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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-22-2015 TC Minutes1 MEMBERS PRESENT: Ben Parker, Jane Worthy, Patty Andreen, Scott Loosley STAFF PRESENT: Ron Combs Mr. Parker called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Re: 1353 Pacific application withdrawn from the agenda, Rodney Thurman, 1355 Pacific, stated that he was concerned with the viability of that tree’s roots and agreed with the ramping proposal. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of May 26, 2015 Ms. Worthy moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Mr. Loosley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS 1. 1010 Foothill (Misc. trees) Charlie Gibbs, property manager, discussed the removal request and proposed replacement plantings and landscaping, although he did not have a planting plan yet. He stated the trees were causing damage to the garage foundation, sidewalk and pathways, and parking lots, therein creating hazards. He said the removals would allow for repairs and avoid liability. He reported that the pest mitigation alone had cost $13K for rodent removal and insulation repairs. Mr. Combs stated that he brought the item to Committee due to the scope of the removal request. Minutes Tree Committee Corporation Yard Conference Room, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo Monday, June 22, 2015 at 5:00 pm 2 Richard Ciesielski discussed the palm proposed for removal and the rat problems it posed, as well as outlining volunteer sproutings. Ms. Andreen felt if removals were approved, they should be staggered and prioritized. She felt the palm and weeping tree should be retained. Mr. Loosley agreed the liquid amber could be removed, as well as the two junipers and the Italian cypress. He did not favor removing the camphor or the other weeping tree, as he felt those were salvageable. Mr. Parker discussed banding the palm to keep rats out of it. He felt the trees growing close to the building could be removed. Ms. Andreen moved to approve the removal request for all of the trees, except the palm and the weeping tree, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required 15 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted by December 31, 2015. Mr. Loosley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. 676 and 680 Buchon St. (3 palms) Aline Cullen, applicant, discussed the removal request, noting the fronds continually fell and roots were damaging the hardscape. She stated that an arborist had agreed with the palms’ removals and she preferred to replant with some fruit trees. Mr. Combs stated he could not make his necessary findings for removal. John Olson, neighbor, supported the removals due to past damage and sewer issues that the trees had caused and felt they posed a liability. Ms. Worthy felt the trees had outgrown the space and their usefulness. Mr. Loosley moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required two 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted by December 31, 2015. Ms. Andreen seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 3. 2342 Meadow (Eucalyptus) 3 Rebecca Ellis discussed the removal request, stating the tree was a major hazard and safety concern especially in windy conditions, that it was beetle infested and too large for the area. She didn’t feel topping was a solution and noted there would still be four trees left in the stand. Mr. Combs stated he could not make his necessary findings. Mr. Parker wanted the City Biologist to sign off on the habitat issue prior to removal. He thought extensive pruning could be effective. Ms. Worthy felt the tree should be pruned instead of removed. Mr. Loosley did not feel the tree could be effectively pruned without looking topped and agreed it posed a liability. Ms. Andreen agreed with Mr. Loosley and felt removal would not harm the character of the neighborhood. She agreed any removal should be contingent on City Biologist’s approval. Ms. Andreen moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, contingent on City Biologist’s approval, and removal would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment, and required one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted by December 31, 2015. Mr. Loosley seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Ms. Worthy voting against. 4. 1680 El Caserio (4 Mexican fan palms) Chuck Miller, applicant, discussed the removal request that was a returning item and discussed the landscaping plan proposed for the property, which would include removal all of the lawn and installing artificial turf. He discussed the problems he had been having with the palms regarding driveway damage, sewer issues and frond litter, and that the bulb base and roots interfered with the turf implementation. He noted that the neighbors supported removing the trees. Mr. Combs reported that he could not make the necessary findings for removal. The Committee discussed the removal request and agreed that the sewer issues were not likely as result of the shallow rooting of the trees and that these healthy specimens were skyline trees and removing them would harm the character of the neighborhood. They felt the turf installation would work around any issues that retaining the trees would create. 4 Mr. Loosley moved to deny the request, as he could not make the necessary findings for removal. Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 5. 1321 & 1327 Osos St. The item had been withdrawn. 6. 546 Higuera (Eucalyptus, Ficus, walnut) John Belsher, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and submitted a letter of neighborhood support for the trees’ removals. He stated the eucalyptuses were a hazard to the densely populated property and to Dana St. neighbors. He discussed the replacement of utilities in the mobile home park and the history of the site. He reported they would be planting willow sprigs staggered along the creek bank that would grow to support bank stabilization in the riparian area. He outlined the plan of continual cutting back of the eucalyptus while willows were growing. He stated the Ficus and the walnut were volunteers and growing too close to the structure and utilities and that if they were removed, he would plant a Ficus in the empty street well. Mr. Combs felt the applicant’s proposals were favorable, provided the City Biologist and Fish & Game approved any habitat removal. Ms. Andreen agreed with planting the 24” box Ficus in the street well, as well as another replacement tree if the two front trees were removed. She favored removal of the back trees, based on the City Biologist’s approval. Mr. Parker agreed with Ms. Andreen. Ms. Worthy felt some other natives could be introduced along with the willows. Mr. Loosley favored removing the two front trees but was concerned that the skyline eucalyptus would be missed and suspected they provided nesting for birds. He felt those trees could be pruned and retained Mr. Parker moved to approve the removal of the walnut and the focus, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required replacement with one 24” box Ficus and one 15-gallon tree chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted by December 31, 2015. 5 Ms. Andreen seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Parker moved to deny the removal request for the eucalyptus without prejudice as removal input was needed from the City Biologist and Fish & Game agencies. Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The applicant was invited to return with the removal request once the agencies had weighed in. 7. 1353 Pacific This item had been withdrawn. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Combs distributed copies of the revised changes to the by-laws, based on Committee discussion. The Committee agreed that Article 2 should allow that a horticultural expert shall be part of the Committee if possible and regarding Article 4, they agreed that a quorum shall consist of a minimum of three voting Committee members. Ms. Andreen moved to adopt the by-law revisions as proposed and agreed upon in the above discussion. Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs discussed the Branch Street removal and pruning project, stating the progress was moving along well. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. to next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, July 27, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary