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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 1996.10.03NOTICE BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION OCTOBER 3, 1996 5:30 P.M. CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM "A" A G E N D A I. ROLL CALL II. MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 5, 1996 III. CORRESPONDENCE IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Appeal of Private Tree Removal @ 1560 Cypress B. Request for Removal of City Magnolia tree @ 2209 Ray Drive C. Request for Removal of City Oak tree @ 1511 La Mesa Drive V. NEW BUSINESS A. Spring Garden Seminar (Date, Topic, Speaker) VI. REPORTS A. Park Superintendent B. Chairman C. Commissioners VII. FROM THE FLOOR C�� CITY OF BURLINGAME BURLINGAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, California 94010-2899 Telephone (415) 696-3770 • Parks /Trees (415) 696-7245 Fax (415) 696-7216 • E-mail: burlrecC aol.com October 4, 1996 Lillian Butto Vasey 1562 Cypress Avenue Burlingame, CA 94010 RE: APPEAL OF REQUEST TO REMOVE A PRIVATE PINE TREE AT 1560 CYPRESS AVE. At its regular meeting of October 3, 1996, the Burlingame Beautification Commission voted 5-0-2 (absent) to issue a permit to remove a Pine tree at the above address. This decision can be appealed to the City Council within 10 days. If no appeal is received by October 16, 1996, I will issue the permit. Please call (415) 696-7245 if you have any questions. Sincerely, Richard P. Quadri Sr. Landscape Inspector RPQ/kh CITY CITY OF BURLINGAME BURLINGAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, Calil'ornia 94010-2899 •• Telephone (415) 696-3770 • Parks / Trees (415) 696-7245 Fax (415) 696-7216 • E-mail: burlrec@aol.com October 4, 1996 M. McDonald Horton 1560 Cypress Avenue Burlingame, CA . 94010 RE: APPEAL OF REQUEST TO ,REMOVE A PRIVATE PINE TREE AT 1560 CYPRESS AVE. At its regular meeting of October 3, 1996, the Burlingame Beautification Commission voted 5-0-2 (absent) to issue a permit to remove a Pine tree at the above address. This decision can be appealed to the City Council within 10 days. If no appeal is received by October 16, 1996, I will issue the permit. I.. - Please call (415) 696-7245 if you have any questions. Sincerely, Rich rd P. Quadri Sr. Landscape Inspector RPQ/kh M 4ou Pt. / aA -r a6py EVELYN C. NORMAN 2209 RAY DRIVE BURLINGAME, CA 94010 August 30, 1996 The Beautification Commission City of Burlingame 850 Burlingame Avenue Burlingame, CA 94010 Dear Commissioners: This is an URGENT request that you remove your magnolia tree from in front of my home at 2209 Ray Drive. The urgency is based on the damages to my home and property caused by the roots of the tree, the costs of repairing or correcting these damages, and potential depreciation of the property. This applies to the PAST, the PRESENT, and the IMMINENT FUTURE. Here are the present circumstances: a) The concrete in my driveway is so broken up that my garage door cannot be closed. When the driveway is replaced the garage door will have to be repaired or replaced, as it is badly damaged. (I have a two -car garage.) b) The main crack in the driveway continues on into the garage, where it breaks out into numerous cracks, some of which point toward the main house, specifically, the bathroom and the utility room. This is extremely serious as the floors of these rooms are a part of the main radiant -heating system. As you undoubtedly know, with radiant heat there is no space under the floor for the roots to travel, as the floor is a concrete slab sitting directly on the ground. Pipes are embedded in the concrete. They contain water which runs throughout the house from the furnace and boiler. Any breakage of the concrete or the pipes creates trouble in a BIG WAY. c) The walkways leading into the front door not only are dangerous to foot traffic, but they also show evidence that the roots are traveling toward the foundation of the house, thus endangering the heating system. • IY % �% :: ► d) There are breaks in the front planter which show evidence that the roots are extremely close to the floors of the kitchen. e) The sewer system is a continual source of trouble. f ) In spite of deep watering of the front lawn, the depth of the soil under the grass has been so reduced by the intrusion of the roots, that the lawn is patchy with ugly, brown grass, which makes the home and lawn look unkempt. HISTORY I moved to Burlingame when I purchased this home in February 1988. I was not told of any problems that might arise from the presence of the magnolia tree. I was told, however, that the City of Burlingame required that the sewers be in good order before a sale could be completed. Within five years the sewer pipe had to be replaced because of the roots of the magnolia tree. The cost, $2800. Add on the inconvenience and costs of the subsequent yard work. This month (three years later) the Roto-Rooter man cleared the sewer pipe of several handsful of roots. The cost, $70.65. The inconvenience of backed -up sewage does not bear a price tag. He recommended a periodic root -cutting plan, `- which will add another $100 a year to the cost of the on -going root problem. CORRECTIONS I have contracted to replace all the concrete work in the front, including the driveway and the walkways leading into the house, at a cost of about $2,800. The garage door will require repair or replacement. The cost of this will not be known until I am able to close the door and have it inspected. If the garage floor continues to crack, the need to replace it will develop. As soon as the concrete work is completed, the front yard will need to be graded to rid it of the top roots, new soil