TR-2012-11b OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
�
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE •CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
C U P E RT 1 N O (408) 777-3308• FAX (408) 777-3333•planning(a�cupertino.org
Apri126, 2012
Oscar Hur
7565 Erin Way
Cupertino,Ca 95014
SUBJECT: TREE REMOVAL PERMIT ACTION LETTER- Application TR-2012-11:
This letter confirms the decision of the Director of Community Development, given on April 26, 2012,
approving a Tree Removal Permit to allow the removal and replacement of a Deodar Cedar tree in the
rear yard of a single family residence,located at 7565 Erin Way,with the following conditions:
1. APPROVED PROjECT
The approval is based on the arborist's report by Michael L. Bench (#WE 189� entitled, "Peer Review
of a Cedar Tree at the property of Mr. Oscar Hur, 7565 Erin Way, Cupertino, California" received
March 30,2012 and the site plan, except as may be amended by conditions in this resolution.
2. TREE REPLACEMENTS
The applicant will be required to plant two (2), 24" box-size replacements trees in the rear of the
property in accordance with the Protected Tree Ordinance, approved replacement plan, and the
above-referenced arborist report.
3. PROTECTED TREE COVENANT
The applicant shall be required to record a covenant recording the replacement trees as protected
trees within 30 days of planting the replacement trees in accordance with the City's Protected Trees
Ordinance. Failure to do so may result in code enforcement and/or administrative citations.
4. TREE MAINTENANCE
The applicant shall be required to install and maintain the replacement trees according to the
measures included in the above-referenced arborist report,reproduced here:
a) Excellent drainage
b) 10--15% organic compost mixed into the soil
c) Thorough irrigation to establish (approx 3 years),but moderate (every 2 weeks) to low irrigation
(monthly) after well established and maintained on a permanent irrigation system
d) Planted on a mound 6-10 inches above soil grade
e) Slow release fertilizer added to mixture initially-these should need no fertilizer thereafter
� The planting hole should be dug and amended with compost about 6 inches deeper than the
box or nursery container but should be at least 6-8 feet wide (diameter) minimum,because roots
primarily grow naturally lateral not vertical.
5. 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. Pursuant to Government Code Section
66020(d) (1), these Conditions constitute written notice of a statement of the amount of such fees, and
a description of the dedications, reservations, and other exactions. You are hereby further notified
that the 90-day approval period in which you may protest these fees, dedications, reservations, and
other exactions, pursuant to Government Code Section 66020(a), has begun. If you fail to file a
protest within this 90-day period complying with all of the requirements of Section 66020, you will
be legally barred from later challenging such exactions.
Staff has received a comment from a neighbor requesting that the tree be retained on-site as it provides
shading and privacy. The applicant's arborist report and the City's own consulting arborist's peer
review are consistent. Both reports concur that the subject tree is in poor form with hazardous limb
growth and is highly prone to failure, putting the neighbor's property at high risk, requiring removal. In
addition, per the Single-Family Residential Ordinance, privacy trees are only required for two-story
homes, not one-story. Two (2) 24" box-size replacement trees will be required to be installed within the
rear yard area to offset any potential loss of shade or privacy.
Staff has made the findings necessary to grant the tree removal permit in accordance with Section
14.18.180 of the Protected Trees Ordinance. Please note, however,that an appeal of this decision can be
made within 14 calendar days from the date of the mailing of this decision. If this happens, you will
be notified of a public hearing, which will be scheduled before the Planning Commission. If no
appeal is made within the appeal period,the tree may be removed beginning Friday, May 11,2012.
Sincerely,
T
Simon Vuong
Assistant Planner
408-777-1356
simonv@cupertino.org
cc: Lisa Chen, 10568 McClellan Pl, Cupertino, CA 95014
1°Ye S . . _. . l., ...,.-`! [` �T'�-�1c "' / �
.._... lf"��' �%.� Peer Review of a Cedar Tree at the Property of
� Mr. Oscar Hur RECEIV�D
.. �� --�� -- 7565 Erin Way
Cupertino, California
Assignment $y; �^� �
I was asked by Mr. Simon Vuong to perform a peer review of the Arborist's Report
by Mr. Kevin R. Kielty, Certified Arborist dated March 5, 2012, concerning a deodar
cedar tree at the property of Mr. Oscar Hur, 7565 Erin Way, Cupertino, California.
