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Home My WebLink About02-24-2025 TC Staff presentation1 City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Meeting February 24, 2025 2 PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA The public is encouraged to submit comments on any subject within the jurisdiction of the Tree Committee that does not appear on this agenda.Although the Committee will not take action on items presented during the Public Comment Period,the Chair may direct staff to place an item on a future agenda for discussion.Comments are limited to 3-minutes,per person. 3 CONSENT ITEM(S) Matters appearing on the Consent Calendar are expected to be non-controversial and will be acted upon at one time.A member of the public may request the Tree Committee to pull an item for discussion.The public may comment on any and all items on the Consent Agenda within the three-minute time limit. Item 3a. Consideration of Minutes – January 27, 2024 Tree Committee Meeting Minutes 4 Tree Removal Convenience Application to remove two (2) Eucalyptus nicolii (Nichol’s Willowleafed Eucalyptus) located in the backyard of 2475 Meadow St Applicant: Wesley Thompson Item 4.a: TREE-0805-2024 (2475 Meadow St) February 24, 2025 5 Tree Committee Focus of Review Review the proposed tree removal request regarding its consistency with the policies and standards set forth in the Tree Regulations (San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(E)(3). Make a recommendation to the Community Development Director. 6 Location •2475 Meadow St. •Applicant is requesting to remove 2 Eucalyptus nicholii (Nichol’s Willow- leafed Eucalyptus) •24- and 36-inch DBH 7 Street View 8 Location Overview 9 10 Neighbor Comment (2515 Meadow St) As longtime residents at 2515 Meadow Street in San Luis Obispo, we support the application for the removal to trees by our neighbors, Wes and Lindsey Thompson at 2475 Meadow St. We have lived at our current address since 1979, and we have seen the two subject trees grow to giant proportions. To an extent to be a threat falling either on the Thompson's or their neighbor Frank Sheehan's property. This is a concern as well as the massive amount of debris. Please pass along our support of this application to the City Commission at its meeting of the 17th. If you have any questions feel free to call us at 805-544-6232 or write to this email. Respectfully, Tim and Margo Smith 11 Compensatory Planting •The applicant is proposing to replant five (5) trees onsite: a mixture of Red Bud, Ginkgo, Trumpet trees or others with input from Tree Committee and City Arborist. 12 Summary of Applicable Criteria 12.24.090.G(1-7) •G(1) Size of Tree : 2 Eucalyptus with a large canopies •G(2) Location: Trees are highly visible from public right-of-way •G(3) Species: Trees are non-native •G(4) Forestry Best Practice: Canopy cover is currently high onsite. Replanting plan increases tree age-distribution in area •G(5) Right-of-Way Impact: Trees are not impacting the Public Right-of-Way either by obstruction or displacement •G(6) Compensatory Plantings: Landscaping plan exceeds required minimum for replanting (2:1). •G(7) Heritage Status: Not a Heritage Tree . •https://sanluisobispo.municipal.codes/Code/12.24.090.G 13 Tree Committee Actions Recommend findings of consistency with the Tree Regulations. An action recommending approval of the application based on consistency with the Tree Regulations (SLOMC Section 12.24) will be forwarded to the Community Development Director for final action. This action may include recommendations for revisions to the landscaping plan. Continue the project to a hearing date certain, or uncertain. An action continuing the application should include direction to the applicant and staff on pertinent issues. Recommend findings of inconsistency with the Tree Regulations. An action recommending denial of the application should include findings that cite the basis for denial and should reference inconsistency with the General Plan, Tree Regulations, or other policy documents. 13 14 PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 16 New Business Item 5a. 2025 Engineering Standards Update to the Street Trees Major List 17 Tree Committee Actions Recommend support of the proposed updates to the Street Trees Major Streets List (Engineering Standard 8020) and proposed adjustments. This action may include recommendations to modify the proposed updates. Continue the review to a hearing date certain, or uncertain. An action continuing the review of the updates to the Street Trees Major Streets List (Engineering Standard 8020) should include direction to staff on pertinent issues. 17 18 Tree Committee Focus of Review Review the proposed tree removal request regarding its consistency with the policies and standards set forth in the Tree Regulations (San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(E)(3). Make a recommendation to the Community Development Director. 19 20 Discussion Platanus x hispanica It’s widely used on the list, but it is no longer in nursery production Replace with Platanus x hispanica ‘Columbia’, an anthracnose resistant cultivar At creek crossings use Platanus racemosa Lagerstroemia is no longer on the Street Tree Master List Remove “Lagerstroemia hybrid” Uniform Ginkgo references Ginkgo is utilized as a specific cultivar and then broadly Adjust all to be Ginkgo biloba, consider ‘Princeton Sentry’ 21 Discussion Metrosideros excelsa is not a performer Remove it from Downtown accent trees list Remove Magnolia for all entries Not a suitable street tree due to root damage Consider replacing ‘Little Gem” with Michelia doltsopa, a similar looking species with low root damage potential. 22 Discussion Remove Fagus sylvatica (European Beech) High water use, not suitable for climate Remove Pinus canariensis (Canary Pine) and Hesperocyparis macropcarpa (Monterey Cypress) Not desirable as street trees Adjust Quercus (oak) entries to be broader (e.g. Quercus sp. “evergreen”) Quercus ilex is susceptible to sooty mold on its leaves and has epicormic sprouts along trunk Quercus rubra and palustris are eastern oak species 23 Tree Committee Actions Recommend support of the proposed updates to the Street Trees Major Streets List (Engineering Standard 8020) and proposed adjustments. This action may include recommendations to modify the proposed updates. Continue the review to a hearing date certain, or uncertain. An action continuing the review of the updates to the Street Trees Major Streets List (Engineering Standard 8020) should include direction to staff on pertinent issues. 23 24 COMMENT & DISCUSSION Item 5b. Arborist Report Urban Forester Program Coordinator / City Arborist, Walter Gault, will provide an update on Tree Division activities 25 Arborist Report Staff report timing •Currently 3 weeks before the hearing (internal staff review) •More time needed to get items on the agenda (correspondence with applicants) Timing Proposal Update •1 week prior to the meeting (2 weeks for internal staff review) •2 weekends if there are more than 3 items (publish on a Thursday) 26 The next Tree Committee Meeting will be held on March 24, 2025 @ 5:30 p.m.