ERC 10-23-2014Community Development Department
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 777-3308
APPROVED MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW COMMITTEE HELD ON OCTOBER 23, 2014
Committee Members:, Roger Lee
Gary Chao
Paul Brophy
Committee Members absent: David Brandt
Aarti Shrivastava
Timm Borden
Barry Chang
Staff present: Tiffany Brown
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
October 2, 2014
The minutes of October 2, 2014 were amended and approved
October 16, 2014
The minutes of October 16, 2014 were approved
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
(Reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on issues that are not already included in the regular
Order of Business)
NEW ITEMS:
Application No. (s) MCA -2013-01 (EA -2013-02)
Applicant: City of Cupertino
Location: citywide
Municipal Code Amendment to Chapter 14.18, Protected Trees
❑ Discussion
Based upon recommendations from the City Council, Planning Commission and general public
study sessions, the following changes have been proposed to the Municipal Code:
o Introduction definitions of mature and non -mature species, providing exemptions for
trees less than 12" in diameter (75" circumference) at DBH
o Removal of the California Bay and addition of the London Plane tree to the Protected
Tree list
o Streamline the permit process for protected trees between12" and 24" in diameter at
DBH in the Single Family Residential and Duplex Zones (R1, Al, A, RHS and R2)
• Introduce a cap to the amount of trees that can be removed per the streamlined process
year for the Single Family and Duplex Zones - Specimen trees could be removed
without justification from an arborist for trees between 12"and 24" and without noticing
for up to 6 trees or 5% on the property within a 36 month period
o Covenant Recordation requirements no longer apply to Specimen trees in the Rl, Al, A,
RHS and R2 Zones
o Introduce an optional in -lieu fee for when replanting replacement trees on site may not
be preferred - While on-site replanting will no longer be required, a replacement tree
will still need to be replanted somewhere within the City with use for in -lieu fees,
maintaining a 1-1 ratio in the R1, Al, A, RHS and R2 Zones
o In the past 6 years, 4 protected trees between 10" and 12" have been removed, however,
in 12 other instances, the size of the tree was not noted. 1 California Bay was removed,
the size of the tree was not noted.
o The Initial Study indicates that the proposed changes to the Tree Ordinance would have
no impacts or less than significant impacts to the standard environmental categories
ACTION: Recommendation for approval of a Negative Declaration for EA -2013-02
MOTION: Roger Lee
SECOND: Gary Chao
NOES: none
VOTE: 3-0-0
OLD BUSINESS
None
Respectfully submitted,
P'Aa
Beth Ebben
Administrative Clerk