HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2005 0601 CC REG ITEM 09DiLce
FROM:
DATE:
CITY OF MOORPARK
CITY COUNCIL AGENAD REPORT
Honorable City Council
ITEM q • "D -
CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
of
ACTION:
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BY:
Mary K. Lindley, Director of Parks, Recreation, /l, i
and Community Services i
May 18, 2005 (Council Meeting of June 1, 2005)
SUBJECT: Consider Authorizing the Removal of Eucalyptus
Trees and Direct Tree Replanting
SUMMARY
The City Council is being asked to authorize the removal of
up to 29 mature Eucalyptus trees along the south side of
Peach Hill Road, between Mesa Verde Drive and Rolling Knoll
Road. Additionally, the Council is being asked to direct
the replanting of new trees, a minimum of one tree for
every property where the mature trees are removed.
BACKGROUND
There is a row of 29 mature Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees
behind the sidewalk along the south side of Peach Hill Road
(east /west leg of Peach Hill Road), between Mesa Verde
Drive and Rolling Knoll Road. While all of the trees are on
private property, six of them are on the street side of the
rear yard fences (as viewed from Peach Hill Road) and the
other 23 are behind the rear yard fences. All of the trees
belong to property owners on the north side of Laurelhurst.
As far back as 1989, the City has received tree removal
requests from property owners on the north side of
Laurelhurst Road. The property owners' complaints have
included: the trees are very messy, they suffer from limb
failure and falling debris, they interfere with backyard
fences, and it is near impossible to grow grass or plants
beneath the trees.
Honorable City Council
June 1, 2005
Page 2
On several documented occasions, the City has agreed to
tree removal requests, but conditioned the approval on
replanting new trees within the property owners' backyards.
Rather than request a tree removal permit, some property
owners have topped their trees, as is evidenced by the
current condition of three of the existing trees. Topping
weakens trees and makes them more susceptible to limb
failure and diseases.
In 1989, at the request of the Peach Hill Homeowners
Association, the City Council approved the removal of 88
mature Eucalyptus trees throughout the development's
greenbelts. Many of these trees were not removed due to the
expense. On April 3, 2002, the City Council approved the
removal of 64 mature Eucalyptus trees, no more than 22
trees to be removed within a 2 -year period, and the
replanting of one tree for every three removed. The HOA was
also conditioned to secure the signature of adjacent
property owners.
On December 17, 2003, the Council authorized the removal of
mature Eucalyptus trees on the west side of Spring Road,
south of Peach Hill Road. This was a City project. The
trees were damaging the sidewalk and parkway and they had
experienced significant limb failure. Crepe Myrtle trees
were planted to replace the Eucalyptus trees.
DISCUSSION
The City has recently received written requests from two
Laurelhurst Road property owners to remove the mature
Eucalyptus trees at the rear of their properties
(Attachment Al and A2). Each of the two property owners has
five trees; a total of ten trees will be removed. The
subject trees are adjacent to the sidewalk on the south
side of the section of Peach Hill Road that runs east and
west.
In addition to the aforementioned ten trees, there are 19
other mature Eucalyptus trees in the same location. Each
subject tree is on private property. There are eight
individual properties involved.
The
can
Eucalyptus
trees on
Peach Hill
Road
are Blue Gum.
They
grow as
tall as
100 feet.
They
serve as a
good
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Honorable City Council
June 1, 2005
Page 3
windbreak, but they are not a good choice for yards or
parkways. They have greedy roots, brittle branches and
produce a lot of litter from falling leaves, bark, and
seeds. They can also damage adjacent sidewalks, walls, and
fences. In the situation along Peach Hill Road, the trees
are too close to the rear yard fences and too closely
spaced together. They create a significant nuisance to the
property owners, who would be better served with a more
appropriate residential yard tree species - trees with deep
root systems, broad green canopies, and minimal falling
bark or seeds.
Staff proposes that the Council authorize the removal of
all of the subject 29 Eucalyptus trees and that each
property owner be required to plant one 24 -inch box tree
within their rear yards. The species of tree would be
subject to the City's approval. The intent is to select a
species of tree that is considered appropriate for a
residential yard and one that will provide a visible,
attractive canopy when viewed from Peach Hill Road.
With Council's authorization, staff would approve tree
removal requests from the affected property owners on an
individual basis. It will be the responsibility of each
property owner to initiate the tree removal request, secure
licensed tree contractors, and bear all expenses. Because
of the trees' proximity to Peach Hill Road, the tree
removal contractors will need to secure an encroachment
permit prior to performing work. If approved, staff will
notify all affected property owners of the Council's
action.
STAFF RE CONMNDAT I ON
Consistent with this Agenda Report, approve the removal of
29 mature Eucalyptus trees on Peach Hill Road, conditioned
on the planting of a 24 -inch box tree in the rear yard of
each property where trees are removed.
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