HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC - Knight (TC 08-28-2017) 8/29/2017
Christian, Kevin
From:Wendy Knight <wmfknight@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, August
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Concern about plans to cut trees on and near Garden Street
Dear Members of the Tree Committee,
I am writing to convey my concern about the loss of carrotwood and ficus trees on Garden Street and Higuera Street
as posted by the applicant, the Serra Hotel. Unfortunately this meeting conflicts with Back to School Night at Teach
Elementary, so I will not be able to present my comments in person.
I am a biologist based out of SLO and I feel that serious effort should be made to accommodate the existing trees in
the project design proposed by the Serra Hotel. I am concerned about the following issues related to this project.
1) San Luis Obispo will gradually lose it’s unique tree canopy in the core downtown area. Each tree removed
contributes to the slow trend of loss of our urban forest. This will effect the general beauty of our town, not to
mention the environmental services that mature trees provide.
2) It is my understanding that Carrotwoods are quite good street trees. They are slow growers of a limited size. They
do not need much pruning except to thin the tree out. They need little water except during prolonged droughts. They
are low-maintenance, disease-resistant, frost and wind tolerant. But most importantly their surface roots do not lift
sidewalks. They have deep roots that will not destroy paving. (see:
http://marinatreeandgarden.org/treelist/cupaniopsis.html).
3) As a biologist, I understand that older trees are better at sequestering carbon than young trees. Any type of
replacement tree that this project will provide will result in a net loss of carbon uptake from the atmosphere.
4) I also understand that young trees require more water than older trees. It takes them years to develop their deep
root systems. As a biologist I am often asked to assess the success of restoration projects and most shrubs and
trees do not survive without diligent watering.
5) Replacement trees will not provide the shade benefits that are currently provided by the existing trees. It will be
decades before the soaring canopy is replaced, if ever.
6) The existing, older trees provide valuable wildlife benefits right in the middle of downtown that will be lost with the
removal of the trees.
7) I have trouble believing that the trees are in poor health. Instead I see a direct relationship between the proximity
of trees to the project site and their proposed removal. How could all those trees, of different species be in poor
health.
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8) I fail to see any serious sidewalk damage around the trees and the carrotwood are known to have deep roots that
do not damage sidewalks. Around the ficus trees, the city should make an effort to repair the sidewalk every decade
or to replace the damaged sidewalk with a planter area in order to preserve the trees.
9) I am confused about why the sidewalks need to be raised or lowered. If this is the case, create a tree well or a
raised planter to accommodate the trees. There are more creative ways to address the issue.
Again, I am sorry I will be unable to attend the meeting myself to participate in the discussion. I hope you will still
take my comments to heart when making your decision.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Wendy Knight
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