Tree Removal Permit - 2016CITY of CAMPBELL
Community Development Department
March 3, 2016
WA Krauss Property Management
541 S. Murphy St
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Re: File No: PLN2016-61
Address: 820-850 Sobrato Dr.
Application: Tree Removal Permit
Dear Applicant,
The Campbell Planning Division has completed review of your Tree Removal Permit application
(PLN2016-61) for removal of one (1) willow tree located in a sidewalk planter in front of 820 Sobrato
Dr. and one (1) cypress tree located in the front yard of 850 Sobrato Dr.
820 Sobrato Dr.
The tree in front of 820 Sobrato Dr. has been determined to be a City street tree on City property. Tree
Removal Permits through the Planning Division can only be issued for trees on private property.
Therefore the issue of the uplifted sidewalk has been reported to the Public Works Department and a
refund will be issued for the $54 application fee for this tree. Below is information from Public Works
on the process for sidewalk repair with their contact information to follow up:
A resident may contact the City and complete a request for an inspection of a sidewalk and/or curb and
gutter. If the displaced area meets the City's criteria for repair, the lift will be ground down or ramped. If this
is not feasible, the flag of sidewalk will be removed and replaced with asphalt.
To report an uplifted sidewalk and or curb and gutter please contact the City of Campbell Public Works
Maintenance Division at 408-866-2145, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
and provide an address of the location along with your name and telephone number, or email us at
publicworksmaint(cr~,Cjtyofcampbell.com.
As an option, residents may apply for an encroachment permit with our Engineering Office and hire a
contractor at their own expense to remove and replace the section of sidewalk. For more information about
our encroachment permit process and applications, please continue reading or come in and visit us at City
Hall, located at 70 North First Street in downtown Campbell. We are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note
that any work done within the public right of way requires an encroachment permit.
850 Sobrato Dr.
Pursuant to Campbell Municipal Code Sec. 21.32.080 (Campbell Tree Protection Ordinance), the
Community Development Director may only approve a Tree Removal Permit after making at least one
of the following findings:
PLN2016-61 ~~ 850 Sobrato Dr
Page 2 of 2
1. Diseased or Danner of Falling -The tree or trees are diseased or presents a danger of falling that cannot
be controlled or remedied through reasonable preservation and/or preventative procedures and practices
such that the public health or safety requires its removal.
2. Structure Damage -The tree or trees can have caused or may imminently cause significant damage to the
existing main structure(s) that cannot be controlled or remedied through reasonable modification of the
tree's root or branch structure.
3. Utility Interference -The tree or trees have interfered with utility services where such interference
cannot be controlled or remedied through reasonable modification/relocation of the utilities or
reasonable modification of the tree's root or branch structure.
4. Overplanting -The tree(s) is crowding other protected tree(s) to the extent that removal is necessary to
ensure the long-term viability of adjacent tree(s).
5. Economic Enjoyment and Hardship -The retention of the tree(s) restricts the economic enjoyment of the
property or creates an unusual hardship for the property owner by severely limiting the use of the
property in a manner not typically experienced by owners of similarly zoned and situated properties, and
the applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the approval authority that there are no reasonable
alternatives to preserve the tree(s). A minor reduction of the potential number of residential units or
building size due to the tree location does not represent a severe limit of the economic enjoyment of the
property.
The stated reasons for removal of the tree include structure damage and trip hazards.
Based upon a review of the application documents and a visual inspection of the tree on February 26,
2015, the Community Development Director has determined that the required findings for approval
have not been met and the application has been denied.
Finding #2 (Structure Damage), applies to main structures which, per Section 21.32.020 of Campbell
Municipal Code, includes dwelling units, in-ground swimming pools, detached garages, and other
accessory structures over 200 square feet. Damage to concrete walkways does not substantiate a request
for removal of the tree, as they are not considered main structures.
Please consider modifying the concrete walkway to create a safe path of travel while preserving the
tree. The majority of properties along Sobrato Dr. utilize a pathway extending perpendicular from the
sidewalk to the courtyard area between the units and the same can be done to 850 Sobrato Dr.
This decision is final in 10 calendar days of the Community Development Director's decision, unless
an appeal is received in writing at the City of Campbell Community Development Department, 70
North First Street, Campbell, on or before March 14, 2015. A written appeal must be accompanied by
the required $200 appeal filing fee.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me by phone at (408) 866-2144 or by
email at nazp@cityofcampbell.com.
Sincerely,
Na Pouya
Project Planner
cc: Paul Kermoyan, Community Development Director