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TR-2014-50b OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT , �, CITY HALL 10300 TORRE AVENUE •CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 C U P E RT I N O (408)777-3308•FAX(408)777-3333•planning�a�cupertino.org October 8, 2014 Roy Mollard 10728 Deep Cliffe Dr Cupertino, Ca. 95014 SUBJECT: TREE REMOVAL PEIZMIT ACTION LETTER—Application TR-2014-50 T'his letter confirms the decision of the Director of Community Development, given on October 8, 2014, approving a Tree Removal Permit to allow the removal and replacement of a 23" diameter Blue Atlas Cedar tree and a 24" diameter Deodar Cedar tree in the yard of a private residence, located at 10728 Deep Cliffe Drive. The application to remove the trees is approved with the following conditions: 1. APPROVED PROTECT This approval is based on the arborist report prepared by Michael Bench (WE-1897A), dated August 21, 2014, consisting of three pages and a removal and replacement site plan, except as may be amended by conditions in this resolution. 2. TREE REPLACEMENTS The applicant is required to plant four (4) 24-inch box trees Dwarf Japanese Maple trees in accordance with the Protected Trees Ordinance and approved tree replacement plan. Modification to the tree species and location may be made to the approved replacement plan pending staff approval. The replacement tree 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. Sincerely, i � Erick Serrano Assistant Planner City of Cupertino Encl: Tree Removal and Replacement Plan Z.......nr'"�� ,,,,.�� Michael L.Bench .�-�,//-�--,�j M1 ^ Consulting Arborist ` r, ' :f' �a;=;s ;'�.«�,-. � (831) 594-5151 '` ' . .�Q.".�� ..r.. ��"�~�. `�._ . � ;" ,_ .,...,,.�_ 7327 Lan ley Canyon Road � ♦J� � """""�' �I"�� 2 ' .. .. . .. `.� ,_'_ g -�,'; '>, �:�'. �lR. Prunedale,California 93907 �� .,./�....,.�"",�. """``" , � Inspection of Two Cedar Trees 10728 Deep Cliffe Drive Cupertino, California Assignment I was asked by Mr. George Schroeder, Planner, City of Cupertino, to inspect two trees requested by the owner to remove at 10728 Deep Cliffe Drive, Cupertino, California. Observations I met the owner, Mr. Roy Mollard, at the site and inspected the trees on August 21, 2014. Blue Atlas Cedar The tree nearest the residence on a terraced slope above a spa is a Blue atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica glauca). This tree has a trunk diameter of 22.8 inches at 54 inches above grade. The health is good,but the structural integrity is poor. This specimen has 3 co-dominant leaders attached at an acute angle with imbedded bark at about 25 feet above grade. One or more of the 3 leaders is as high risk of breaking apart from the others. If one breaks out, there is a good chance that one or both of the other two may break at the same place on the trunk a year or two later. The usual procedure is to install cables, which are very effective at preventing this type of failure. However, there must be a space of 8-10 feet between the stems higher in the canopy for cabling to be feasible. There exists only about 12-15 inches of space between these 3 stems for most of their height. Thus, cabling is not an option for this specimen. A more important issue is that this tree is located on a slope and approximately 12 inches down slope from a small lawn. The result is that the trunk of this tree stays well virtually all of the time. In the winter months, the downspouts on the south side of the residence drain into the landscape about 10 feet up slope from the trunk of this tree. In most winter seasons, the soil on the slope above the trunk of this tree is soggy wet, according to Mr. Mollard. This combination of site conditions is reasonable to me. I inspected a portion of the root collar of this blue atlas cedar, and I encountered two pocket of oak root fungus (Armellaria mellea) disease. The volume was not sufficient to consider this tree immediately hazardous,but in all likelihood, this disease will continue to advance,because of the site conditions up slope. Eventually this tree would be at risk of falling. � Prepared by Michael L. Bench, Consulting Arborist August 21, 2014 1 10728 Deep Cliffe Dr. Cupertino, California Mr. Mollard informed me that a repair in the sewer line must be done. The excavation for this sewer would require a hole 7 feet long, 5 feet wide and 7 feet deep. The sewer line repair will be done at about 7 feet below grade. Mr. Mollard stated that the excavation pit would be approximately 7 feet from the trunk of this blue atlas cedar. The root damage from this excavation could be severe. Mr. Mollard was concerned about roots getting in the new sewer line after repairs. I told Mr. Mollard that the roots of this species (and most species) grow in the top 24 inches of soil. It is very unlikely that the roots of this tree would grow downward to invade the new pipe. This tree indeed creates several maintenance problems, as Mr. Mollard has pointed out. Although these problems may be a nuisance, these alone are not typically considered sufficient to remove a tree. Recommendation Considering all of the site conditions and the root collar disease, it is reasonable to warrant the removal of this tree, in my opinion. The replacement of this tree will be difficult as there is almost no open space on the property, because of the density of the existing planting. However, it would be possible to plant a dwarf Japanese maple at the edge of the back lawn, or outside the edge of the back lawn. This species can tolerate the moist conditions as long as it would not be located at the down slope location of the lawn run off,which is where the Blue atlas cedar exists. Because of the relative high cost of Japanese maple nursery stock, a 24-inch box dwarf Japanese maple would be comparable in value to this cedar. Deodar Cedar This tree is a deodar cedar(Cedrus deodaYa) located adjacent to the north side fence and approximately midway down slope in the back yard. The trunk of this tree is 23.8 inches in diameter at 54 inches above grade. The canopy is reasonably dense and there are no major structural weaknesses in the branching architecture. The soil around this tree is quite wet and it appears obvious that the soil stays at least thoroughly moist if not wet most of the time, because of the water migration down slope from up hill irrigation. The up hill planting is quite dense. I inspected a portion of the root collar of this deodar cedar. There is also a pocket of oak root fungus (Armellaria mellea). I did not inspect the entire root collar as it was covered by soil and by dense ground cover. Mr. Mollard had reported that another cedar had fallen nearby. I asked him where the trunk fallen tree had stood, to which he stated it was about 4-5 feet from the trunk of this tree. In most cases, the failure of one tree cannot be equated to the possible failure of another,because the variables are numerous. Very few tree failure are essentially the same, although some are similar. In this case, the fallen tree was a deodar cedar. It was located only a few feet from this deodar cedar and they were both in the identical site conditions. Mr. Mollard stated that the fallen tree fell mid day when the sun was shining, and there was no wind. This description is consistent with many tree failures associated with Armellaria mellea. The maintenance of the plants up Prepared by Michael L. Bench, Consulting Arborist August 21, 2014 2 10728 Deep Cliffe Dr. Cupertino, California slope from this tree includes irrigation, which migrates in part down slope. This condition favors the growth and development of Armellaria mellea. Conclusions and Recommendations Although this tree does not appear immediately hazardous, it is reasonable to assume that this tree will fail in the future because of the site conditions, which favors the development of root and root collar disease disease. As I previously noted, there are almost no open spaces for planting replacement trees, given the fact that I would not recommend the same location as these cedars,because of the site conditions. However, there is sufficient space to plant a dwarf Japanese maple or another small tree species near the top of the slope,but not within the lawn run off area. Respectfully submitted, :�-�-,�,`'' +.�...__.. Michael L. Bench, Consulting Arborist International Society of Arboriculture Certification#WE 1897A American Society of Consulting Arborists Member Prepared by Michael L. 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