TR-2024-019 - Approval Action LetterAugust 14, 2024
Bill Lee
20660 Steven’s Creek
Cupertino, CA 95014
SUBJECT: RETROACTIVE TREE REMOVAL PERMIT ACTION LETTER – Application
TR-2024-019
This letter confirms the decision of the Director of Community Development, given on
August 14, 2024, approving a Retroactive Tree Removal permit for the removal and
replacement of one (1) protected 32" DBH Deodar Cedar located in the front yard of a
property at 10751 Carver Drive in Cupertino. This permit is considered a retroactive tree
removal because more than 25 percent of the tree’s branches were cut before a permit was
obtained for the work.
Per CMC 14.18.020, the removal of more than one-fourth of the functioning leaf and stem
area of a protected tree in any twelve-month period is considered severe pruning which
constitutes the removal of the tree. City staff has made the necessary finding that the
amount of pruning conducted to the Deodar Cedar constitutes the removal of the tree.
These findings are necessary to grant the Tree Removal Permit in accordance with
Cupertino Municipal Code (CMC) Section 14.18.180 (A)(1).
The application is approved with the following conditions:
1. APPROVED PROJECT
This approval for tree removal is based on the City’s consultant arborist’s report, dated
May 22, 2024, prepared by Leonardo Tuchman (ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
#WE-12453B, ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #771, ISA Tree Risk Assessment
Qualified California DPR QAL #146294), consisting of fifteen (15) pages, including the
report and photographs of the tree proposed for removal.
The City’s consultant arborist found that, “the tree has been topped with much of the upper
canopy now gone. This can weaken the health of the tree as it has less photosynthetic
capabilities, and long-term can lead to weaker branch structure as the tree regrows its upper
canopy. Furthermore, there are numerous large attachments composing the canopy, and some
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of them are growing very closely together on the tree trunk. These large attachments growing
from the same point can put added strain on the branch attachments.” While the City’s
arborist did not find that the tree met the findings for removal, despite the severe
trimming, because the arborist states, “overall, the subject deodar cedar tree is healthy, with
healthy dense foliage present in the canopy where foliage is present,” per CMC 14.18.020, the
tree is already considered as removed and so staff is able to approve a Retroactive Tree
Removal Permit approving the removal of the deodar cedar.
2. ACCURACY OF THE PROJECT PLANS
The applicant/property owner is responsible to verify all pertinent property data
including but not limited to property boundary locations, building setbacks, property
size, building square footage, any relevant easements and/or construction records.
Any misrepresentation of any property data may invalidate this approval and may
require additional review.
3. TREE REPLACEMENT
The required replacement tree is one 24-inch-box California Bay Laurel planted in the
front yard of the property and one 24-inch-box California Buckeye in the rear yard of
the property (a lower-canopy tree is required in the rear yard due to the presence of
overhead wires and a PG&E Public Utility Easement in the rear yard).
Replacement trees shall be planted prior to the final building inspection for the
construction of the new residence on the property. The applicant shall provide the
Department of Community Development adequate documentation, including but not
limited to photographs, receipts, or invoices, to verify that the replacement trees have
been planted.
4. PROTECTED TREES
The applicant understands that replacement trees may not be removed without a Tree
Removal Permit and that they shall be responsible for ensuring the proper
maintenance and care of the trees. The applicant shall also disclose the location and
species of all replacement trees on site upon sale of the property.
5. NESTING BIRDS
Nests of raptors and other birds shall be protected when in active use, as required by
the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the California Department of Fish and
Game Code.
a. Construction and tree removal/pruning activities shall be scheduled to
avoid the nesting season to the extent feasible. If feasible, tree removal
and/or pruning shall be completed before the start of the nesting season to
help preclude nesting. The nesting season for most birds and raptors in the
San Francisco Bay area extends from February 1 through August 31.
Preconstruction surveys (described below) are not required for tree
removal or construction activities outside the nesting period.
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b. If construction activities and any required tree removal occur during the
nesting season (February 1 and August 31), a qualified ornithologist shall
be required to conduct surveys prior to tree removal or construction
activities. Preconstruction surveys shall be conducted no more than 14
days prior to the start of tree removal, pruning or construction.
