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DIR-2005-25b CITY OF CUPERTINO 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014 (408) 777-3308 To: Mayor and City Council Members Chairman and Planning Commissioners Steve Piasecki, Director of Community Developme~ Prepared by: Aki Honda, Senior Planner From: Date: October 6, 2005 Subject: Director's Minor Modification, DIR-2005-25, to remove a decaying oak tree located at 10506 N. Foothill Blvd within an R2-4.25 (Residential Duplex, 4.25 units! gross acre) zoning district. Chapter 19.132 of the Cupertino Municipal Code allows for administrative approval of minor changes in a project. The Director reports his decision to the City Council and Planning Commission in time to allow an appeal of the decision within fourteen calendar days. DISCUSSION: The applicant, Luis Villa of Charities Housing Development Corporation, proposes to remove a decayed 36-inch diameter coast live oak tree on property located at 10506 N. Foothill Blvd. The oak tree is located along the northern property line adjacent to the fence that separates the duplex property at 10506 N. Foothill Blvd. from the adjacent duplex property at 10516 N. Foothill Blvd. The applicant has also submitted a tree inspection report (see attachments) from a certified arborist, Mark Beaudoin, which states that the arborist inspected the tree and found that the trunk is 95% decayed at the base of the tree, is leaning toward the entry and roof of the adjacent duplex property, and has been topped resulting in a number of weakly branch growths. Additionally, it is noted that concrete fills were previously placed in the truck and are now resting around and within the trunk cavity. The applicant states that the concrete fills were placed in the tree trunk by a previous owner of the property. As a result of the inspection, the arborist recommends that the tree be removed as soon as possible as it presents a hazard of possibly falling over. The applicant would like to gain approval so that the tree can be removed prior to the start of the inclement weather seasons. Staff conducted an inspection of the property and concurs with the arborist's report of the condition of the tree. The site is densely landscaped with trees on site; therefore, an additional tree is not recommended to be planted within the existing narrow side yard landscaping area of the site. However, staff is requiring that another existing oak tree G:\ Planning \ PDREPORT\ DlRreports \ 2005 \ DIR-200S-2S.doc DIR-2005-25 Page 2 October 6, 2005 (see Site Plan) on the property that is healthy and mature, although leaning toward the duplex building on the subject property, be maintained. The construction of the duplex unit was actually modified to accommodate the growth pattern of this oak tree, as it existed prior to the construction of the duplex unit, and was required to be maintained per the conditions of approval for development of the duplex unit in 1965. ACTION: The Director of Community Development approves the tree removal with the following conditions: 1. Approval is granted to remove only the existing 36-inch diameter decayed coast live oak tree as referred to in the arborist report by Mark Beaudoin and inspected on July 27, 2005. 2. The applicant shall maintain the existing healthy and mature oak tree on the property along the northern property line. This approval of the modification is effective October 6, 2005. The fourteen calendar day appeal period will expire on October 20,2005. ENCLOSURES: Letter from Hallmark Group Photographs of the oak tree Arborist Report Site Plan $ Hallmark Group Capital Program Management Date: August 15, 2005 City of Cupertino Planning. Department 10300 Torre Ave. Cupertino, CA 95014 RE: 10506 Foothill Blvd., Cupertino, CA - Tree Removal Request Dear Sir/Madam, The purpose of this letter is to request a permit to remove a decayi.ng oak tree at 10506 N. Foothill Blvd. in Cupertino. Attached is a tree inspection report from a certified arborist, Mark Beaudoin. In his report, Mr. Beaudoin notes the poor health and condition of the subject tree and recommends immediate removal. Also accompanying this letter is a check payable to the City of Cupertino for $1 ,000, which represents the required deposit to cover due diligence costs associated with the City's own inspection to determine the subject tree's condition. Please feel free to communicate directly with Luis Villa at ChsJities Housing Development Corporation, the Hallmark Group's authorized representative on this matter. Mr. Villa's number is (408) 282-1132. Thank you very much. Page 1 of 1 The Hallmark Group LLC hgcpm.com 2041 Hallmark Drive, Suite 10, Sacramento CA 95825 Phone 916-923-1500 Fax 916-646-6127 MARK BEAUDOIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT A.S.L.A. Arborist - International Society of Arboriculture C.A.P.C.A. Pest Control Advisor P.O. Box 2032 . San Jose, California 95109 Telephone (4081 395~2862 TREE REPORT K/'\TII'l ROBINSOJ'; .CIIARIT1ES HOUSING ] 0536 j."(KHlIILL BOULEV ARD CUPERTINO, CAI,IFORNIA l'EL. NOA08-282-1138 or FAX 408-282-1140 ON JULY 27,2005. I INSPECTED A 36 INCH DIAMETER COAST LIVE OAK BETWEEN 10526 AND 10516 FOCYIHILL BOULEVARD CUPERTINO.CALlFORNIA WITH THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS: 1 THE TREE 'fRUNK IS 95 PER CENT DECA YED AT THE BASE WHERE n MEET'S '['HE GROUND, THE TRUNK IS SO DECAYED THAT PREVIOUS CONCRETE FILLS PLACED TNfHE TRUNK ARE DETACHED AND ARE .IlIST RESTING IN THE TRUNK CAVITY. 2 THE TREE IS LEANINC; TOWARD THE ENTRY AND ROOF OF 105]6 FOOTHILL BOULEY ARD AND COULD COLLAPSE IN Tf-IIS DIRECTION AT ANY TIME 3 TREE HAS BEEN TOPPED ON THE VlEST SIDE AT APPROXIMAT'EL Y 30 FEET AND T'IIE EAST SIDE AT APPROXIMATEL Y 15 FEET. THIS TOPPING HAS PRODUCED /\ LOT OF WEAKLY ATTACHED SUCKER GROWTIL AFTER CONSIDERAflON OF TIIESE FINDINGS. I BELIEVE THIS TREE PRESENTS A HAZARD TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY AND SHOULD BE REMOVED AS S()ON AS POSSIBLE. .ARBORIsr \VC 1 050 J~~qA c:=-~ie~ "'~. '0' - . . .rL52- -"',? I..~)r~ :::--....'1-------:r...~~-h---e; 1O~' ',.,; , I ~~ A. ~. I ,. u'r, ~t'f'f ~~1. 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