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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/3/2026 Item 5g, Cooper Allan Cooper <allancoope@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, February To:CityClerk; E-mail Council Website Subject:Letter To The SLO City Council Attachments:102_01_26...lettertothecouncil.pdf Dear City Clerk - Would you kindly forward the letter attached below to the SLO City Council? This letter pertains to their February 3, 2026 meeting when they have the opportunity to review Consent Agenda Item 5G "Review of a Request to remove one tree associated with the SLO Rep Theatre Project located at 614 Monterey Street". We would also like this letter to be placed in the City's Correspondence File. Thank you! - Allan Cooper 1 Save Our Downtown ______________________________________________________________________________ Seeking to protect and promote the historical character, design, livability and economic success of downtown San Luis Obispo. To: San Luis Obispo City Council Re: February 3, 2026 Council Meeting Consent Agenda Item 5G) “A request to remove a 48 inch diameter oak tree associated with the SLO Rep Theater project located at 614 Monterey Street. From: Allan Cooper, Secretary Save Our Downtown Date: February 1, 2026 Honorable Mayor and Council Members -  Save Our Downtown would like you to pull for the purpose of discussion Item 5G from your consent agenda. This item pertains to a request to remove a 48 inch diameter oak tree associated with the SLO Rep Theater project located at 614 Monterey Street. With a 48 inch diameter trunk, this oak is likely between 200-300 years old (not 65 to 96 years old as stated in the tree report). This tree should be saved as part of the historical landscape of the Old Mission Church.  Large, mature coast live oaks can often survive significant foliage loss because they have extensive energy reserves. Though reducing the foliage of a mature oak tree at one time by more than 15% could compromise its health, several prunings of 15% over the course of two or three years (say, July 2026 and July 2027) will likely insure the health of this magnificent tree.  Clearly, encroachments into the critical root zone (CRZ) exceeding 25% would damage its health. Encroachment on the tree’s root structure can be mitigated in the following ways. On the Monterey Street side of the tree, alternatives to a standard, non-permeable sidewalk should be explored. Plantings beneath the tree should be discouraged as well as compacted pathways that may be proposed to cross within 16 feet of the tree trunk. Staff states that “the existing tree’s critical root zone (CRZ) substantially conflicts with the planned location and construction of the approved SLO REP Theatre and would require extensive redesign”. The problem with this statement is that there are no building design mitigation strategies mentioned. For example a structural slab raised on piers or piles, rather than sitting directly on grade, could allow air and water to reach the roots underneath. Of course a building section through the proposed building design would be helpful to determine if this is possible.  Please realize that a tree such as this has a girth and age  representing less than 1% of California’s entire oak population and that research on frequency of large diameter trees indicates a “striking decline” in large oak trees across the State. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.