Preconstruction surveys shall be repeated at 14-day intervals until
construction has been initiated in the area after which surveys can be
stopped. During this survey, the ornithologist shall inspect all trees and
other possible nesting habitats in and immediately adjacent to the
construction areas for nests.
c. If the survey does not identify any nesting birds that would be affected by
construction activities, no further mitigation is required. If an active nest
containing viable eggs or young birds is found sufficiently close to work
areas to be disturbed by these activities, their locations shall be
documented, and protective measures implemented under the direction of
the qualified ornithologist until the nests no longer contain eggs or young
birds.
d. Protective measures shall include establishment of clearly delineated
exclusion zones (i.e. demarcated by identifiable fencing, such as orange
construction fencing or equivalent) around each nest location as
determined by the qualified ornithologist, taking into account the species
of birds nesting, their tolerance for disturbance and proximity to existing
development. In general, exclusion zones shall be a minimum of 300 feet
for raptors and 75 feet for passerines and other birds. The active nest within
an exclusion zone shall be monitored on a weekly basis throughout the
nesting season to identify signs of disturbance and confirm nesting status.
The radius of an exclusion zone may be increased by the qualified biologist,
if project activities are determined to be adversely affecting the nesting
birds. Exclusion zones may be reduced by the qualified biologist only in
consultation with California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The
protection measures and buffers shall remain in effect until the young have
left the nest and are foraging independently or the nest is no longer active.
e. A final report on nesting birds and raptors, including survey methodology,
survey date(s), map of identified active nests (if any), and protection
measures (if required), shall be submitted to the Planning Manager,
through the building permit review process, and be completed to the
satisfaction of the Community Development Director prior to the start of
grading.
6. INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
As part of the application, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the applicant shall
agree to indemnify, defend with the attorneys of the City’s choice, and hold harmless
the City, its City Council, and its officers, employees, and agents (collectively, the
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“indemnified parties”) from and against any liability, claim, action, cause of action,
suit, damages, judgment, lien, levy, or proceeding (collectively referred to as
“proceeding”) brought by a third party against one or more of the indemnified parties
or one or more of the indemnified parties and the applicant related to any Ordinance,
Resolution, or action approving the project, the related entitlements, environmental
review documents, finding or determinations, or any other permit or approval
authorized for the project. The indemnification shall include but not be limited to
damages, fees, and costs awarded against the City, if any, and cost of suit, attorneys’
fees, and other costs, liabilities, and expenses incurred in connection with such
proceeding whether incurred by the Applicant, the City, or the parties initiating or
bringing such proceeding.
The applicant shall agree to (without limitation) reimburse the City its actual
attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in defense of the litigation. Such attorneys’ fees and
costs shall include amounts paid to the City’s outside counsel and shall include City
Attorney time and overhead costs and other City staff overhead costs and any costs
directly related to the litigation reasonably incurred by City. The applicant shall
likewise agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the indemnified parties from
and against any damages, attorneys’ fees, or costs awards, including attorneys’ fees
awarded under Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5, assessed or awarded against
the indemnified parties. The Applicant shall cooperate with the City to enter a
Reimbursement Agreement to govern any such reimbursement.
The Applicant shall agree to (without limitation) reimburse the City for all costs
incurred in additional investigation or study of, or for supplementing, redrafting,
revising, or amending, any document (such as an Environmental Impact Report,
negative declaration, specific plan, or general plan amendment) if made necessary by
proceedings challenging the project approvals and related environmental review, if
the applicant desires to continue to pursue the project.
The Applicant shall agree that the City shall have no liability to the Applicant for
business interruption, punitive, speculative, or consequential damages.
7. NOTICE OF FEES, DEDICATIONS, RESERVATIONS OR OTHER EXACTIONS
The conditions of Project Approval set forth herein may include certain fees,
dedication requirements, reservation requirements, and other exactions.
Since this tree is a retroactive tree removal permit, no public noticing is required and there
is no public comment period. However, there is a public appeal period which lasts for 14
days from the date of this letter. If your approval is appealed, staff will notify you via
email of the date of the public hearing.
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Sincerely,
Catherine Tarone
Planning Permit Technician
(408) 777-3297
catherinet@cupertino.gov
Enclosure: Removal and replacement plan
TR-2024-019
08/14/24
Catherine Tarone