Observations
I visited the site on March 29, 2012.
I observed that the Arborist's Report by Mr. Kielty to be an accurate assessment of
the condition of the deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) with one small exception. Mr.
Kielty states that the "vigor of the tree is fair..." In my opinion, the vigor is quite
good. The annual branch tip growth is vigorous and the overall health is good.
However, the vigorous growth contributes to the hazardous potential of the limbs,
because vigorous growth would tend to hasten and increase the chances of a limb
failure.
The only other error I found with Mr. Kielty's report is the street address, 2565 Erin
Way, Cupertino. There are no houses starting with 2500 on this short street. I had
some difficulty finding Mr. Hur's residence as a result of this error. The actual
address is 7565 Erin Way.
As Mr. Kielty stated, this deodar cedar has been "topped" numerous times. The
secondary growth produces branches and limbs (Limbs are distinguished from
branches by their size in that limbs are larger) that poorly attached biologically and
are, therefore, highly prone to failure. In this case, it appears that the greatest risk
is to the neighboring property.
The back yard of Mr. Hur is relatively small. Landscape renovations and upgrades
are in progress. These improvements reduce the useable soil space to a relatively
small area. The back yard is too small to effectively support a mature deodar cedar,
which can reach 50-70 feet in canopy spread or greater. The current landscape
improvements will make the available space for a replacement deodar cedar not
entirely impossible, but certainly very impractical and undesirable for most people.
The available space is under power lines. Thus, replacement with a deodar cedar or
any other tall species, would eventually result in the same problem.
Mr. Kielty recommends a red maple as a replacement tree. In my experience, this
species (Acer rubrum) grows rather rapidly to an ultimate height of approximately
35-40 feet, possibly taller. In my opinion, the red maple species would eventually be
problematic under the power lines at this site. However, there is sufficient available
space along the back fence to plant a small species. Not only would a small species
tree be a practical replacement but would be a fine accent to Mr. Hur's landscape
improvement project.
Recommendations
1. I recommend to accept Mr. Hur's application to remove and replace his
deodor cedar tree, which exists in his back yard.
2. I recommend to replace the deodar cedar according to City of Cupertino
guidelines with one or two trees of the following species:
Dwarf Olive ( Olea europea 'Skylark')
Hybrid madrone (Arbutus `Marina')
Saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana)
Crape myrtle (Lagerstromia indica)
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
African sumac (Rhus lancea)
Grecian laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum - a Standard Green or a Coral bark
('Sango Kaku') - these are two of the most reliable for this area.
Trident maple (Acer buegerianum)
Vine maple (Acer circinatum)
Full Moon maple (AceY japonicum 'Vitifolium�
No common name (Acer truncatum)
Flaxleaf Paperbark (Melaleuca linarifolia)
Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki)
All of these trees require: (1) excellent drainage, (2) 10--15% organic compost mixed
into the soil; (3) thorough irrigation to establish (approx 3 years), but moderate (every
2 weeks) to low irrigation (monthly) after well established and maintained on a
permanent irrigation system; (4) planted on a mound 6-10 inches above soil grade; (5)
slow release fertilizer added to mixture initially - these should need no fertilizer
thereafter;(6) the planting hole should be dug and amended with compost about 6
inches deeper than the box or nursery container but should be at least 6-8 feet wide
(diameter) minimum, because roots primarily grow naturally lateral not vertical.
I advise the homeowner that these 6 items are equally important if not more important
than the species selected for success. Also, all 6 of these items are essential to success.
Respectfully submitted, �= `�� �' �-��-��`'� �'�`���� � � �
�I -_.��: �_.�
,--_,`__ e�_�
Michael L. Bench, Consulting Arborist
International Society of Arboriculture Certification # WE 1897
American Society of Consulting Arborists Member
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�ttp:l/gissvrlcupertinointranet/home/mapFile.aspx Tuesday, March 06, 2012 9:28 AM