HomeMy WebLinkAboutTR-2025-025 - Citys Consultant Arborist Report_22115 Dean Ct
HortScience│Bartlett Consulting ● Divisions of The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company
2550 Ninth Street Suite 112 ● Berkeley, CA 94710 ● 925.484.0211 ● www.hortscience.com
October 2, 2025
Catherine Tarone
City of Cupertino
10300 Toree Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
Subject: Coast live oak
22115 Dean Court
Dear Ms. Tarone:
You requested that I assess the health and structural condition of a coast live oak (Quercus
agrifolia) tree located on private property at the subject location within the Meadows Townhomes
HOA. I inspected the tree on September 23. In attendance were Mr. John Buenz and his wife,
Marilyn. Mr. Buenz has owned and occupied the property for approximately 50 years. On August
22, 2025, Mr. Buenz applied for a permit to remove the tree. The City of Cupertino requested an
arborist report to address questions regarding the removal of the tree. This letter summarizes my
observations and assessment.
Observations
The coast live oak was located in a mounded landscape square in a corner of the front patio. The
base of the tree was approximately 1 foot above natural grade, 5 feet from the east wall and 3
feet from the south wall (Photo 1). Sparsely planted landscaping surrounded the patio, which
was comprised of small interlocking pavers and began 4
feet from the north and west bases of the tree. River
stone and large rocks covered the soil around the base of
the tree from the patio to the walls. Mr. Buenz stated that
he installed the tree in or around 1980 and has had it
pruned annually over many years to limit the size and
spread of the crown.
The tree was mature in development with a trunk diameter
of 33 inches. Condition was good with a vigorous,
balanced crown despite consistent pruning which had
removed or defoliated interior branches. Tree structure
consisted of codominant stems at 8 feet and evenly
distributed branches. Branches extended 15 feet over the
client’s and a neighbor’s house (Photo 2, following page). Attachments appeared normal and
root flare was correctly exposed in the raised bed. Foliage color was ideal whereas foliage was
missing or necrotic on mature coast live oaks in the immediate vicinity. I observed no insect
damage, disease, or damage to the trunk, stems, or branches.
Roots from the oak had begun to dislodge pavers and raise a nearby concrete pathway which
lead to the front entrance and patio (Photo 3 and inset, following page). The garage was built on
a concrete slab located 10 feet west of the trunk. No cracking or upheaving of the slab was
visible.
Photo 1: The coast live oak was 5 feet
from the east wall and 3 feet from the
south wall in a raised landscape square.
City of Cupertino, Arborist Report October 2025
22115 Dean Court, Coast live oak Page 2
HortScience│Bartlett Consulting ● Divisions of The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company
Photo 3 and inset: Roots
had begun to lift pavers in
the patio as well as a
concrete path (arrow).
Photo 2: The crown overhung two houses by 15 feet.
City of Cupertino, Arborist Report October 2025
22115 Dean Court, Coast live oak Page 3
HortScience│Bartlett Consulting ● Divisions of The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company
Response to City of Cupertino Questions
On September 8, the City of Cupertino requested that we address the following items:
1. Your evaluation of the overall health and structure of the Coast Live Oak.
The tree is in overall good health and structure.
2. Has the tree outgrown the planting area? Is the tree too close to the residence according
to good urban forestry practices? These townhomes were constructed at the property
line with no side or front-yard setback. Can the tree be trimmed to ISA standards (given
the average canopy spread of a Coast Live Oak), or is the tree located too close to the
applicant’s and neighbor’s residences to achieve the owner’s goal of keeping the tree
from spreading over his and his neighbor’s roof?
The tree has outgrown the planting area. While the tree does not currently impact either
house or roof, this is due to it having been consistently pruned over its life to maintain a
rounded crown much smaller in size than what might be expected from a normal coast
live oak. Lack of interior growth and branches leave few options in terms of how much
the crown may be reduced without violating ISA standards and damaging the tree.
3. Are the tree’s roots likely to cause damage to the residence or garage’s foundation due to
its proximity? Is the uplift of the adjacent paver walkway likely to be due to the roots of
this tree?
It is likely that the tree’s roots will damage the garage foundation. It is unlikely that roots
will damage the property foundation. Roots have already impacted the patio and
concrete pathway at the entrance to the property.
4. In your opinion, does the proposal to remove the Coast Live Oak meet at least one of the
criteria for removal in the City of Cupertino’s Municipal Code?
“14.18.180 Review, Determination and Findings.
A. The approval authority shall approve a tree removal permit only after making at
least one of the following findings:
1. That the tree or trees are irreversibly diseased, are in danger of falling, can
cause potential damage to existing or proposed essential structures, or
interferes with private on-site utility services and cannot be controlled or
remedied through reasonable relocation or modification of the structure or
utility services;
2. That the location of the trees restricts the economic enjoyment of the property
by severely limiting the use of property in a manner not typically experienced
by owners of similarly zoned and situated property, and the applicant has
demonstrated to the satisfaction of the approval authority that there are no
reasonable alternatives to preserve the tree(s).
3. That the protected tree(s) are a detriment to the subject property and cannot be
adequately supported according to good urban forestry practices due to the
overplanting or overcrowding of trees on the subject property.”
The proposal to remove the coast live oak meets the definition of Criterion 1: The tree
can cause significant potential damage to existing structures.
City of Cupertino, Arborist Report October 2025
22115 Dean Court, Coast live oak Page 4
HortScience│Bartlett Consulting ● Divisions of The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company
5. In your opinion, is there room to plant any replacement trees in the private rear yard of
this residence, or do existing trees prevent replacement trees from being planted? The
front of the property is not an option since it is on the HOA’s common area.
There is no room to plant similar replacement trees in the rear of the residence due to the
presence of established trees of various size both within and adjacent to the property.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding my findings.
HortScience | Bartlett Consulting
Scott Wheeler, Consulting Arborist
Registered Consulting Arborist #881
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist #WE-10187B
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
ASCA Tree & Plant Appraisal Qualified