The Planning Commissioners thanked Ms. Maier and wished her success in her new position. Citywide Consideration of amendments to add protection of trees required for privacy protection and landscape screening on R-1 lots. Ms. Michelle Bjurman, Planner II, reviewed the background of the application, explaining that staff was directed to expand the list of specimen trees protected in the Single Family Zoning District. Currently the tree ordinance protects all types of Oak trees, and Arborist Barrie Coate recommended that the list be expanded to include California Buckeye, Big Leaf Maple and Coast Redwood. Staff has prepared a model resolution to expand the list to include these trees on the specimen tree list.
Staff recommends approval of the application according to the model resolution.
Ms. Bjurman explained the reasons staff did not concur with Mr. Coate's suggestion for the additional natives and non-natives to be added to the list. She said that one of the first reasons is because he recommended protecting those with varying measuring heights and trunk widths which would make it difficult for staff to separate what species required a specific measurement, and it would also make it a hindrance on property owners as it is an encumbrance in some people's mind to expand the list of protected species on their property. She said the objective was to keep it simple for property owners and staff, and not over-regulate property owners. She clarified that if property owners planted protected species close together, not realizing their growth potential and expansiveness, and in the future because they were endangering their home, or the roots were breaking up patios, fences, etc. She said that the Planning Director's authority to grant permission for tree removal was solely if the trees were in ill health.