3A Public Hearing 2008 0122 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Davidon Homes, July 2007 HortScience, Inc. Tree Report, Woodside Apartments Page 6 Potential impacts from construction were estimated for each tree. The most significant impacts to the trees would occur as the result of reconfiguring the northern parking lot and installation of a new retaining wall along the eastern property line. A concerted effort has been mde by the developer and the design team to retain redwoods between the proposed parking and the existing building. To provide a minimum distance between the trees and the parking and to minimize the amount of excavation required, concrete pavers will be used in place of asphalt and the parking stalls will be palced as close to grade as possible (see attached Parking Lot Reconstruction Exhibit, Milani & Associate, June, 2006). Parking stalls will be very close to the existing trees and root loss will occur as a result of the excavation and soil compaction. The following the Tree Preservation Guidelines will increase the likelihood of survival, however the trees may show signs of decline as a result of the proposed changes. Based on our assessment, removal would be required for 22 trees (Table 3). Ten (10) of the trees requiring removal were of poor suitability for preservation, 11 would be directly impacted by the proposed improvements and one (1) is recommended for removal to improve the health and condition of the adjacent redwoods (tree #339). Coast redwoods at the Woodside Apartments were planted in close proximity to one another and to the buildings. The trees have performed well at the site, creating a very dense screen in front of the building, effectively blocking light and air movement to patios and windows. Several trees have been repeatedly pruned away from the building to maintain clearance. Removal of the three (3) coast redwood trees will have the benefit of improving growing conditions for the remaining trees, as well as improving the livability of the units by increasing light and air movement along the northern side of the building. Eighteen (18) trees are outside the impacts of the parking lot renovation and can be retained. Six (6) coast redwood trees may require puning to provide construction clearance (337, 338, 340, 341,343 and 345). Four (4) of the trees preliminarily identified for preservation are Sweet gums planted along the western property line. These trees are growing in a narrow planting space between the curb to the east and an existing retaining wall to the west. Surface rooting was noted on all of the trees and they have caused displacemnt of the infrastructure in some places. As this group of trees continues to grow, they will continue to conflict with adjacent infrastructure. Although there is no impact from the proposed improvements, I consider it an appropriate time to consider removing these trees (Table 4, following page). Table 3. Trees recommended for removal. Woodside Apartments, San Leandro TREE SPECIES TRUNK IMPACT No. DIAMETER 320 Sweet gum 12 Remove; poor suitability. 321 Sweet gum 16 Remove, within 3' of improvements. 322 Sweet gum 13 Remove, within retaining wall. 323 Sweet gum 10 Remove, within retaining wall. (Continued, following page)