Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-26-2016 TC Minutes Minutes TREE COMMITTEE Monday, September 26, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, September 26, 2016 at 5:04 p.m. in the Corporation Yard Conference Room, located at 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Matt Ritter. ROLL CALL Present: Alan Bate, Scott Loosley, Angela Soll, Rodney Thurman, Jane Worthy, Chair Matt Ritter Absent: Vice Chair Ben Parker Staff: Ron Combs, City Arborist and Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Will Powers, Islay Street, submitted a proposal regarding following up on approved tree removals to ensure replacement plantings are occurring. CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Consideration of Minutes ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ANGELA SOLL, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ALAN BATE, to approve the minutes of the Tree Committee for the meeting of Monday, August 22, 2016. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: PARKER PUBLIC HEARINGS BUSINESS ITEM 2. Tree Removal Applications 2 Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of September 26, 2016 Page 2 - 4027 SANTA FE (Eucalyptus) Jenna Mitchell, property representative, discussed the removal request. She felt there was a possible safety hazard to vehicles in the parking lot and that nearby trees were not allowed to thrive. Mr. Combs reported the tree was fairly healthy and he could not make the findings necessary to approve removal. He noted that Fish & Game would need to be consulted if it were to be removed. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers felt the large tree could be retained with pruning. Mattson Ruddell, certified arborist, stated pruning would not salvage the tree. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. Ms. Soll was unable to identify the tree and would be abstaining from voting. The Committee did not feel the tree was particularly hazardous and while pruning might help, removal would not harm the character of the neighborhood and would allow nearby trees to thrive. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, to approve the removal request based on doing so would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment, pending Fish & Game approval, and required replacement planting with one 15-gallon riparian species within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 5-0-1-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, RITTER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: SOLL ABSENT: PARKER - 1335 CAVALIER The item had been withdrawn from consideration. - 777 SERRANO (Cypress, 2 peppers) Mike Brass, applicant, discussed the removal request, noting that the peppers had poor structure and once the cypress were removed, nearby oaks would thrive. Mr. Combs stated that due to diameter limits, the cypress would be removed without review approval. He said the peppers were healthy and he could not make his necessary findings to allow for removal. 3 Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of September 26, 2016 Page 3 Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers favored removal of the peppers. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the application. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, 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 tree removals. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: PARKER - 1135 BUCHON (6 Coast live oaks) Applicant Mike Conecho discussed the removal request and the need to think out the trees so other trees could thrive and to allow for garden sunlight. Mr. Combs reported that the trees were healthy and he could not make his necessary findings to allow for removal. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers agreed thinning out the trees would enhance the property. Mike White, neighbor, agreed the oaks were crowding other trees on site. Mr. Ruddell, applicant’s representative, stated they planned to do replacement plantings. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. The Committee determined which trees were slated for removal in the heavily planted site. There was conflicting discussion about the merits of removal individual trees and felt the voting should be done separately. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to approve the removal of Tree #5, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required no replacement planting. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: 4 Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of September 26, 2016 Page 4 AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: PARKER ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, to approve the removal of Tree #1, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required no replacement planting. Motion passed 5-1-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: BATE ABSENT: PARKER ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, to approve the removal of Tree #6, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required one 15-gallon replacement planting to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted on site. Motion passed 4-2-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, RITTER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: BATE, SOLL ABSENT: PARKER ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to deny the removal of Trees #2, 3 & 4, as he could not make any of the necessary findings to approve removal. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: PARKER - 878 LINCOLN (Mexican fan palm) Michael Mills, applicant, discussed the removal request, stating the palm fronds posed a safety hazard. Mr. Combs agreed there was some potential for hardship issues, but stated he could not make his necessary findings to allow for removal. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers felt the tree should be removed. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. 5 Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of September 26, 2016 Page 5 ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring one 15-gallon replacement tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSELY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: PARKER - 570 PACIFIC (Redwood) Sean Collarman, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request, noting that the roots were lifting the hardscape, limbs were hitting the house, and the trunk was bowing the fence. He stated the tree was also damaging neighbor’s property. Mr. Combs reported that the large healthy tree was causing some fence and hardscape issues, but he could not make his necessary findings to allow for removal. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers stated the tree was in place prior to the structures being built and the construction should have accommodated the tree. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. Ms. Worthy agreed with Mr. Powers’ comment. Mr. Bate was abstaining from voting as he did not see the tree, but felt that based on the photos, the tree could be removed. There was general Committee discussion. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY CHAIR RITTER, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring one 15-gallon replacement tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 5-0-1-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSELY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: BATE ABSENT: PARKER 6 Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of September 26, 2016 Page 6 - 777 FOOTHILL (6 carrotwood) Steve Franzman, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and the owner’s desire to plant 24” box trees within the landscaping plan and retaining wall project. Mr. Combs discussed past removals on site. Dennis Noble, project architect, discussed the construction plans. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers felt there had been no follow-up re past plantings and stated he did not favor removal and construction should accommodate the trees in place. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. The Committee agreed the trees were in decline. Mr. Thurman felt the construction process had not been followed correctly and this effort felt “after the fact.” ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring six 36” box Chinese Pistache replacement trees planted within 45 days of tree removals. 24” box trees could be substituted if Mr. Combs felt that was better warranted. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSELY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: PARKER - 11766 LOS OSOS VALEY ROAD (Liquid amber) Alex Del Rio, applicant, discussed the removal request, stating the roots are ruining the driveway, sidewalk and sewer lateral. Mr. Combs agreed there were roots issues, but he could not make his necessary findings for allowing removal. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers agreed with Mr. Combs’ comment. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the application. 7 Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of September 26, 2016 Page 7 ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and requiring one 15-gallon replacement tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSELY, RITTER, SOLL, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: PARKER OLD BUSINESS There was discussion of Advisory Body Goals and the Committee agreed the priorities were funds for an additional full-time Tree Dept. staff member and more funding for contract work. ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs introduced Doug Forrest and discussed budget updates. COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS There were no items to discuss. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for Monday, October 24, 2016 at 5:00 p.m., at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE ON 10/24/2016