PC 06/10/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Iserson reported that the project is located on a 7.7-acre site and consists of six lots ranging in size from 26,500 squaze feet to 82,100 square feet with a public street and open space. He indicated that the tentative map was reviewed by staff and found it to be virtually identical with the approved PUD development plan, and that the applicant has fulfilled some of the requirements of the PUD. Mr. Iserson stated that the landscape plan, which addresses the slope bank easterly and northerly of the private driveway in front of Lots 5 and 6, shows native landscape material clustered in an informal design in the azea. He continued that staff looked into the possibility of retaining or relocating two existing oak trees proposed to be removed. One of the trees, located near the cul-de-sac of Equus Court, could be retained by building a retaining wall to protect it. However, the other tree, located where the street would go, could not be saved. Staff conferred with Mike Fulford, the City's landscape architect, regarding the feasibility of physically moving the tree to another portion of the site. Mr. Fulford indicated that while the tree could be relocated, the cost would be high and the tree would have only a 50% survival rate, assuming the tree is in very good condition before the move. This tree is in fairly good condition. Staff discussed this possibility with the applicant, who was hesitant to relocate the tree. He agreed instead to upgrade the size of half of the new oak trees to be planted along the frontage of Foothill Road from 15-gallon size trees to 24" box-size trees. This is shown as Condition No. 6 in the June 10, 1998 memo to the Planning Commission. Mr. Iserson continued that the same memo also includes two additional conditions: the replacement of one storm drain line and the extension of another; and the relocation of the Yee residence gate from the end of Equus Court on Foothill Road to the end of the Yee driveway. Mr. Iserson stated that staff found the tentative tract map to be consistent with the approved PUD development plan and that the findings could be made. He therefore recommended approval of the map, subject to the conditions of the staff report and the three additional conditions presented in the memo. Commissioner Roberts inquired if the trees on the slope bank between Foothill Road and Lots 5 and 6 would remain in place. Mr. Iserson replied that all the trees close to Foothill Road will be saved and that the only tree to be removed would be the one by the end of the cul-de-sac on Equus Court, by the existing private driveway leading to the Yee residence. Commissioner Sullivan inquired if the tree to be removed is a heritage tree and what the process for removing heritage tree is. Ms. Iserson replied that the tree is a heritage tree and that its removal was essentially approved through PUD process. Commissioner Sullivan commented that big coast live oak trees are routinely transplanted in Stanford University and that in the last four years, only one of the 20-25 trees transplanted died. He added that because the project is in an area with numerous mature trees and where houses will be built very close to the road, every possibility should be considered to preserve mature trees. Mr. Iserson indicated that he had discussed the situation at Stanford University with Mike Fulford, the City's landscape azchitect. Mr. Fulford stated that transplanted trees require a lot of "hand-holding" and _ close supervision for survival over the normal rate and that Stanford most probably has a permanent Planning Commission Minutes Page 9 June 10, 1998