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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc - Cooper (949 Higuera Tree Removal) 5/21/2018 To:Allan Cooper Subject:RE: Proposed Tree Removals @ 949 Higuera Street Dear Mr. Cooper Thank you for your input. Your message has been conveyed to City Council, the Tree Committee, and Tree Committee staff. City Clerk’s Office City Administration City Clerk's Office 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 E cityclerk@slocity.org T 805.781.7100 slocity.org From: Allan Cooper < Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 2:36 PM To: Combs, Ron <rcombs@slocity.org>; Advisory Bodies <advisorybodies@slocity.org>; CityClerk <CityClerk@slocity.org> Subject: Proposed Tree Removals @ 949 Higuera Street Dear Ron - Would you kindly forward this letter to the Tree Committee before their May 21, 2018 meeting? Thanks! - Allan To: SLO Tree Committee, Ron Combs & Mark Rawson Re: Proposed Removal of Two Trees @ 949 Higuera Street From: Allan Cooper, Secretary Save Our Downtown 1 Date: May 19, 2018 Chair Loosley and Committee Members - Again Save Our Downtown is protesting the unnecessary removal of two healthy, mature ficus trees located in in our Downtown Core. Jamestown Premier SLO Retail LP is arguing that these trees are damaging the sidewalk. I’ve blown up images of these two trees (see below attachments) so that you can see that there is no disturbance to the sidewalks. Moreover, the applicant is arguing that these two trees cannot be saved once the sidewalks are widened. Look at the two remaining trees at the intersection of Higuera and Garden where the sidewalk is currently being widened and you will see why we find this argument somewhat puzzling. Needless to say, we are “preaching to the choir”, when we argue that mature trees (not 24-inch box tree replacements) help to reduce the heat island effect, shade the adjacent buildings in the summer, provide habitat for animals and increase property values for its owners and neighbors. In November 2001 a benefit-cost analysis was undertaken of Santa Monica’s municipal forest (see: https://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/mcpherson/psw_2001_mcpherson001.pdf). This report found that for each $1 invested in urban forest management, benefits valued at $1.61 were returned to the residents of Santa Monica. Where deodar cedar and laurel fig are responsible for 25% of all tree benefits within the City of Santa Monica, annual air pollutant uptake was 0.8 lb/tree with an implied value of $9/tree, cooling savings from building shade and cooler summertime temperatures were valued at 5 MBTU/tree or $5/tree, stormwater runoff was reduced by 1,856 gal/tree or $4/tree and atmospheric carbon dioxide was sequestered at 151 lb/tree or $2/tree. We are arguing that smaller trees can be less expensive to maintain than larger trees, but also produce fewer benefits. We urge the City to continue experimenting with strategies to reduce root-hardscape conflicts and reduce repair costs such as meandering sidewalks around trees and resurfacing with rubberized “flexible” paving. Also reducing pruning frequency and intensity will promote healthier trees. All of this will provide greater benefits at less cost to the City. Thank you! 2