DIR-2005-33b
CITY OF CUPERTINO
10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014 (408) 777-3308
To:
Mayor and City Councilmembers
Chair and Planning Commission
Steve Piasecki, Director of Community Developme~
From:
Prepared by: Ciddy Wordell, City Planner
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Date: December 20,2005
Subj: File No. DIR-2005-33: Minor Modification for landscaping in the Veteran's
section of the Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 22555 Cristo Rey Drive.
Chapter 19.132 of the Cupertino Municipal Code allows for administrative approval of
minor changes to a project. The Director reports his decision to the City Council and
Planning Commission in time to allow any Councilmember or Planning Commissioner to
appeal the decision within fourteen calendar days.
BACKGROUND:
On August 23, 2005, the Planning Commission approved a use permit for statuary and
Veteran's markers and landscape feature at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Condition 4 of
the use permit states:
A detailed landscape plan shall be approved by the Planning Commission prior to
implementation of the use permit, with the exception of the Veterans' memorial,
which can be installed with landscaping subject to the Director of Community
Development. The detailed landscape plan shall include landscaping for the new
niche feature and trellis in the veterans' section.
This application is for the landscaping in the veterans' section.
DISCUSSION:
The landscaping plan consists of:
. Tree screen between the six veterans' markers and the east property line
(six arbutus marina, evergreen tree; 12 Prunus Carolinian, Carolina
Cherry, evergreen tree)
. Climbing roses along the fence (85 Rosa Var. Cecille Brunner)
. Various shmbs, ground covers and seasonal flowers
Condition 5 of the use permit requires annual topping of the trees between the residential
area on the east property line and cemetery. Tree height is to be maintained at 7 feet
above in the fence in the Veterans' Plaza area.
Vines are intended to be planted at each comer of the niche feature, but are not shown. A
condition of this approval requires them to be planted.
Four honey locust trees are proposed to be removed in the southern portion of this area.
The cemetery's arborist reports that these trees lack foliage during a large part of the
growing season, and appear unattractive to cemetery staff. The four Carolina Cherries
proposed along the property line will be sufficient replacements in this area.
ACTION:
The Director of Community Development approves the plan with the foHowing
condition:
Climbing vines shaH be planted at each corner of the niche feature.
Enclosures:
Plan Set
Arborist Report
GPlanning/ PDREPORT / DIRreports /2005/ DIR2005-33.doc
2
TREE REPORT
GATE OF HEAVEN CEMETARY
22555 CRISTO REY DRIVE
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA
TELEPHONE 650-280-3248 OR 650-428-3730
ON OCTOBER 25,2005, I INSPECTED EXISTING TREES PRORPOSED FOR
REMOVAL AT THE CEMETARY SITE.
Assignment
At the request ofMr. Robert Lindberg the director of the Gate of Heaven Cemetery,
I was asked to evaluate the condition and give recommendations concerning the
removal of several existing trees on his site.
Comments and suggestions contained in this report presume that the loc;=ttions of trees
in relation to the existing construction are accurately presented on the plans provided.
Summary
There are four large trees near the veteran's memorial site which are proposed for
removal and replacement. The property owner would like to remove all these trees
and replace them with more attractiv~ trees. If these trees were offered for sale in the
California market place they would have little or no value at this time but the
International Society of Arboricultur~ does have an appraisal system that attempts to
establish tree replacement value. I w~ll use this system to approximate wplacement
value for each tree.
TREE NO. THREE GLEDITSIA triacanthos (HONEY LOCUST) 11 inch diameter
tree. This species is fast growing and native to the cold winter regions of central and
eastern North America. As an adaption to its native environment the tree is late leaf out
and drops its leaves early in the fall. For this reason, the tree lacks foliage during a large
part of the growing season in California and appears unattractive to cemetery staff. The
value of this tree is calculated as follows: 95 sq. in. cross section @27 dollars per sq. in. =
$2566 x 30 % species class $770 x 50% condition $385 x 80% location gives a tree value
of $308 dollars.
TREE NO. THREE (A) GLEDITSIA triacanthos (HONEY LOCUST) 12 inch
diameter tree. The value of this tree is calculated as follows: 113 sq.in. cross section (clJ
27 dollars per sq. in. =$3054 x 30 % spe~ies class = $916 x 50 {% condition = $458 x 80%)
location gives a tree value of $366 dollars.
TRKE NO. FOUR GLEDITSIA triacaQthos (HONEY LOCUST) 11 inch ~iiameter tree.
Repeat of calculations for TREE NO. THREE for a value of $308 dollars.
TREE NO. FIVE GLEDITSIA triacanthos (HONEY LOCUST) 10.5 iqch diameter
tree. The value of this tree is calculated as follows: 86 sq. in. cross section @27
dollars per sq. in. = $2339 x 30 % species class =$702 x 50% condition =$351 x 80 %
location gives a tree value of $28 I dollars.
Observations
The health and structure of each tree is rated on a scale of I to 5 (exceptional to poor).
Please note that each tree's structure is distinguished from health. The combination of
health and structure ratings for the four trees are converted to individual specimen
descriptive ratings as follows:
Exceptional
Fine
Fair
Marginal
Poor
3,3A, 4, 5
Exceptional specimens should be retflined at any cost and whatever procedures are
needed to retain them in their current condition should be used.
Fine specimens can be retained if possible but without major design revisions.
Mitigation procedures here are intended to limit damage within accepted horticultural
standards in order to prevent decline.
Fair specimens are worth retaining without major design revisions. Mitigation could
prevent further decline.
Poor specimens cannot signifIcantly improve regardless of care. For those retained,
mitigation may not be typically requested.
Recommendations
The following mitigation suggestions are intended to reduce the extent of removal
impact on site to acceptable levels, so that the horticultural quality of the site can be
retained and the cemetery trees cml reasonably be assured of survival without decline
in the near future. I f changes occur during construction. contact the arborist to
develop the best solution for protecting the health of the cemetery trees:
1. I recommend that Trees #3 through 5 be removed to facilitate new construction
and new tree installation \vith inlproved tree species.
2
Value Assessment
'The value of trees is appraised according to the ISA Appraisal trunk fonnula method,
Ninth Edition 2000.
The trees to be removed have the following values tree #3 $308 dollars tree #3A
$366 dollars tree #4 $308 dollars tree #5 $281 dollars . For a total amount of $1263
dollars.
The following replacement trees have already been purchased: Sequoia sempervirens
'Aptos Blue' sixteen 36" box and eight 48" box trees.; Sequoia sempervirens 'Soquel'
four 60" box trees; Prunus caroliniana fifteen 36" box trees and Arbutus marina seven 36
inch box trees.
These replacement trees more than the equal the value of the removed trees. Forty one
thousand dollars worth of nursery replacement trees have already been purchased from
Valley Crest Specimen Tree Nursery plus the contract installation value for these trees of
$40,000 dollars for a grand total of $81 ,000 dollars of replacement costs. These
replacement expenses will more than mitigate the proposed removal of the 4 trees in this
report.
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Mark Beaud:b:rbodst WC 1050
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