105-4. Arborist Report.pdfDebor"41h Elfis, MS
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G'onsuiffing Arbc)rk,,A & I lorlkuftud:6g;t
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Mr. Yunian Zou
O-Mei Academy
10700 Imperial Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
December 3,2010
Dear Mr. Zou:
We met on site with Charlene Chan earlier This week to look at and discuss f he f hree existing frees
along the east perimefer, as requested by the City of Cupertino Office of Community Development
in their letter to you dated October 12, 2010. These trees are shown in [lie photo above. I have
corresponded with your project landscape architect, Jeff Heid about the City requirements. I have
also reviewed the Site Plan from Arun Shah & Associates dated September 27, 2010. A copy of this
Site Map showing the location of these trees on the property is included on page 3.
F10 fi�co
Box CA 95070, d08 725 1.357, ch@ijacbellxet,
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0-Magi Acadeniy Arborist Report. becerrd)er 3, 2010, Pcige 1 gait 6
1I)eborWi EIRs, MS
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C,orm,ilhrig Arbodist & Horficufturist
NOW
SUMMARY
it the existing planter along the east property line of the site will be made narrower (see the Site Plan,
next page) then all three of the existing frees should be removed. Even if this planting area were
not to be reconfigured I would recommend the removal of ash tree C, which is causing a
moderate amount of root damage to the surrounding pavement and curb of this time. in the [ufure
as thiis tree grows larger however, it will cause a significon I and unacceptable level of pavement
damage. if was not a good free species to plant in this location in [he first place. The two smaller
pear trees are in reasonably good condition and are not causing any pavement damage at this
time. The planter reconfiguration would cause grading to be right at the edge or slightly beyond of
the root collars of these pears, however. This would cause severe damage to the root system and
the trees may fall over and would likely die. My best recommendation for the new planter area,
which will only be four feet wide, would be to install shrubs here instead of frees, and utilize the east
neighbor's existing frees as background and screening. This way you will not end Lip with two
competing rows of trees planted close together, with pavement damage likely to occur to the 0-
M6 parking lot pavement. The south perimeter of the parking lot is also of concern to the City from
a screening standpoint. This should be planted with fall -growing screen shrubs which can be shear -
pruned to keep them narrow, and/or fastigiate (narrow, columnar form) trees. Brooder -canopy
trees could be interspersed by planting [hem in the larger island planter areas as have been drawn
in on the Site Plan (see page 3).
T'he i)twato al,)o%re dl,cms H)(, a,'uq',6cflt Pawtiwnl M,rmirld fr,le,,e! #L 5nu,"gH cxrroi�rs p6rit T,,) rr,(,icks in flue
Pl(Inter rn whid; ths to us lc.ad.rai7CICL pounf 'to,
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flQ Box "3714, Scireforla, CA 95070, Il 0 E3 - 7 2 t5 -13 57, 1 13: WON, &CO 11 � CO VTa
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Deborah lAS
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Consuffing Arbixist &
era
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S� 1, E PLAN
Existingze "posed Site Plan
Note: my plan mark-ups are in kflue and vi; ether's mark-ups are in
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3ox 3714, 5arcitop, CA 95070. 408 725-1357. hil I[Ohmu decohxovj,
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0--Mei eniy ArboHsf keporl. becetnber, 3, 2010. as 3 of 6
Deborati His, IVIS
&
DISCUSSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
Mr. Zoe wound like to remodel the east property line planting area which is now consist of 3 separate
cutout planter cutouts, 8 feel long by 6 feet wide. The plan is to reduce the widil-i of the planting
area to 4 feet wide, but make the landscape area a continuous linear planter, The reason for this is
to make room for more parking spaces in the parking lot. There is a problern with too many people
parking in the street of this time, and it would be beneficial for more of these cars to be spending
their time in f he parking lot.
If the planter is remodeled to make if narrower though, the existing trees will need to be removed.