brought in, and grass laid. Also a new sprinkling system will be required. With the absence of the magnolia tree the yard will be newly landscaped. Recently the City replaced the sidewalk in its right-of-way virtually across the entire front of my house, including the entrance into the driveway. This in itself indicates the �... seriousness of the root trouble at my address. -2- The emergency at hand is the encroachment of the roots under and into the foundation of my home, damaging my radiant - heating system. This would be a very distressing situation, and the costs to correct would be devastatingly high. The City must accept responsibility for preventing this! PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE Although I realize snapshots minimize depths and heights, I am enclosing some snapshots with explanatory notes, to show the extent of the root growth now. Unfortunately, the photographs cannot reveal the invisible ... potential ... problems, which are my deepest concern! CONCLUSION Please consider this as an emergency request for help to correct a problem that I did not create. Rather, the problem was created by the City itself many years ago when it decided to plant magnolia trees in areas where the homes of its residents would be endangered. Its decision has since been changed. However, now that the city admits it made a mistake in selecting the magnolia tree, there should exist within the guardianship of the City's affairs, a very sympathetic understanding of my problem. I am a widow of limited means, retired, on a mediocre �- income. Expenses as large as are entailed here must come from savings. The corrections known to exist now will probably range between $10,000 and $15,000. This does not include the possible replacement of the garage floor. M As stated above, if the present radiant -heating system is disrupted, the cost will be outrageous. Correction could well require conversion to an air -heating system. This would destroy the design of the interior of the home as it would require lowering the ceilings, which are now beamed. The value of the house would be drastically reduced. In making this request, I have followed the instructions of representatives from the City: the Engineering Department and the Parks Department. These representatives came out separately, inspected some of the damages, and each agreed that the roots of the magnolia tree were the source of the problem, but they had no solution. However, the representative from the Parks Department did inform me that if I desired the removal of the tree, my request should be addressed to the Beautification Commission. Your favorable consideration of this request is urgently -3- I needed. If it is declined, I will be placed in the most unpleasant position of having to seek legal counsel. Hopefully, this will not be necessary. Time is of the essence. May I please hear from you soon? Respectfully yours, Evelyn'C. Norman 2209 Ray Drive Burlingame, CA 94010 Telephone: 697-8364 9 Enclosures - snapshots, with explanatory notes, pointing up the imminent danger of the roots invading the foundation of my home - which would be a total disaster: 1. Driveway - Garage Floor 2. Garage Door Cannot Be Closed 3. Garage Door 4. Garage Floor 5. Garage Floor 6. Walkway From Front Door 7. Walkway From Front Door 8. Planter Box In Front Of Kitchen 9. Base Of Magnolia Tree GARAGE DOOR CANNOT BE CLOSED Picture to left shows the door as it stands when it should be closed Picture below shows damage to the top of the door as it stands unclosed GARAGE DOOR Bottom of opened garage door shows damage to it Close-up of some of the damages to garage door O GARAGE FLOOR Major crack in garage floor emanating from crack in driveway. As this crack moves into the garage farther it breaks into several smaller cracks which move in different directions. Major central crack continuing into garage. Note the smaller cracks emanating from this major crack; some of these are heading toward the furnace -boiler and rooms in the house. Ytiu�- l GARAGE FLOOR Picture to left shows crack breaking from center crack and moving toward utility room. The 10" deep cabinet shown is backed up against the utility room wall. This crack is less than 24" from the furnace -boiler and the hot water heater. Picture below shows multiple cracks, one of which is heading toward bath room. The closer to the walls of the house, the more prolific they are. WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU OPEN THE FRONT DOOR Note cracks in first block (next to threshold), the raised slab next to it, and dishevelled bricks in planter bed. To left is garage wall. Furnace, boiler, and hot water heater are against this wall. To the right is the kitchen. Electric stove is against this wall. Close-up of entrance way pictured above ITS �, `c` ref � �•' 1 ` �" �� �� L f ,. � C'. TSR�9 1 t' �, �' ;:tea •.y _ .