Emergency TRP - 2004September 13,2004
Mr. Bryan Oh
657 Stokes Street
San Jose CA 95128
Re:
File No.: PLN2004-00126
657 Stokes Street
Emergency removal of Redwood Tree
Dear Mr. Oh,
The Community Development Director and Code Enforcement Officer of the City of
Campbell have determined the Redwood tree located on property at 657 Stokes Street in a
R-1-6 (Single Family Residential) Zoning District constitutes an emergency removal
under Section 21.32.060 of the Campbell Municipal Code. This ruling is based on your
description of the tree and a certified arborist report that the tree posed an immediate
threat to persons or property.
You may continue to remove the Redwood tree in order to abate the code violation on
your property. Please contact this office as soon as the tree has been removed to schedule
a field inspection to verify the removal.
You have selected one 24" box Lemon tree to be planted in the rear yard of your property.
Your tree replacement must be planted on or before Friday, October 15, 2004.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at (408) 866-2142 or by email at
m elindad@cityo[campbell.com.
Sincerely,
Melinda Denis
Planner I
cc:
Geoff Bradley, Senior Planner
70 I~orth First Street
Campbell, California 95008-1436
fEL 408.866.2140 . FAX 408.871.5140 . Tfm 408.866.2790
IAN
<3EDDES
AND ASSOCIATES
AABOAICULTUAAL CONSULTING
P.O. Box 2962 . Saratoga, California 95070
(408) 374-8233 . Fax: (408) 374-8262
www.drtrees.com
June 23, 2004
Mr. & Mrs. William Fulk
64 7 Stokes Street
San Jose, CA 95128
RE: Tree Inspection
RECEIVED
SEP 0 3 ZOO4
OIlY OF CAMPBELL
PLANNING DEPT.
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Fulk:
Thank you for the opportunity to become in your tree related issues. Following my visit
to your home and meeting with you, I report the following.
Your neighbor is the owner of one large, although somewhat juvenile in terms of natural
longevity, California Coast Redwood, (Sequoia sempervirens). It is a co-dominant
specimen, (meaning that two stems arise &om near ground level), with one stem
measuring approximately 24" in diameter and the other measuring approximately 26"
diameter. Its estimated height is near 80' and has a canopy spread of approximately 35'.
The tree appears to enjoy a reasonable state of physiological well-being. It is estimated
that the tree is approximately 40 years old and was probably planted at the time the
homes were built.
It appears that the trees' development is beginning to have an effect upon your property.
Your shed, which is situated approximately 18" ftom the base of the tree, is beginning to
lift and exhibit a distinct lean as a result oftree root activity. The adjacent concrete
walkway exhibits cracking which typifies the kind of damage caused by tree roots, and
more importantly, the foundation of your home, (which is situated approximately 8'
&om the tree), clearly exhibits a crack, which is most likely attributable to the activity of
the trees' roots. A 4" bi-furcated woody root is directly situated at this crack, and it
certain that without abatement that the root will exacerbate the problem.
While at only 40 years old, the tree has enormous potential to grow both above and below
ground, considering it has a genetic programming to become one of the largest organisms
We are proud members of the following professional organizations.
~~
AMER'CAN SOCOETY OF
CONSUL~NG ARBOR'ST'
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National Arborist Association
Mr. & Mrs. William Fulk
6/23/04
Page 2
on the planet. It presently towers over the home and will continue to absorb the space
and disrupt the inftastructure and its immediate vicinity. Its structure is such, (with its bi-
furcation), that the potential for failure also exists. This potential is greatly increased
during periods of adverse weather.
It my opinion that this is a tree that was planted in the wrong place and has now outgrown
its situation and is beginning to cause damage, which will only escalate as time goes on.
It also has the potential for catastrophic failure at a point in time, which cannot be
determined.
Alleviation of the subterranean problem cannot be easily addressed by root cutting, as
this is likely to leave the tree vulnerable to collapse. Given the aforementioned
circumstances, it is this Consultant's opinion that the only realistic and safe solution to
this problem is to remove the tree. It is suggested you approach your neighbor's with this
recommendation.
Additionally you had asked me to pass comment on your Bay tree, which grows adjacent
to the property line and has been significantly trimmed back by your neighbor. While the
pruning falls outside of normal industry standards, obviously conducted by a non-
professional, leaving rips, tears and stubs, it is unlikely to kill your tree. The resulting
growth is likely to be prolific and will require management in the form of re-structure
pruning to develop in a safe manner. Courts of law are likely to consider the pruning
reasonable and non-catastrophic and an appraisal of the damage is likely to be negligible.
Please feel &ee to contact me with any further questions or concerns.
IG:lg
fulk