The trunks of These trees are close to mid -planter now, and the cut would be right at the trunk. The
Northernmost tree, an evergreen ash, is lifting the asphalt pavement around it and this damage will
increase substantially as the tree grows larger. Even if The ash survives the reduction in planter width,
the tree's roots will cause an unacceptable amount of pavement damage in the future.
My best recommendation is to remove all 3 trees and replant with new trees (of better yet shrubs)
that will adapt to the site conditions easily. The 3 existing trees are in reasonably good condition but
the ash tree poses a significant and costly problem is most economically dealt with now. In
addition, I am not sure that the 2 pear trees will survive the planter renovation. If the City requires
that the 2 pear trees remain, then [here are two options - make I he planter wider in front of these
trees, or construct the planter as designed and hope for the best. But there will be a good chance
that the frees don't make if, and they could also fall over from the root cutting.
There are also 3 lame black locust frees (Robinic pseudoacacia, probably file 'Idaho' cutivar)
behind the fence to the east of the three subject trees. These black locust trees are about the same
size as the ash and pear frees (about 30 feet fall). Therefore the east perimeter fence line will not be
devoid of tree canopies it aII 3 subject trees are removed. This presents you with the option of
planting screen shrubs, Instead of frees in the narrower planting area. From a pavement damage
and intelligent landscaping perspective, this would be better than planting trees in this area. When I
say "'intelligent landscaping" I mean not planting trees just for the sake of planting arid/or replacing
trees, I mean installing plants that make sense for the site in terms of both function and
appearance. If you plant frees behind the existing frees on the neighbor's property, YOU will have
trees backing up to trees, Instead you could better utilize the trees on the neighbor's property by
not planting something directly on the other side of the fence that is going to compete and
interfere with the growth of both sets of these trees. Trees are not always the best solution!
Examples of screen shrubs you might consider are Pittosporum tenuffolium, Photinia, Prunus
caroliniona (Carolina cherry), or if you want something more drought tolerant you might fry Myrica
califomica (Pacific wax myrtle) or Rhamnus alaternus (Italian buckthorn). These shrubs could be
shear -pruned to keep them within the bounds of the planter and below the canopy of the
neighboring trees. Another option would be to plant shorter -growing shrubs, not used as a screen, in
the planter area. Examples of shorter shrubs would be the, smaller cultivars of India hawthorn
(Rhophiolepis indica), or one of the dwarf oleander culfivars such as Neriurn 'Petife Pink' or'Petile
Salmon'.
Will the removal of the 3 trees on the 0-Mei property negatively affect the east neighbor's black
locust trees? If [here is any negative effect such as sunburn to foliage or sunscald of branches, I
think that this will be minimal and of short durafion. The locusts are young, vigorous trees and they
P0Box 3744� ElSCH'al-o9a, 60� 9507(), 408- 7254";167, , —', I "1 11 ... . .. .. . . . I-- "I 1� . . ...... ...... .... . .... .. ... ..... ... "", . ..... .... .. . . .... _—E, . . .. ............. .. . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . ... .. .... .. .. ... . ......... . . ... . .. ....... . .......................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. . ...................... . .. . .......... . .... . ........ . ... . .............. . ............... . ......... . . . ................. . ... . .... . ... . ... . . . . . . .. . ............ . ............ . .. . .. . ............... ...... . ... .. . .. .
0-Mei Academy Arboi-ist Report, beconber, 3, 201'6 .. .... . ...... .. . ... .... . . . ....... . . . .. . .. . ....... . ................ . ........ . . .. . ...... . .. . .... . . .... ................. . ............. _"P,"('j, 9 —e'4', ....... ...... . ref 6 .. ....... . . . ... . .
DeborWh Eflis, IlVir 0 % kk
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IM
r2,'QDSUlfiri,1(`j Airbmist &
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are a fough tree species in general. in the long term the removal of frees on the O-Mei property
should benefit the growth and appearance of the neighboring block locust trees,
If the City insists that new trees be planted along the east perimeter fence line, then I would stick
with small stature trees so as to minimize future pavernent damage and not compete with the
neighboring trees. So then we're into the old stand-by's like crape myrtle hybrids (Logerstroemia
hybrids), Swamp myrtle (Tristaniopsis faurina), perhaps standards (shrubs trained to a single trunk, so
that they grow as a small tree) such as Carolina laurel cherry, Oleander, etc.
