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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-2016 TC Minutes 1 Minutes TREE COMMITTEE Monday, July 25, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, July 25, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. in the Corporation Yard Conference Room, located at 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Matt Ritter. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Alan Bate, Scott Loosley, Angela Soll, Vice Chair Ben Parker, and Chair Matt Ritter Absent: Committee Members Susan Olson and Jane Worthy Staff: Ron Combs, City Arborist and Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary. Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Cheryl McLean, 616 Mission, read and submitted a letter urging for the protection of the trees at 71 Palomar and to consider them for Heritage Tree status instead of allowing them to be clear-cut. She asked why the City Attorney pulled the Tree Committee agenda item regarding a review of the trees at 71 Palomar from the June 27, 2016 agenda. She also asked to see the City Arborist’s Tree Assessment Report which discussed the status of the Palomar trees. She ended by requesting that Tree Committee members attend the August 1, 2016 ARC meeting that will include review of the proposed development at 71 Palomar. Dia Hurd, 1642 Crestview Circle, also was deeply concerned that the review/discussion of the 71 Palomar property was removed from the June 27, 2016 agenda and from the Tree Committee’s purview, and that the project moved forward for ARC review without the Tree Committee reviewing the trees first. She felt the matter should be legally reviewed. She did not believe that the developer’s inventory of the trees proposed to be removed was accurate or complete. She also asked to see the City Arborist’s Tree Assessment Report. Lydia Mourenza, Luneta Drive, was also very upset that the Heritage Tree status item was removed from the June agenda and suggested that the Community Development Dept. often withheld items from Tree Committee review. She did not know if the ARC was qualified to review the 71 Palomar trees and felt the Tree Committee should review them first. She was very concerned that the project that would result in clear-cutting would move forward to approval without the Tree Committee reviewing the trees’ status first. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 2 Camille Small, Skyline Drive, believed the trees in question were “living legends” and was concerned that the proper review process was not happening. She did not think that a property owner should have absolute rights when their actions significantly affected neighbors and the community. She did not approve of the “dormitory” student housing proposed for development and did not feel that trees should be mowed down to allow it. Bob Mourenza, 617 Luneta, stated that the Committee members did not need to step on the property itself to be able to review the trees that were proposed for removal. He felt the project was too dense for the site and did not merit removing the trees. Will Powers, Islay Street, did not approve of the trees being removed and felt that (City Manager) Katie Lichtig favored big business more than community concerns; he thought she should be removed from office. He also discussed the status of the diameter standards for replacement trees. Ron Combs, City Arborist, addressed the question of a City Arborist Tree Assessment Report and stated that there was no such report being worked on in any form by him or his office. He did say that he sent a draft memo to his supervisor, Daryl Grigsby, containing his input on the 71 Palomar situation. He stated he would be working on an Assessment Report when the Palomar tree removal item comes to the Tree Committee for review. Mr. Ritter explained the historic process/system for review re the ARC having prior action to the Tree Committee, e.g. ARC forwards an approved development plan with tree removal requests attached to the Tree Committee for their approval. He said that several conversations needed to be had with different agencies to change the way the approval process is set. Peter Croft, resident, requested that Mr. Combs make the internal memo containing his input available to the ARC prior to their review of the project on August 1, 2016 so that ARC is aware of City Arborist comments. CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER SOLL, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR PARKER, CARRIED 5-0 to approve the consent Calendar Item 1. 1. Consideration of Minutes CARRIED 5-0 to approve the minutes of the Tree Committee for the meeting of Monday, June 27, 2016. PUBLIC HEARINGS BUSINESS ITEM 2. Tree Removal Applications - 1259 West Newport (2 Liquidambar) Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 3 Ryan Donald, applicant, discussed the removal request and stated it was impossible to use his front yard because of the spiky seed balls and continuous sap dropping. Mr. Combs reported that the relatively healthy trees were in a narrow planting area, had narrow limb attachments and some dieback, and had caused some hardscape damage. Ms. Soll did not see evidence of the hardscape damage and thought the trees looked nice on the property. Mr. Loosley agreed with Mr. Combs and noted that grinding was a temporary sidewalk fix. Mr. Parker noted the left tree had been severely root pruned and wounds were evident. He felt roots would continue to cause issues and favored replacement with a more appropriate species. Mr. Bate and Mr. Ritter agreed with Mr. Parker’s comments. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Will Powers, resident, felt the trees should be pruned and retained. