PC 07/07/99 - Laserfiche WebLink

22. Wetlands/Biological Issue: The City should retain the option to have community park drainageway (along the Union Pacific Railroad) filled as part of the project permit/mass grading, and too many trees are being removed. Proposed Project: Shows the drainageway left as an open channel. Shows most trees on site removed, but conditioned to retain mature, healthy trees as feasible. Alternatives: Require the project's Corps of Engineers and other permits to incorporate filling the drainageway if the City so determines prior to the project's completion of its mass grading and agency permit applications. Require the drainageway to be filled. Retain as many trees along the south side of Bemal Avenue, Valley Avenue to Pleasanton Avenue, as feasible, consistent with commercial lot and roadway access. Retain the significant trees in the cottonwood grove (Eastern Area), around the farmhouse and finger tributary (Western Area), and elsewhere as designated. Discussion: While many more trees than proposed to be saved could be saved, staff questions the mid- to long-term wisdom of such an action. These trees are not important in retaining the site's identity, in fitting in with the "neighborhood," or in saving trees of intrinsic high value. Many of the trees are ill-suited to the new environment they will find themselves in or are already in poor condition. Saving too many trees, although possible, will make the site's grading plan more difficult. It will be harder to add new interest to the flat site; it will be harder to allow the golf course to add topography/interest to its layout; if will interfere with lake/reservoir plans integral to the project; and it will require retention of channels/seeps planned to be modified. Saving the Bemal Avenue trees would also call into question whether the General Plan "gateway" policies can be accomplished. Staff continues to believe that putting the right tree in its suitable, planned site will make better sense in the long run than forcing the plan to fit certain trees desired to be saved. The best trees on the site (oaks on the knoll, within the Western Area, and riparian trees along the Arroyo de la Laguna and B-2-1 channel) are being saved. Some of the trees identified as "cond. save" in the Tree Survey can also be saved when the grading plan/tentative map is being reviewed. Any specific tree desired by the Planning Commission to be saved can be (but with potential consequences) by designating it, by number, to be saved. Principles of Agreement: Not specifically addressed. Substantive Issues/Alternatives Page 25 June 9, 1999