HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc - Selby (949 Higuera Tree Remval) 5/21/2018
From:CityClerk
To:Carol Selby
Subject:RE: Proposed Tree Removals @ 949 Higuera Street
Dear Ms. Selby,
Thank you for your input. Your message has been conveyed to City Council, the Tree Committee, and Tree Committee
staff.
City Clerk’s Office
City Administration
City Clerk's Office
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249
E cityclerk@slocity.org
T 805.781.7100
slocity.org
From: Carol Selby <
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 3:33 PM
To: Combs, Ron <rcombs@slocity.org>; Advisory Bodies <advisorybodies@slocity.org>;
CityClerk <CityClerk@slocity.org>
Subject: Fwd: Proposed Tree Removals @ 949 Higuera Street
Dear tree committee:
25 - 30 years ago or so when I was living and working there, Ventura had
a pretty vibrant downtown that included ficus trees which had some of
the same issues as those in San Luis Obispo. The City, without sufficient
notice to anyone, pulled out the trees and planted palms and newer,
better behaved trees. INSTANTLY DOWNTOWN WAS DEAD and it has
never recovered from that tragic mistake! Nobody goes downtown
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anymore. The restaurants and charming venues dried up and
consignment stores moved in.
People stopped going there because it was so ugly...just old buildings,
homeless people etc. without the softening, mellow influence of the
admittedly messy ficus trees. Ficus are what make downtown Santa
Barbara a pleasant place to shop, to eat and to visit. They are essential to
the ambiance of the California small city lifestyle, and are a precious asset
to our community.
PLEASE do not follow the downward spiral of Ventura's downtown to
happen here by valuing cheaper sidewalk maintenance over a historic
feeling and gracious sidewalk appeal. We need our downtown to stay
alive.
Carol Nelson-Selby
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Allan Cooper <
Date: Sat, May 19, 2018 at 2:35 PM
Subject: Proposed Tree Removals @ 949 Higuera Street
To: "Combs, Ron" <rcombs@slocity.org>, advisorybodies@slocity.org,
cityclerk@slocity.org
Dear Ron -
Would you kindly forward this letter to the Tree Committee before their May 21, 2018 meeting? Thanks!
- Allan
To: SLO Tree Committee, Ron Combs & Mark Rawson
Re: Proposed Removal of Two Trees @ 949 Higuera Street
From: Allan Cooper, Secretary Save Our Downtown
Date: May 19, 2018
Chair Loosley and Committee Members -
2
Again Save Our Downtown is protesting the unnecessary removal of two healthy, mature ficus trees located in
in our Downtown Core. Jamestown Premier SLO Retail LP is arguing that these trees are damaging the
sidewalk. I’ve blown up images of these two trees (see below attachments) so that you can see that there is no
disturbance to the sidewalks. Moreover, the applicant is arguing that these two trees cannot be saved once the
sidewalks are widened. Look at the two remaining trees at the intersection of Higuera and Garden where the
sidewalk is currently being widened and you will see why we find this argument somewhat puzzling.
Needless to say, we are “preaching to the choir”, when we argue that mature trees (not 24-inch box tree
replacements) help to reduce the heat island effect, shade the adjacent buildings in the summer, provide
habitat for animals and increase property values for its owners and neighbors.
In November 2001 a benefit-cost analysis was undertaken of Santa Monica’s municipal forest (see:
https://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/mcpherson/psw_2001_mcpherson001.pdf). This report found that for
each $1 invested in urban forest management, benefits valued at $1.61 were returned to the residents of Santa
Monica. Where deodar cedar and laurel fig are responsible for 25% of all tree benefits within the City of Santa
Monica, annual air pollutant uptake was 0.8 lb/tree with an implied value of $9/tree, cooling savings from
building shade and cooler summertime temperatures were valued at 5 MBTU/tree or $5/tree, stormwater runoff
was reduced by 1,856 gal/tree or $4/tree and atmospheric carbon dioxide was sequestered at 151 lb/tree or
$2/tree.
We are arguing that smaller trees can be less expensive to maintain than larger trees, but also produce fewer
benefits. We urge the City to continue experimenting with strategies to reduce root-hardscape conflicts and
reduce repair costs such as meandering sidewalks around trees and resurfacing with rubberized “flexible”
paving. Also reducing pruning frequency and intensity will promote healthier trees. All of this will provide
greater benefits at less cost to the City. Thank you!
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