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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 2000.10.05R 0 CITY OF BURLINGAME park-& B U R L I N G A M E PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlinoame, California 94010-2899 Telephone (650) 558-7300 Parks / Trees (650) 558-7330 "`°""T`° Fax (650) 696-7216 E-mail: burlrccC�aol.com B URLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION OCTOBER S, 2000 5:30 P.M. City Hall - Conference Room "A" A GENDA I. ROLL CALL H. MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2000 MEETING M. CORRESPONDENCE IV. FROM THE FLOOR (At this time, persons in the audience may speak on any item on the agenda or any other matter. The Ralph M. Brown Act prohibits the Commission from acting on any matter which is not on the agenda. Comments are limited to three minutes.) V. OLD BUSINESS A. Appeal of Permitted Removal of a Private Black Acacia Tree @ 400 Dwight Road B. Decline of City Magnolia Trees in Sidewalk Repair Areas VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Newsrack Ordinance update from Recreation Superintendent Randy Schwartz. B. Informational report from Public Works Superintendent Phil Scott. C. Arbor Day/Spring Garden Seminar - (Preliminary planning for inclusion in Rec Brochure; specifically available dates.) VII. REPORTS A. Park Superintendent B. Chairperson �. C. Commissioners CITY CITY OF BURLINGAME BURLINGAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT - oArowwT�o MEMORANDUM DATE: SEPTEMBER 26, 2000 TO: BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION FROM: TIM RICHMOND, PARKS SUPERINTENDENT �-- RE: OCTOBER 5 MEETING 1. The agenda item that involves the appeal of the permit to remove a private tree has two elements. First, the Commission will uphold or deny the appeal. Secondly, if the appeal is denied, the Commission may add a provision for replacement of the removed tree, or it may leave the permit as issued without a replacement requirement. City Arborist Porter approved the permit without replacement and is available for Commissioners' questions. 2. Two agenda items involve presentations by City employees. Please consider moving them ahead of discussion only items. A. Recreation Superintendent Randy Schwartz is on the agenda to present an update on the Newsrack ordinance. B. Public Works Superintendent Phil Scott generously accepted my invitation to address the Commission. I asked him to come because many issues are raised by this Commission regarding cleaning of public streets, sidewalks, lots, and rights -of -way. He will make a brief presentation about the role of his Division. He will then entertain questions from the Commissioners. This is an informational agenda item. 3. The Commission needs to select a date for the Spring Garden Seminar. A possible conflicting date that the Commission may wish to avoid is March 17, 2001 (John and I will most likely be in Sacramento for the CPRS Conference). Selection of the date is critical, so that the announcement can be included in the Spring Recreation brochure. The Commission will then need to consider topics and speakers. Setting the date is the most critical issue at this meeting. 4. The Ordinance changes drafted by the City Attorney at the suggestion of the Commission take effect today (October 5, 2000). 5. City Tree Crew is progressing east from Alvarado Avenue in a grid pruning program. The intent is for every City tree to be pruned or inspected in a timely rotation. The Crew has moved to below Columbus since beginning the program in the Summer. `'.. �Ty- o� CITY OF BURLINGAME �F"i, GA ME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT BU RLIN 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, California 94010-2899r, Telephone (650) 558-7300 Parks / Tree (650) 558-7330 ' ° "° Fax (650) 696-7216 E-mail: hurlrccLa)ac Lcom October 6, 2000 Elyse and David Steinberger 400 Dwight Road Burlingame, CA 94010 RE: APPEAL OF THE INTENT TO ISSUE A PERMIT FOR REMOVAL OF ONE BLACK ACACIA TREE AT 400 DWIGHT ROAD Dear Mr. and Mrs. Steinberger, At its October 5, 2000 meeting the Burlingame Beautification Commission held a public hearing on the above appeal. The Commission voted: To deny the appeal because of the structural defects of the tree and to reinstate the normal replanting requirements of the Permit. The vote was 5 Ayes, 0 Noes, 2 Absent The