HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC - Dunivant (08-28-2017) 8/30/2017
Purrington, Teresa
From:Terre Dunivant <gaia@charter.net>
Sent:Wednesday,
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:Combs, Ron; E-mail Council Website
Subject:TREES Public Comment
Dear Members of the SLO Tree Committee,
The City has been allowing the removal of far too many mature trees. This is unwise, for many reasons:
1. Mature trees require less water than young trees because their roots can access deeper reserves.
2. Young trees will not recreate the existing canopy for decades. The canopy is not only charming, but
beneficial: shade cools the air, leaves and branches intercept particulates and provide habitat for birds, birdsong
gladdens hearts.
3. Older trees are better at carbon sequestration than young trees. Carbon contributes to extreme weather
conditions. Extreme weather is very expensive.
4. Urban forests promote water quality and reduce stormwater management costs: roots filter water and
slow runoff, which reduces erosion and water pollution, which clearly benefits wildlife, livestock, crops, and
citizens.
5. Re Garden Street: Carrotwoods thrive in an urban environment, and are recommended by Friends of the
Urban Forest and other California tree groups. They grow slowly, their size is limited to about 30’ tall and 25’
across, and they require little pruning besides some thinning. Carrotwoods also need little water. They are
disease-resistant, frost- and wind-tolerant. Most important, carrotwoods have deep roots that will not destroy
paving. They also live about 100 years, so the carrotwoods on Garden Street have another 50 years, at least.
6. Developers always claim that the trees they want to remove are “in poor health” or have caused some issue
with paving. They must be made to prove it beyond a doubt. Architects are trained to start with a flat surface,
instead of working with environment. The City would be wise to permit only sustainable architecture, which
requires a more educated and imaginative approach than what has been allowed to pass recently.
You must take action to preserve our mature trees. Rubber-stamping tree removal permits needs to stop
now.
Please post this letter as public comment.
Sincerely,
Terre Dunivant
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Terre Dunivant
Meadow Park | South Hills
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San Luis Obispo, California
(805) 704-5433
544-9676
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“A human being
is a part of the whole,
called by us the ‘Universe’.
Our task must be to
widen our circle of compassion to
embrace all living creatures and the
whole of Nature in its beauty.”
~ Albert Einstein ~
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