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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-22-20 17 TC Minutes Minutes TREE COMMITTEE Monday, May 22, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, May 22, 2017 at 5:03 p.m. in the Corporation Yard Conference Room, located at 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Scott Loosley. ROLL CALL Present: Alan Bate, Sean O’Brien, Ben Parker, Rodney Thurman, Jane Worthy, Chair Scott Loosley Absent: Angela Soll Staff: Ron Combs, City Arborist and Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Will Powers, resident, reported that the trees at 2466 Augusta had virtually been clear-cut and he urged Committee members to visit the property. CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Consideration of April 24, 2017 Minutes ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to approve the April 24, 2017 minutes of the Tree Committee as submitted. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, O’BRIEN, PARKER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: SOLL PUBLIC HEARINGS BUSINESS ITEMS Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of May 22, 2017 Page 2 2. Tree Removal Applications - 1041 Mill (Canary palm) Staff distributed an email printout from Claudia Duckworth, requesting that any approved removal be delayed until early Fall, as the tree was a natural habitat and she wanted to protect the birds who nest in it. Kevin Texeria, applicant, discussed the removal request and plans for new building and parking lot construction and stated keeping the tree could not be accommodated. He was concerned about area safety due to dropping fronds and discussed new landscaping plans. He noted development would commence by end of the year or early next year. Mr. Combs reported the tree was relatively healthy and he could not make his necessary findings to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers did not feel palms were a desirable species, as fronds could not be recycled or green-wasted and did present hazards. He favored removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the request, agreeing that pruning and maintenance could mitigate concerns of hazard. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, to deny the removal request, as none of the necessary findings could be made. Motion passed 5-1-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, O’BRIEN, PARKER, THURMAN NOES: WORTHY ABSENT: SOLL - 57 Chuparossa (Magnolia) Joe Lopez, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and reported on root intrusion and damage to the hardscape. Mr. Combs stated there was some evidence of hardscape cracking, but the theme tree was healthy and he could not make his necessary findings to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of May 22, 2017 Page 3 Mr. Powers felt the tree was too close to the house, with heavy surface roots, and favored removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the request, agreeing the healthy tree had surface roots but suggested driveway cracking could also be due to soil compaction and settling and root pruning could mitigate concerns. They told the client a structural engineer could assess potential root issues in terms of the foundation. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WORTHY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to deny the removal request, as none of the necessary findings could be made. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, O’BRIEN, PARKER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: SOLL - 670 Woodbridge (Mulberry) Mr. O’Brien stated he had a conflict of interest and that he would be abstaining. Dan O’Brien, applicant, discussed the removal request and the sidewalk and driveway damage. He reported roots had been pruned previously and hardscape repairs had been costly and now roots were lifting again. He noted the site was heavily planted. Mr. Combs stated there was some evidence of hardscape cracking, but he could not make his necessary findings to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers favored removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the item and agreed the repairs presented a hardship and that the tree had poor structure and pruning would not enhance it. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to deny the removal request, as none of the necessary findings could be made. Motion passed 5-1-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: O’BRIEN ABSENT: SOLL Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of May 22, 2017 Page 4 - 1526 Gulf (Cypress) Mr. Combs reported that the item had been withdrawn. - 1177 Vista del Lago (Acacia, eucalyptus) Melad Atiya, application discussed the removal request and stated the tree was too large for the area and too close to the house. There had already been damage to the fence and he was concerned about limb failure. He reported that limbs were uplifting the bricks of the patio and extended under the house. He submitted a letter from James and Nancy Sena which favored removal. Mr. Combs agreed there was some fence damage, but trees provided a large canopy and he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers agreed with removals. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the item. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WORTHY, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring two 15-gallon trees to be planted within 45 days of tree removals. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, O’BRIEN, PARKER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: SOLL - 2663 Meadow (Oak) Sue Gin, applicant, discussed the removal request and the root issues with the cracked driveway and sap damage. She submitted a letter showing that neighbors supported the removal. Mr. Combs stated the tree was healthy and he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of May 22, 2017 Page 5 Mr. Powers agreed with removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the item, agreeing there were driveway issues and that it was the wrong tree in the wrong place. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE CHAIR LOOSLEY, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 6-0- 1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, O’BRIEN, PARKER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: SOLL - 971 Bluebell (Redwood) Ben Erchul, applicant, decided to withdraw the application after preliminary discussion with the Committee. - 1435 Southwood (Liquid ambar) Phil Acosta, applicant, discussed the removal request and the curb/gutter repairs that had been done previously and the root damage that is in evidence again. He noted the roots had been pruned in the past and he wanted to remove the tree before more hardscape damage occurs. He felt the tree was too large for the area. Mr. Combs stated he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers agreed with removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the item, noting the tree had poor attachments, and agreeing it was a poor species choice for a parkway that it was the wrong tree in the wrong place. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER O’BRIEN, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of May 22, 2017 Page 6 AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, O’BRIEN, PARKER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: SOLL - 877 Monterey (Ficus) Brian Nelson, City representative, discussed the removal request and the large root that was lifting the sidewalk and creating a major trip hazard in front of Beverly’s, which presented a hardship in litigation claims. He also discussed the slope that was causing drainage issues. He stated root pruning was not an option and the effectiveness of simply fixing the sidewalk is limited. He reported they would replace the tree with a fruitless olive and use better tree wells. Bruce Bostock, V.P. Operations, Beverly’s, reported on liability issues and insurance coverage concerns, as well as the flooding that had been a result of root issues. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers suggested a contingency removal approval if the tree could not be saved otherwise. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the item, exploring the use of structural soils and various aspects of trying to retain the tree. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to approve the removal request contingent upon the tree not being able to be retained, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring replacement planting of a minimum of two 24’ box trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, O’BRIEN, PARKER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: SOLL NEW BUSINESS Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of May 22, 2017 Page 7 There was no new business. OLD BUSINESS The discussion regarding the Master Street Tree list revisions continued. The Committee agreed to organize a field trip on July 15 to do a group review of Trees for Major Streets in the Orcutt/Broad/S. Higuera/Madonna Road area. ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs reported that a small amount of money had been received from the California Urban Forest Council to underwrite an intern. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for Monday, June 26, 2017 at 5:00 p.m., at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE ON 06/26/2017