Commission's action may be appealed in writing to the City Council within ten calendar days. If no appeal is received by that time, a permit to remove the tree and replant a replacement tree(s) will be issued to you by the Parks & Recreation Department. If you have additional questions, please call me at (650) 558-7333. Sincerely, Tim Richmond Burlingame Parks Superintendent CITY OF BURLINGAME AYur�� BU RLI NG AM E, PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 850 Burlim�ame A\enue. Bu►lim_ame. California 9010-2899 s Telephone (650) 558-7300 Parks / Trees (650) 558-7330 ` Fax (650) 696-7216 E-mail: bU1-I1-CC0a'ao1.com September 8, 2000 Elyse & David Steinberger 400 Dwight Road Burlingame, CA 94010 RE: REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF ONE BLACK ACACIA TREE @ 400 DWIGHT ROAD We have received a protest relating to the removal of one Black Acacia tree at the above address. The application, as well as the protest, was received by the Beautification Commission at the September 7, 2000 meeting. The Commission will take action on this item at the October 5, 2000 meeting. The Commission meets at 5:30 p.m., in Conference Room "A" at City Hall, 501 Primrose Road should you wish to attend and speak to the issue. Please call the Parks Division at (650) 558-7330 if you have any questions. Sincerely, Tim Richmond Parks Superintendent MIJ07 Jeffrey K. and Mary G. Eliason `-- 385 Lexington Way Burlingame, California 94010 (650) 342-9745 August 27, 2000 Mr. Steven Porter City Arborist Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department 850 Burlingame Avenue Burlingame, California 94010 Re: Request for Removal of Tree at 400 Dwight Road Dear Mr. Porter: We received your letter dated August 18 regarding the requested removal of the Black Acacia tree at 400 Dwight Road. We strongly wish to appeal this dreadful decision. �. We purchased our home at the address listed above in February of 1996. Over the 4 '/2 years since then, we have rehabilitated every surface of every room in the house, repainted exterior portions, added a family room and first floor bathroom, upgraded and remodeled our kitchen, built a new deck, and re -landscaped the entire front and back yards. This included a new sprinkler system as well as the addition of four trees and countless bushes and vines around the entire house. It is estimated that we have spent at least $150,000 in addition to the purchase price of $385,000. One of the main reasons we have spent so much time, effort, and money to do the renovations is, despite our house's location near the freeway, we love the ambience and serenity of our back yard. There is where our two children spend much of their time and where we relax and enjoy its beauty as often as we can. Part of its ambience and privacy is that it is surrounded by trees, both by our seven back -yard trees and by the neighbors' numerous trees. By far the largest and most prominent of any tree is the Black Acacia tree that the new owners of 400 Dwight Road would lice to remove. Its presence is without question one of the reasons we bought the house and also why we have invested so much money in it. To have it removed would destroy not only our backyard ambience, but also greatly affect our privacy and the wind protection that it now provides. Removal of the tree by the new residents would leave a gaping void. Our entire back yard and the back side of our house would be easily viewed from the 400 Dwight Road upstairs back windows. It would obliterate the privacy we now enjoy and very much want to preserve. Since it is often breezy in the area, the tree also helps to shield us from the wind, making our back yard relatively still and peaceful compared to our front yard. When the wind blows hard, we have noticed that some of our newly planted trees tend to dry out and struggle to survive. Therefore, the removal of the tree by the new residents will cause our yard to be more windy and potentially exacerbate the situation by killing additional trees. The effect to us would be, in our minds, devastating. All of the factors stated above clearly affect our property value. If we ever sold the home, buyers would unquestionably like the house much better with the tree in place than without it. Given the factors discussed above, we believe removal of the tree by the new residents will cause our property