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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-28-2013 TC Minutes1 TREE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013 Corporation Yard Conference Room 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo MEMBERS PRESENT: Ben Parker, Matt Ritter, Jane Worthy, Scott Loosley, and David Hensinger STAFF PRESENT: Ron Combs PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of April 29, 2013 Mr. Hensinger moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Mr. Loosley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS 1. 3045 Duncan Lane (Eucalyptus) Mr. Ritter indicated he had not been able to view the trees and would therefore be abstaining from voting. D.J. Pruit, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request, noting the extreme financial hardship due to extensive debris at the commercial site that continuously built up and caused flooding. He discussed past limb failure and concerns of liability for client storage contents. He discussed upgrading the landscaping on site. Mr. Combs noted it was a large healthy grove and he could not make his findings necessary to approve the removal. Mr. Parker noted there were some hazardous limbs that pruning would take care of and stated debris was not a reason for removal. Mr. Hensinger agreed that one of the largest trees was looming and could be removed without changing the character of the neighborhood. Mr. Loosley noted that the trees were hanging over undeveloped property and concerns could be mitigated with pruning. Ms. Worthy agreed with Committee comments. Mr. Parker moved to deny the removal request, as he could not make the findings necessary for removal. 2 Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Mr. Ritter abstaining. 2. 3159 Rose Ave. (Live oak) Allen Del Martini, applicant, discussed the removal request and stated the tree was too large and dense for the space and was shading the neighbor’s yard and fruit trees. He discussed additional planting on site and noted that the nearby smaller tree would thrive if the oak were removed. Mr. Combs reported that the tree was healthy and had been pruned and that he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Ms. Worthy felt the tree was healthy and appropriately sized for the area. Mr. Hensinger moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required one 15-gallon replacement tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree’s removal. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Ms. Worthy voting against. 3. 1106 Walnut (Misc. trees) Evan Moffitt, applicant’s representative, reported that the eucalyptus trees were diseased and damaging the sidewalk and parking lot, leaning on a wall, and presenting a hazard. He noted the redwoods had been burned and that the podocarpus was damaging the hardscape. Mr. Combs reported he could not make his findings necessary to approve the removals. He noted that the redwoods would come back from the fire damage. Mr. Loosley favored removing the eucalyptus and podocarpus. He felt the redwoods would survive the fire damage. Mr. Parker agreed with Mr. Loosley. Ms. Worthy agreed with removing some of the eucalyptus and favored retaining the podocarpus and the redwoods. Mr. Hensinger moved to deny the removal of the redwoods, as he could not make the findings necessary for approval. Mr. Ritter seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Loosley moved to approve the removal of all of the eucalyptus, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and require appropriate replacements. Mr. Ritter seconded the motion. 3 The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Ritter moved to deny the removal of the podocarpus, as he could not make the findings necessary for approval. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. 1325 Aralia Court 5. 1355 Aralia Court The trees on these two properties were not appropriately marked for review and the Committee continued the items to a future meeting. 6. 600 Marsh This removal request had been approved at staff level. 7. 575 Hill (Monterey pines) Ms. Worthy reported she was unable to view these trees and would be abstaining from voting. Todd Talley, applicant, discussed the removal request and submitted a letter provided by a certified arborist stating that the trees were diseased and failing and that the arborist supported removals. Mr. Talley discussed how the trees were negatively affecting his use of the property area and outlined proposed landscaping plans. Mr. Combs reported that he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Mr. Ritter moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and supported the landscaping proposal as outlined by applicant. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Ms. Worthy abstaining. 8. 1750 Jalisco (Pines) The applicant discussed the removal request for the mature trees and the removal project of the pool area and the landscaping plan proposed. He felt the trees were a liability in high winds. Mr. Combs reported he could not make his required findings for removal. Mr. Parker moved to approve the removal request, as doing so would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment, and required two 15-gallon replacement trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of the trees’ removals. Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4 9. 884 Murray (Avocado) Mr. Rinnell, Bunyan Brothers, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and noted the damage to the garage, outbuilding, and walkway. He stated the tree was too close to the structure and walkway and that ivy was choking it. Mr. Combs reported the tree was healthy and that he could not make his required removal findings. Mr. Loosley agreed the tree was healthy but too close to the outbuilding. Mr. Parker moved to approve the removal request, based on undue hardship to the property owner, and required one replacement 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street tree list and planted within 45 days of tree’s removals. Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 10. 224 Broad (Misc. trees) The applicant discussed the removal request, noting sidewalk damage, limb failure and reported that the sewer line had previously been replaced due to root intrusion and now the line needed to be repaired again. Mr. Combs reported that he could not make his required removal findings. Mr. Loosley moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required five replacement 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street tree list and planted within 45 days of trees’ removals. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Ms. Worthy voting against. 11. 1203 Vista Del Lago (Palms) Matson Ruddell, applicant representative, discussed the removal request on behalf of the elderly property owners who were concerned about the trees’ bending in high winds and the evidence of stress cracks. He stated they were interested in replacing the trees with oaks. Mr. Combs reported the tree was healthy and that he could not make his required removal findings. The Committee discussed the low failure rate of the species, unless decay was in evidence. They did not feel the stress cracks were an issue. Mr. Parker felt replacement plantings would be more appropriate to the site than 120’ palm trees. Mr. Ritter and Mr. Loosley did not favor removal of the large healthy trees. 5 Mr. Parker moved to approve the removal request, based on doing so would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment, and required replacement with two 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of the trees’ removals. Ms. Worthy seconded the motion. The motion failed, with Mr. Hensinger, Mr. Ritter, and Mr. Loosley voting against. NEW BUSINESS  Slack-line Discussion re Ordinance Revision Tim Ross submitted a detailed presentation regarding amendments he was proposing to the City ordinance to allow additional park areas be accessible to slack lining with tree protection. He asked the Committee to support these expansion efforts as the discussion moved through the Parks/Rec Dept. and City Council. He reported that for the past five years, slack-lining has become a popular local activity and that no damage to trees will occur if the slack-line system is properly set up. He reiterated his goal of having all the local parks open to slack lining. Mr. Combs stated that staff supported Mr. Ross’ efforts to expand accessible slack-line options throughout City parks as long as rules were followed. Mr. Ritter moved that the Tree Committee find that slack lining does not conflict with the City’s interest in preserving the urban forest when practiced as outlined in proposed amendments to 12.20.150. Mr. Hensinger seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS There were no items to discuss. ARBORIST REPORT There were no items to discuss. The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. to next regular meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. on June 24, 2013. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary