HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-04-2017 Item 16, WaddellCOUNCIL MEETING:_ -
ITEM NO.: � MAR 2 9 2017
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From: kathleen waddell [
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2017 1:11 PM
To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncil@slocity.>
Cc: Pease, Andy <apease@slocity.org>; Harmon, Heidi <hharmon@slocity.orp,>; Gomez, Aaron <asomezLa slocity.org>;
Rivoire, Dan <DRivoire@slocity.or >; cchristensonesiocity.or
Subject: Appeal 71 Palomar
I have been a wildlife rehabber for over 40 years. I am and have been a wildlife rehab volunteer (and
Board Member) with Pacific Wildlife Care for over 30 years, so I think I can speak with some authority
about native wildlife in SLO and especially in this area of SLO.
The 71 Palomar grove of trees is unique in the diversity of wildlife if supports. There are many
species of raptors (hawks, owls, falcons) that court, nest and raise their young here. There are "birds
of special concern" that migrate to this area. The Bullock's Oriole has been recorded and this is a
migrating bird of special concern. And there are many local native passerines (song birds) and
corvids (jays, crows ) that make this place their home. Native mammals have been documented as
well.
This grove of trees, a wildlife cathedral, is part of a larger ecosystem in this area. The raptors hunt
and are key in predator control (rodents especially) in the larger area, their area extending to
Madonna Mountain, Bishop's Peak, and Cal Poly area. Other birds are key pollinators, and control
insect predation. This is not an insignificant impact. In my opinion, destroying this well established
habitat and range will have significant and likely quite negative consequences on local wildlife. It's
not necessary to destroy this, as adaptations can be made to preserve the grove and build housing
that is less dense, and carries less environmental impact. Ideally, I would prefer that the house and
land remain as an historic, environmental and cultural landmark. Given the economics that drive
these decisions, I can only hope that the committee can see the wisdom in protecting our wildlife by
creating mitigations that protect SLO's diminishing and vulnerable wildlife.
Kathleen J. Waddell, Ph.D.
SLO 05