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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-23-2018 TC Minutes Minutes TREE COMMITTEE Monday, April 23, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, April 23, 2018 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, Elizabeth Lucas, Angela Soll, Rodney Thurman, Jane Worthy, Chair Scott Loosley Absent: Sean O’Brien Staff: Ron Combs, Lisa Woske SWEARING IN Theresa Purrington, City Clerk’s office, swore in new Committee member Elizabeth Lucas. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Dr. Will Powers, resident, clarified with the Committee the difference between the concepts of “undue hardship” criteria and a tree being inconvenient. CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Consideration of March 26, 2018 Minutes Committee Member Bate noted that he abstained from voting in the Dallidet item at 1185 Pacific. Committee Member Soll stated she would abstain from voting, as she was absent last meeting. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WORTHY, to approve the March 26, 2018 minutes of the Tree Committee as amended. Motion passed 5-0-1-1 on the following roll call vote: Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 23, 2018 Page 2 AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, LUCAS, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: SOLL ABSENT: O’BRIEN PUBLIC HEARINGS BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Tree Removal Applications - 266 Craig Way (2 live oak) Chuck Crotser, applicant, discussed the removal request and reported that the two volunteer oaks were crowding the redwoods and that the neighbor was having significant issues with littering, as the trees were close to the property line. Mr. Combs agreed with the crowding on site and note the diameters were small for the oaks, but he could not make the findings necessary to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers agreed with the crowding issue and favored removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. Committee Member Bate stated he would abstain from voting due to conflicts of interest. The Committee discussed the item, agreeing that the oaks were not thriving and the site was overcrowded. They suggested any replacement trees could be planted in the neighborhood instead of specifically on site. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER SOLL, to approve the removal request based on removal would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment and required two 15-gallon replacement tree is to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list with one planted on property and one designated as a street tree in the area. Replacement trees shall be planted within 45 days of tree removals. Motion passed 5-0-1-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, LUCAS, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: BATE ABSENT: O’BRIEN Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 23, 2018 Page 3 - 968 Toro (Canary Island pine) Gary Stanwyck, applicant, discussed the removal request and was concerned about the liability issues the tree was causing to the nearby parking lot due to sap and large cone littering and stated it was damaging a nearby wall. Mr. Combs stated the large tree was healthy and he could not make the findings to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers discussed what constituted “liability” and stated he did not see wall damage. He favored retaining and pruning the tree. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the removal request and agreed there was no evidence of wall damage and that significant pruning would mitigate liability issues. They felt the tree was important to the neighborhood. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, to deny the request, as they could not make the necessary findings for removal. Motion passed 5-0-1-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, LUCAS, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: O’BRIEN - 778 Higuera (2 podocarpus) Rissa Brown, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and the damage to the patio seating area, noting walls were being damaged and the patio was lifting due to one of the trees and the second tree had irrigation backflow issues and was breaking the planter. She stated the property was transferring ownership at this time. Mr. Combs stated the large tree was healthy, causing minimal hardscape damage, and that he could not make the findings to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Paula Sauer, nearby business owner, was concerned about losing the shade of those trees and felt the hardscape issues could be fixed. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 23, 2018 Page 4 Andy Wise, resident, and Dr. Powers agreed with Ms. Sauer. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the removal request and agreed there was minimal hardscape damage and that the shade provided by the trees was critical to the area. They suggested if the new owner wanted to provide an arborist’s report that supported the concerns, the permit request could be revisited. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to deny the request, as they could not make the necessary findings for removal. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, LUCAS, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: O’BRIEN - 571 Patricia (Fan palm) There was no applicant to speak to the item. - 949 Higuera There was no applicant to speak to the item. - 393 Marsh (Ficus) Lyle Nemeth, City representative. Discussed the removal request and stated that the significant displacement caused by the roots did not meet AADA requirements, presented severe trip/fall hazards, and that previous repairs did not mitigate lifting issues. He discussed replacement planting for the street tree, including structural soils and reinforced sidewalk materials. Mr. Combs stated the large tree was healthy and that he could not make the findings to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers felt the tree was important at the City entrance on Marsh St. and suggested root pruning instead of removal. Mr. Wise discussed the possible easement and sidewalk widening to be able to retain the tree. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 23, 2018 Page 5 Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the removal request and agreed the tree was important to the City gateway. They discussed the need to replace the sidewalk instead of patching repairs and the option of getting an easement from the owner for bulb outs, etc. The Committee agreed to continue the item until the owner can be approached about an easement and root inspection can be performed. - 686 Higuera (Ficus) Mr. Nemeth discussed the removal request regarding the fire line alignment/installation that the City was requiring, as well as past complaints and trip and falls, ADA compliance issues, and the significant hardscape displacement. He discussed liability concerns and was concerned about the tree’s survival with the alignment construction parameters. He further discussed replacement planting and sidewalk specifications. Mr. Combs stated the large tree was healthy and that he could not make the findings to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Michael Morris, McLintock’s representative, discussed concerns with safety issues and reported that the roots interfere with plumbing. Dr. Powers did not think the curb had been replaced for a long time and suggested a hand-rail system around the tree. Emil Bride, resident, discussed the location issues during Farmer’s Market and that pedestrians walk along the loading zone area. Mr. Wise stated he did not favor removal and felt the Ficus needs to be retained for downtown appeal and character. Toney Breault, site owner, noted that he didn’t own the alleyway and access. He reiterated concerns about liability and safety and that he wanted his business to be a good steward for downtown. He did not believe the tree could be retained and mitigate the safety issues. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing and noted that Allan Cooper, Save Our Downtown representative, had submitted a letter favoring retaining the tree. The Committee discussed the removal request and agreed the tree needed to be better maintained and that trenching would allow for some root inspection. They also discussed the grate option. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 23, 2018 Page 6 Committee Member Thurman was concerned trenching might de-stabilize the tree and suggested exploring horizontal boring as an option. The Committee directed the applicant to explore options and draft trenching specifications for the public right-of-way in coordination with the City Arborist to meet engineering standards, with the intent to save the tree and its root zone. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, to approve the removal request based on promoting good arboricultural practice only if the above directed action is not feasible and all efforts to preserve the tree and root zone have been exhausted. Motion passed 4-2-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, LUCS, THURMAN NOES: SOLL, WORTHY ABSENT: O’BRIEN - 1744 Royal (Red oak) Joe Silva, applicant, discussed the removal request and the hardscape damage, stating the tree was too close to the walkway, sidewalk and driveway. He discussed previous repairs and stated the roos continued to uplift and destroy his property. He felt the tree continued to create undue hardship. Mr. Combs stated he could not make the findings to allow for removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers stated he could see reasons to retain the tree, but also understand reasons why the tree might be removed. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the item, agreeing that it was a difficult decision regarding hardship, but felt maintenance and root pruning could mitigate issues and that the tree was significant to the neighborhood. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAAS, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, to deny the request, as they could not make the necessary findings for removal. Motion passed 5-1-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, LUCAS, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: SOLL ABSENT: O’BRIEN Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 23, 2018 Page 7 NEW BUSINESS It was agreed that Committee Member Worthy will serve as Vice Chair. OLD BUSINESS There was no discussion at this time. ARBORIST REPORT ◼ Report of Downtown Foresters Workday ◼ Recap of Cal Poly Students’ Survey of City Tree Inventory Mr. Combs recapped both items. The Committee agreed to add an agenda item to OLD BUSINESS at next meeting to allow Cal Poly students to present their inventory findings. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for Monday, May 21, 2018 at 5:00 p.m., at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE ON 05/21/2018