TR-2013-05bCUPERTINO
March 22, 2013
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014 -3255
(408) 777 -3308 • FAX (408) 777 -3333 • planningaa cupertino.org
Front Porch
c/o Sunnyview Lutheran Home
Attn: Charlis Younan
22445 Cupertino Road
Cupertino, CA 95014
SUBJECT: TREE REMOVAL PERMIT ACTION LETTER - Application TR- 2013 -05
This letter confirms the decision of the Director of Community Development, given on March 22,
2013, approving a Tree Removal Permit to allow the removal and replacement of two Black Locust
trees and one Evergreen Ash tree at a retirement community ( Sunnyview Lutheran Home), located
at 22445 Cupertino Road. The application is approved with the following conditions:
1. APPROVED PROJECT
This approval is based on the arborist report prepared by Consulting Arborist, Michael Bench
(WE- 1897A), dated February 12, 2013, consisting of 3 pages, and a tree removal and tree
replacement site plan, except as may be amended by conditions in this resolution.
2. TREE REPLACEMENTS
The applicant is required to plant three (3) 36 -inch box replacement trees in accordance with
the Protected Trees Ordinance and approved tree replacement plan. Modifications to the tree
species and location may be made to the approved replacement plan pending staff approval.
The replacement trees shall be planted within 30 days of the effective approval date of this tree
removal permit.
3. 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 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 and the trees cannot be removed until a final decision on the appeal has been made. If
no appeal is made within the appeal period, the tree(s) may be removed on or after Monday April 8,
2013.
Sincerely,
Si on �Vuong
Assistant Planner
(408) 777 -1356
simony @cupertino.org
Enclosure: Tree removal and replacement Site Plan
CC: Front Porch, Attn: Sally, 303 N Glenoaks Blvd #1000, Burbank CA 91502
Michael L. Bench
Consulting Arborist
(831) 594 -5151
7327 Langley Canyon Road
Prunedale, CA 93907
APPROVAL IW — 42 013 -D
.-A:on Number
F
Eg 14 2013
An Inspection of ThreeTrees
Sunnyview Retirement Community By. _ "V
20449 Cupertino Road
Cupertino, California
Assignmeent
I was asked by Mr. Simon Vuong, Assistant Planner, to inspect 3 trees, believed
to be ash specimens, at the Sunnyview Retirement Community 20449 Cupertino Road,
Cupertino, California. These 3 trees are reported to be "not too healthy" by Mr Charlis
Younan, Director of Environmental Services, and requests that these trees be removed if
warranted.
Tree # 1 — Evergreen Ash
The 3 trees are located in a courtyard. Mr. Younan met me at the entrance to the office and
escorted me to the courtyard. Tree # 1, seen at the center of this photo, is an Evergreen ash
(also called Shamel ash, Fraxinus undei). It has a trunk diameter of 40 inches DBH (Diameter
at Breast Height = 54 inches above grade). This courtyard is used extensively.
This tree has an overall height of
approximately 50 feet and a canopy spread of
approximately 35 feet.
Its health is good but its structural integrity is poor.
It has suffered several previous limb failures in
recent years. Dr. Ed Gilman, University of Florida,
states that a tree, having had limb failures, has a
higher risk of additional limb failures than trees
without failures.
There are several limb or branch unions called co-
dominant leaders with imbedded bark in this tree.
Sometimes these flaws can be corrected by
pruning, but in this case, because there are so many
of these co- dominant stems, pruning to correct
them would leave the tree with almost no canopy.
The roots of this tree have forced sidewalk repairs
2 times in the past. Several cracks in the concrete
and some heaving of the concrete exists at several locations around the perimeter of the planter
bed, in which this tree exists.
Prepared by Michael L. Bench, Consulting Arborist February 12, 2013
Conclusion Concerning Tree # 1
It appears that the facility could manage periodic repairs of the concrete around this tree at
least in the near future. However, should the tree be preserved, the severity and the frequency
of sidewalk repairs would certainly increase in a relatively short time due, in part, to the tree's
maturity.
However, the risk of limb failure is significant. The potential risk to residents, because of
numerous weak branch attachments and because of very frequent usage, the risk is elevated to
significant, possible severe. A higher risk condition would extreme, which would be judged to
be eminent.
Recommendations
Because of the significant risk that this tree poses, I recommend that it be removed and
replaced. It appears that replacements could be planted in a planter bed (currently turf) in the
north side of this courtyard.
Tree # 2 — Black Locust
Tree # 2 is a black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in the photo below left. It trunk diameter is
16 inches DBH. The canopy height is approximately 25 feet and the canopy spread is
approximately 20 feet. The overall condition is poor.
I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NOW
Y
Although this tree is dormant, it appears that at least
one of the branches is dead.
In effect, this tree is declining. It would likely
maintain a small portion of the canopy alive for a few
years, which would be typical for this species, but it
be a sad looking specimen.
Tree # 3 — Black locust
Tree # 3 is also a black locust (Robinia
pseudoacacia) in the photo to the right. It trunk
diameter is 17 inches DBH. The canopy height is
approximately 25 feet and the canopy spread is
approximately 15 feet. The overall condition is
extremely poor. There are several small cavities
on the trunk, which is not surprising. This species
does not fight infection well.
Prepared by Michael L. Bench, Consulting Arborist February 12, 2013 2
Conclusions
Both black locust Trees # 2 and # 3 are in decline. They could not be expected to respond
significantly to fertilization or any other treatment.
Recommendations
I recommend that Trees # 2 and # 3 be removed and replaced. It appears that replacements
could be planted in a planter bed (currently turf) in the north side of this courtyard.
Replacement Species
I suggest any of the following species.
Large Trees
London plane (Platanus acerifolia `Columbia')
Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)
Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
Interior live oak (Quercus wislizenii)
Valley oak (Quercus lobata)
Southern Live oak (Quercus virginiana)
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
Medium Trees
(Most of these medium size trees for many years but eventually can become large)
Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) can even
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
Fruitless olive (Olea europea `Swan Hill')
Red oak (Quercus rubra)
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthefolius)
Sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) be sure to require a Male specimen. The Female specimens of this
species produce a very stinky fruit.
Small Trees (some of these eventually become medium trees, but rarely large)
Hyhbrid Arbutus (Arbutus `Marina')
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)
Small leaf paper bark (Melaleuca linariifolia)
Peppermint (Agonis flexuosa)
African sumac (Rhus lancea)
Grecian laurel (Laurus nobilis `Saratoga')
Magnolia hybrid (Magnolia `Galaxy')
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
Water gum (Tristaniopsis laurina)
Respectfully submitted,
Michael L. Bench, Consulting Arborist
International Society of Arboriculture Certification # WE 1897A
American Society of Consulting Arborists Member
Prepared by Michael L. Bench, Consulting Arborist February 12, 2013 3
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