value to plummet by as much as $50,000. Please do not allow this to happen. In addition to the above reasons, we appeal this decision because we believe it is a protected tree. It is our opinion that the tree has a circumference of at least 48 inches, per Section 11.06.02 (f) (1) of the Tree Protection Ordinance. Further, we believe that 400 Dwight has very few trees on it and by removing the largest one, leaves it almost "un- forested" and in violation of the ordinance. What was doubly disturbing for us is that your original decision was to allow for the tree's removal AND not require new trees to be planted by the new residents in its place. If it was allowed to be removed, the planting of at least two or three 36-inch box landscape trees should be required of the new residents. There is no more room to add trees to our yard. If the tree is removed, and no reforestation is required by the new residents, this would be a massive disaster for us and would prompt us to reconsider whether we want to stay in our residence into which we have invested not only our money but also our heart and soul. Please hear our very serious and determined plea to not allow our back yard and our privacy to be destroyed, and not allow the value of our home to be adversely affected. We urge you to decide against the tree's removal by the new residents at 400 Dwight Road. Thank you. dlw U. fiunto vf, I k •, �.. AID MIP,, 1 1 �i / ON R CITY a CITY OF BURLINGAME 'BU RLINGAMEI �� PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 8�1) Burlingame .A%ell uc. Burlill _ame. California 94010-2899 Telephone (650) 558-7100 Parks / Trees (650) --8-7 330 Fax (650) 696-7216 E-mail: burlrec(d-'aol.com August 18, 2000 Elyse & David Steinberaer 400 Dwight Road Burlingame, CA 94010 RE: REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF ONE BLACKACACIA TREE @ 400 DWIGHT ROAD - BURLINGAME I reviewed your request for the removal of one Black Acacia, in the back yard at the above address, and have made the following determination: 1) The tree has serious structural defects with multiple trunks. 2) The property is well forested, therefore replacement will not be required. Therefore, I intend to issue a permit for the removal of the tree subject to the provisions of the Burlingame Municipal Code. If you agree with the conditions, please sign the enclosed permit and return in the self addressed envelope BEFORE August 30, 2000. If you wish to appeal this decision or any of its conditions or findings, you must file a written request by August 30, 2000 as provided in Section 11.06.080 of the Urban Reforestation and Tree Protection Ordinance (Burlingame Municipal Code Chapter 11.06). The permit will be issued if no appeal has been received by that date. Sincerely, .G ' P Z, Steven Porter City Arborist - (ISA #WC-3073) SP/kh Enclosure 850 BURLINGAME A VENUE B URLINGAME, CA 94010 'TREE CITE USA (650) 558-7330 The undersigned owner of the property at: ADDRESS: (Print or !We) hereby- applies for a permit to remove or prune more than 1/3 of the crown or roots of the following protected tree(s): SPECIES CIRCUMFERENCE 90 LOCATION ON PROPERTY a \/Ci WORK TO BE PERFORMED rf_-W,.SZli REASON WORK IS NECESSARY 1 GCw►1oGl'� 19(,e W bA G( nq ty pc a 6law em) (please use back of form for additional comments) NOTE: A PHOTOGRAPH OWNER 0 OF THE TREE(S) MUST BE ADDRESS O 12 �� i2d ttkPI ll�Gt r'1'l� SUBMITTED WITH THIS 32 /L �, PHONE 690) 4 3 ` -+`f b rW OtD _h CDM ra? 7 Cc PERMIT. This permit allows the applicant to remove or prune the above listed tree(s) in accordance with the provisions of the Urban Reforestation and Tree Protection Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 11.06). By signing this permit, the applicant acknowledges receipt of a copy of Chapter 11.06, and agrees to comply with its provisions and all conditions listed below; and that all appeals have expired or been resolved. OWNER CITY REPRESENTATIVE CONDITIONS: 24 - inch box size tree(s) required If conditions are not met within the allotted time as specified in Section 11.06.080, payment of $400 for each tree into the tree replacement fund will be required. NO replacement(s) required Contact the Parks Division at (650) 538-7330 when removal(s) completed DATE PERMIT EFFECTIVE PERMIT EXPIRES- A copy of this permit must be available at the job site at all times when work is being performed