Regarding the south perimeter, I would have the some general recommendations as for the east
perimeter. A good free choice for the south perimeter would be Italian cypress, Cupressus
sempervirens 'Stricta'. Italian cypress is a fastigiate free, meaning that if grows fall and narrow;
usually no wider than 8 feel after many years. It too can be shear -pruned to keep it narrower if
necessary. If the larger island planters MI be included in the design, you might plant some broader -
canopy frees here (versus the fastigale trees along the fence line). Suggestions are crape myrtle,
evergreen or deciduous flowering pear (Pyres kowokomi or P. colleryana) or Australian willow,
Geijero parviflora.
Regarding tree planting specifications, I would like to wait to see which trees or shrubs are selected
and know the final planter dimensions, irrigation methods and other factors before any
specifications are developed for this project.
The tflio,tos at, r`rqht ShOW the SOL011
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0.,Mel Academy Arborisil- Peport. becember 3, 2010Page 5 of 6
Deborah Ellis, MS
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EXISTING NEE DATA
Tree Number: I
ScieTtl-ficname: FraXir?LIS uhdei
Common Name: evergreen ash
Trunk DSH (diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground). 9.8"
Size (height x canopy spread in feet, estimated): 30 x 30
Condition'
* Vigor: 90
* Structure: 60
Preservation Suitability: Poor
Estimated Impact of Proposed Construction: Severe
Action: Remove
Reason: Construction, Future pavernent damage
Tree Number: 2
Scientific name: Pyrus calleryana
Common Name: deciduous flowering pear
Trunk DBH: 5.2"
Size' - 30 x 15
Condition
Vigor: 80
Structure: 50
Preservation Suitability: Fair
Estimated Impact of Proposed Construction: Severe
Action: Remove
Reason: Construction
Consuffilinly Arbcwist & HOVt!CL0hAdSt
Yf,n i(rswcv 1084
Tree Number: 3
Scientific name: Pyrus calletyana
Common Name: deciduous flowering pear
Trunk DBH: 6.3"
Size: 30 x 18
Condition
* Vigor: 90
* Structure: 60
Preservation Suitability. Fair/Good
Estimated Impact of Proposed
Construction: Severe
Action: Remove
Reason: Construction
I hope this informaflon has been helpful to you. Please call or send me an ernail if you have any
questions or if I can be of further assistance.,
Sincerely,
Defibie
Deborah Ellis, MS.
Consulting Arborist 8. Horticulturist
Certified Professional Horficulfurist #30022
ASCA Regislered Consulting Arborls-1 if3O5
I.S.A. Board -Certified Master Arborist WE-457B
Condition & Pre:eervafi(.xi (aWU:6ili y 11 s are, rated for o Cndilion or) ") scak� of zero 1,'a 1010 wiffi e zro 1)6Dg �Ep
I roe
dead hee and too bdng the most perfect tree inragkoUe! (wl,m,fi ratefly exists). Us4rg this scale, 100 = excdlent, 80
pir)od, 60 = fair, 40 := poor, av d 20 = LH 1W ceptaHe. I l ere are two cornponents of tuee colidition 14gv a Id .50 actale,
Eacii of these cotnponerrts is rated sepwately and then considemJ reiative tr.ji Oic tree spedes and US(.� C)f iflk"ite t(�)
o[Aaini the Aegel vallon Sbkabillty (Le® "Is this tree woH th keepiii ag on this site, hr this locatior0").
110 ROX 371,11, sairatoga, CA 95070, 408,725 1357. dee,-oh(�-?Pac LxflLrle t, http: //Vmmdeccj'w,icu
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i Acadeniy Arbor-ist Report, becember 3, 2016.Prige 6 of 6