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. ACTION: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR PARKER, SECOND BY CHAIR RITTER, to approve the removal request, based on doing so would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment, and required replacement planting of two 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removals. Motion passed 5-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, SOLL, PARKER, RITTER ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY - 338 Jaycee (Carob) John Bellisario, discussed the removal request and stated the tree was too large for the area. He outlined plans for drought-tolerant planting and the need to replace the sewer lateral. Mr. Combs reported that the tree was relatively healthy and he could not make the findings necessary for removal approval. He also agreed that the tree in the back yard was dead and could be removed. Mr. Parker thought the theme tree could benefit from pruning. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 4 Mr. Bate did not think it was out of scale with the neighborhood. Mr. Loosley saw clear evidence of wound decay and did not feel the tree was appropriate for the location. Ms. Soll thought the theme tree fit well with the property and the area. Public Comments: There were no public comments. ---End of Public Comments--- ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR PARKER, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required replacement planting of one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 4-1-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER NOES: SOLL ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY - 1630 El Caserio (3 eucalyptus) VL Holland, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request. He noted fence damage caused by roots and the safety concerns the applicant had about limbs falling in the area where his young children played and noted a similar-condition nearby tree had fallen without warning. He also reported the applicant’s wife was allergic to eucalyptus. Mr. Combs noted that the small, relatively healthy tree had caused some fence damage but he could not make the findings necessary to approve removal. Public Comments: There were no public comments ---End of Public Comments--- ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR RITTER, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER SOLL, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required replacement planting of three 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removals. Motion passed 5-2 on the following roll call vote: Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 5 AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER, SOLL ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY - 1700 Quail Dr. There was no applicant or representative present to speak to the item. - 1203 Vista Del Lago (Palm) Robert Schriver, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and reported that the owner had a severe level of concern for the safety of his children in their play area due to the barbed spiky fronds that drop from the high tree and that there was a distinct hazard having the palm located there. Guru Rao, applicant, reiterated the safety concerns and submitted a petition from neighbors who favored removal of the tree. He discussed plans to improve the property and landscaping. Mr. Combs reported that the tree was healthy and he could not make the findings necessary to approve the removal. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers favored removal of any palm because the fronds could not be put in green waste and caused environmental problems. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. ---End of Public Comments--- ACTION: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR PARKER, SECOND BY CHAIR RITTER, to approve the removal request, based on doing so would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment, and required replacement planting of one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 5-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER, SOLL ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS NEW BUSINESS: – 1746 Chorro St.: Heritage Tree Application (4 Camphors) Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 6 Cornell Artho, property owner, discussed his Heritage Tree application. Mr. Combs outlined the parameters of a Heritage Tree designation. The Committee discussed the item and favored the designation for the group of trees that although not outstanding in appearance, represented a species that has not been included in the Heritage Tree history. Mr. Bate noted that he worked for the tree company that serviced this address and would be abstaining from the vote. ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR RITTER, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, to approve the Heritage Tree status for this application. Motion passed 4-2- 1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER, SOLL ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY ABSTAIN: BATE OLD BUSINESS: – Discussion re Use of Structural Soils Mr. Combs spoke in support of using structural soils in future developments for long-term effectiveness. Mr. Ritter and Mr. Loosley discussed using structural soils at Cal Poly. The Committee agreed to a unanimous directive in support of using structural soils. ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR RITTER, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR PARKER, to direct staff to find ways in incorporate the use of structural soils as outlined by engineering standards. Motion passed 5-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER, SOLL ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY There was also general Committee discussion on the review process questions raised by the residents speaking to 71 Palomar. It was agreed that agencies should discuss the possibility of the Tree Committee being able to review projects that have proposed tree removals included prior to the ARC review, so the ARC had the input from the Tree Committee as part of their agency review. ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs presented an overview of the PG&E contaminated soil clean-up project and discussed the tree removal and replanting at 280 Pismo St. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 7 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for Monday, August 22, 2016 at 5:00 p.m., at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE ON 08/22/2016