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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-27-2015 TC Minutes1 MEMBERS PRESENT: Jane Worthy, Matt Ritter, Ben Parker, Scott Loosley STAFF PRESENT: Ron Combs Mr. Ritter called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no comments at this time. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of September 14, 2015 Mr. Loosley moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS 1. 351 Corrida (2 redwoods) The applicant discussed the removal request and stated the trees were lifting the support beams for the roof and damaging the walkways. Minutes Tree Committee Corporation Yard Conference Room, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 5:00 pm 2 Mr. Combs reported that they were healthy trees that could potentially get larger. They had created some cracking but felt the roof concerns could be mitigated by pruning. Mr. Loosley agreed the trees were healthy. He felt the tree on the right was causing the cracking but did not think the roof post had moved. He did think the second tree could cause a drainage issue. Mr. Parker agreed with Mr. Loosley, and felt that the trees had dead tops and were constrained by the space. Mr. Ritter felt the trees were very drought-stressed and were in the wrong locations. Mr. Parker moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and doing so would not harm the character of the neighborhood, and required a replacement planting of two 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted by December 31, 2015. Mr. Loosley seconded the motion. 2. 295 E. Foothill (Monterey pine) The applicant discussed the removal request, stating that the large tree was too close to the house and had caused damage to the foundation and walkway. She also stated the roots were moving the drainage pipe and affecting the neighbor’s driveway and that a large limb was resting on the roof. She was concerned that the tree would just get larger and noted the other nearby trees could not thrive. She did not think removal would harm the character of the neighborhood and that the many trees on site would fill in. Mr. Combs reported the tree was relatively healthy and was causing root problems. Mr. Parker felt the tree was healthy and noted the surface root would continue to cause issues as it grows. He felt pruning would be a good measure. 3 Ms. Worthy felt the tree was significant to the area and did not see evidence of foundation damage. She also supported pruning mitigation. Mr. Loosley agreed it was a significant tree, but felt the tree would just get larger and was causing foundation damage and uplifting soil. Mr. Ritter stated that even though it was a skyline tree, he felt the present issues would just get worse and that tree was too close to the house. Mr. Ritter moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted by December 31, 2015. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 3. 3440 Sacramento (Canary Island pine) Rota Brown, property manager, discussed the removal request and reported that a plumber had noted issues with gas and water lines having the potential to be compromised since all of the utility lines ran right under the tree. Jack Dewar, owner, stated that the tree was growing in the wrong location and was interfering with utility lines. Mr. Combs reported the tree was healthy and he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Mr. Loosley agreed it was a healthy tree, but agreed with the concerns about the utility line issues. Mr. Parker agreed it was a nice tree in a poor location. 4 Mr. Parker moved to approve the removal request, based on undue hardship on the property owner, and required one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted by December 31, 2015. Mr. Ritter seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. 717 Grand (Ash) Sean Ellis, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and stated the volunteer ash was helping to create a dense area that fostered a homeless encampment. He also noted the large trees were affecting power lines and had been previously pruned. He felt the entire area was overgrown and infested with poison oak. Mr. Combs agreed the vegetation created a tangled mess and posed a poison oak issue. He felt the property needed to be properly maintained. Mr. Ritter agreed the area was a mess and that lack of maintenance had caused many issues cited. Mr. Parker did not think removing the tree would solve the homeless camp issue. Ms. Worthy and Mr. Loosley wanted to see the vegetation cleared out before approving removing the tree. The Committee agreed to continue to item until the area had been cleared and to allow Mr. Combs to determine at that point if the tree could be removed. 5. 1720 San Luis Drive (2 Paper bark) The applicant discussed the removal request, noting that the tree was lifting the curb and parkway bricks, creating a trip hazard. She said there had been past pruning but felt there was now unhealthy growth. 5 She stated new sidewalk and driveway had been put in and discussed replacing the trees with matching species, e.g. Jacaranda. Mr. Combs stated the trees were relatively healthy and had some dieback. He agreed they were pushing out the curb. Jackie Williams, resident, favored the tree being removed and stated that the property owner was dedicated to improving the area and the replacement trees would be enhancements. Mr. Loosley noted the trees had co-dominant leaders but were not hazardous. He saw a large volume of ants and sooty mold. Mr. Ritter 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. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 6. 660 Peach (2 Jacarandas) The applicant discussed the removal request, clarifying that the trees included were in the little planters next to the stairwell. The Committee realized that they had viewed the wrong trees, based on the map provided, and directed staff to review the trees and bring back to Committee if necessary. 7. # Mustang Village Drive (Misc. trees) Mr. Ritter discussed the scope of the process and project and the need to review trees in a more measured, organized manner, especially due to the fact that the trees were located in a highly visible area. He stated they needed to be property marked and posted and that the species labeling on the list needed to be corrected. 6 Mr. Parker stated that Trees 5-7 were dead/dying. Mr. Combs agreed they could be removed as is. The Committee agreed that all of the Italian Stone pines along the entrance were failing and Trees 10-24 could be removed with replacement. The Committee asked the applicant to provide a replanting plan – with a possibly phased approach – and an irrigation upgrade plan, to be reviewed by the Committee. NEW BUSINESS  Tree Committee Schedule Mr. Combs noted the need for the Committee to adhere to the regularly scheduled meeting plan to the best of its abilities, due to public noticing issues when meeting dates are changed. OLD BUSINESS  Update on the Mission Plaza Cedar Mr. Combs discussed recent complaints from some residents that the newly planted cedar in the Mission Plaza blocked key views of the Mission and asked the Committee for input on whether the tree should remain or be moved. The Committee discussed the item and agreed that it had been appropriately planted. Mr. Ritter moved to have the Committee make a statement of support to have the tree remain in its present location. Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 7 ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs discussed the update for November 7, 2015 Arbor Day Celebration at the Fire Station #1 on Santa Barbara Street and the new proposed plantings. He also discussed the upcoming Lunch & Learn program, being held on November 19, 2015 at the Corporation Yard. (This program has been moved to December 10th) Mr. Ritter noted that Cal Poly would be holding a campus celebration on November 10, 2015 as a result of being designated a Tree Campus USA school. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. to next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. (note special date) Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary