HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-2020 TC Minutes - Special MeetingTREE COMMITTEE
Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
l\fonday,Augustl0,2020
Special l\feeting of the Tree Committee
A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, August
10, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. via teleconference by Chair Alan Bate.
ROLL CALL
Present: Committee Members Scott Loosley, Elizabeth Lucas, Allen Root (5:35pm),
Vice Chair Jane Worthy, Chair Alan Bate
Absent: Committee Members Sean O'Brien and Rodney Thurman
Staff: Ron Combs, City Arborist; Kyle Bell, Associate Planner; Rachel Cohen,
Associate Planner; and Megan Wilbanks, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Consideration of the Tree Committee Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2020.
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS CARRIED 4-0-3 (Committee Members O'Brien, Root,
and Thurman absent) the Tree Committee approved the Minutes of May 20, 2020.
BUSINESS ITEMS
2.New Business:
a.Review of four tree removals and replanting plan of 12 trees as part of a mixed-use project
located at 1144 Chorro Street consisting of approximately 30,000 square feet of
commercial/office space and 50 residential dwelling units, within the Downtown Historic
District.
Associate Planner, Kyle Bell, provided a presentation and responded to Committee
mqumes.
Applicant representative, Mark Rawson with Copeland Properties, provided a presentation
and responded to Committee inquiries.
Minutes -Tree Committee Special Meeting of August 10, 2020 Page 1
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT CARRIED 5-0-2 (Committee Members O'Brien and
Thurman absent) to recommend that the City Council approve the requested tree removal
with the following recommendations:
•Use large deciduous trees along the street.
•Allow for larger cutouts in the sidewalk to accommodate both the existing and new trees.•The contractor should utilize engineered structural soil.
•The recommended size of the trees along the street is a 36-inch box.
•The applicant should consider planting a variety other than jacaranda along Marsh.
Street and consider using a deciduous tree like Red Oak or Ginko Biloba.
•Develop a Tree Protection Plan with the City Arborist.
•Irrigation should be available for existing trees during construction and set up for the
new trees.
•Balcony trees should not be considered part of the 1: 1 ratio for replacing removed trees
along the street.
b.Review of a proposed tree removal of 206 onsite trees and replanting plan of 314 trees as
part of a mixed-use project located at 650 Tank Farm Road that includes 249 residential
units and 17,500 square feet of commercial space.
Associate Planner, Rachel Cohen, provided a presentation and responded to Committee
mqumes.
Applicant representative, Jake Minnick with RRM Design Group, provided a presentation
and responded to Committee inquiries.
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS CARRIED 4-1-0 (Chair Bate recused due to a conflict
of interest) to recommend that the Planning Commission approve the requested tree
removal with the following recommendations:
•Replacement trees should be placed in a minimum of24-inch box with focal point trees
planted in 36-inch boxes
•Any Olive varieties planted on the site should be Swan Hill fruitless olive
Minutes -Tree Committee Special Meeting of August 10, 2020 Page 2
•Trees on the boundary that can be retained should be reassessed at the time of
demolition. Consider retaining the mature trees along the boundary of the Damon
Garcia Soccer Field and the eastern edge of the Lazy Acres RV storage area
3.Old Business: 150 Chorro St. (Black walnut tree)
City Arborist Combs provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries.
COMMENT & DISCUSSION
4.Arborists Report:
a.Urban Forest Services staffing update
Steve Williams transferred to the Street Department. Mike Johnson is also planning to
leave the department. Due to COVID-19, it has been extremely difficult to backfill those
positions. City Arborist Combs is considering retirement in December 2020.
b.San Luis Obispo Commemorative Grove update
Currently not accepting any more applications.
c.Tree Removal application fee changed to $157 .17 to reflect the Consumer Price Index
mcrease.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m. The next Special Meeting of the Tree Committee is
scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. via teleconference.
APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE: 08/25/2020
Minutes -Tree Committee Special Meeting of August 10, 2020 Page 3