable damage to the trunks of several palms. Removal of these palms would likely require replacement. We have determined that at least three (3) replacement trees could be located along the street frontage of El Paseo Court (Fig. 4). Other trees can be located within the front yard landscaping. Recommendations I recommend that you consider removing the palms to repair the water heater piping. I recommend that you: •An application for removal be prepared and submitted. If removal is granted, remove the palms and perform repairs to the infrastructure as soon as possible. Replace as required. Figure 4: potential replanting locations along El Paseo Court. Page 29 of 29