� �� , THE MAGNOLIA TREE HOW CAN ANY THING SO BEAUTIFUL BE SO DESTRUCTIVE? This is only the base of the big, beautiful, magnolia tree in front of 2209 Ray Drive. It is a sight to behold even when it is not in full bloom. But its roots are so destructive, wrecking one's property, and stealing one's assets, like a thief in the night. It is difficult for me to part with the beauty of this tree, but it is totally impractical to let it destroy my property. ��.CITY CITY OF BURLINGAME URLINGAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, California 94010-2899 +� ' °• Telephone (415) 696-3770 • Parks / Trees (415) 696-7245 Fax (415) 696-7216 • E-mail: burlrec@aol.com September 6, 1996 Evelyn Norman 2209 Ray Drive Burlingame, CA 94010 RE: REQUEST THAT CITY TREE BE REMOVED AT 2209 RAY DRIVE At its regular meeting of September 5, 1996, the Burlingame Beautification Commission received your request that the city -owned Magnolia tree be removed at the above address. The Commission will review this matter and render a decision at their October 3, meeting. The Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Room "A" at the City Hall should you wish to attend. Sincerely, Tim Richmond Park Superintendent `1 M CITY 0 CITY OF BURLINGAME BURLI . GAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, California 94010-2899 Telephone (415) 696-3770 • Parks / Trees (415) 696-7245 Fax (415) 696-7216 • E-mail: burlrec@aol.com October 4, 1996 Evelyn C. Norman 2209 Ray Drive Burlingame, CA 94010 RE: REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF MAGNOLIA TREE AT 2209 RAY DRIVE At its regular meeting of October 3, 1996, the Burlingame Beautification Commission voted 5-0-2 (absent) that in lieu of granting removal of the Magnolia, the Parks Division would install root barriers where necessary, and that any planned landscaping `— work is to be done in conjunction with the City's Arborist. This decision may be appealed in writing to the City Council before their regularly scheduled meeting of October 21, 1996. Please call the Parks Division at (415) 696-7245 if you have any questions. Sincerely, / Ti Richmond Parks Superintendent TR/kh CITY CITY OF BURLINGAME URLINGAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, California 94010-2899 • Telephone (415) 696-3770 • Parks / Trees (415) 696-7245 Fax (415) 696-7216 • E-mail: burlrec@aol.com DATE: OCTOBER 22, 1996 TO: BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION FROM: TIM RICHMOND/- PARK SUPERINTENDENT RE: REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF CITY MAGNOLIA @ 2209 RAY DRIVE City Council has received an appeal to the Commission's decision re the request for tree removal at the above address. Item will be heard at the Council meeting on November 4 at City Hall at 7:30 p.m. should you wish to attend. M M August 29, 1996 Burlingame Beautification 850 Burlingame Avenue Burlingame, California 94010 To Whom It May Concern, Dear Committee Members It was recommended by the Park Department that we request your assistance in removing a tree which we believe has become a hazard to our home. We have lived in our home for over 30 years at 1511 La Mesa Drive. La Mesa Drive as some of you may know is a Cul-de-Sac adjacent to the Burlingame Hills Canyon. When we moved into our home the trees which lined the street were small and very attractive. Everybody knows trees beautify Burlingame. For some strange reason although each lot has one tree our lot has two. The tree next to our driveway has grown and grown and grown. It is approximately three times as large as any other tree on the block, both in height and width. It is dangerously close to our home. With the advent of the many fires in California, we feel it is a fire hazard to our property. We have written many letters to the Park Department and each year some limbs have been trimmed. The trees drip sap and virtually has ruined the paint job on one of our cars. It also creates a very slippery driveway and attracts droves of bees. We were told the drippings were probably due to "aphids" and the park department would spray the trees, but to our knowledge this has never been done, certainly if any spraying was done it was ineffective I invite anyone from the committee to witness these facts in person at any time. We desire to have the tree removed and are willing to replace it with a smaller tree such as a j apanese maple or a tree of your recommendation. We are particularly nervous about this situation at this time because due a boating accident my wife is bed bound in a body cast. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, ,t r� E W�ILLIAM DU ' NI. 1511 La Me5 Drive Burlingame, California 94010 M L KA C� CITY OF BURLINGAME URLINGAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT ' 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, California 94010-2899 Telephone (415) 696-3770 • Parks / Trees (415) 696-7245 Fax (415) 696-7216 • E-mail: burlrec@aol.com September 9, 1996 William Dugoni 1511 La Mesa Drive Burlingame, CA 94010 RE: REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF A CITY OAK TREE AT 1511 LA MESA DRIVE At its regular meeting of September 5, 1996, the Burlingame Beautification Commission received your request for removal of a city oak tree at the above address. The Commission will review this matter and render a decision at their October 3 meeting. The Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Room "A11 at City Hall should you wish to attend. Sincerely, d Tim Ric mond "40t- Park Superintendent TR/kh nz CITY OF BURLINGAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, California 94010-2899 Telephone (415) 696-3770 • Parks / Trees (415) 696-7245 Fax (415) 696-7216 • E-mail: burlrec@aol.com October 4, 1996 William Dugoni 1511 La Mesa Drive Burlingame, CA 94010 RE: REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF A CITY OAK TREE AT 1511 LA MESA DRIVE At its regular meeting of October 3, 1996, the Burlingame Beautification Commission voted to deny your request for removal of the city oak tree at the above address. The Commission instructed the Parks Division to proceed with the Merit pesticide application �- and pruning of the tree to alleviate the resident's primary concern of aphid infestations. This decision may be appealed in writing to the City Council before their regularly scheduled meeting of October 21, 1996. Please call the Parks Division at (415) 696-7245 if you have any questions. S' rely, F Tim Richmond Park Superintendent TR/kh