Tree Removal Permit - 2003 .0~ ·
CITY oF CAMPBELL
Community Development Department
CAMPBELL
April 22, 2003
Steve Baca
Enviroscapes
45051 Industrial Drive
Fremont, CA 94538
PLN 2003-44 - Tree Removal Permit Application for dead Camphor Tree
350 Budd Avenue- La Valencia Apartments
Dear Mr. Baca:
The Planning Division has reviewed your request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove a dead
Camphor Tree at 350 Budd Avenue, the La Valencia Apartment Complex. The City's Tree
Protection Ordinance requires a permit for the removal of a tree, which is defined as a "live
woody perennial plant." The Arborist has determined that the tree is indeed dead; therefore a
Tree Removal Permit is not required. However, this tree must be replaced because it was
required as part of a Development Permit. Per the Arborist's recommendation, a 24-inch box
Dracaena australis v. atropurpurea shall be required as a replacement tree for the removed
Camphor. In addition, you should follow the Arborist's recommendation to water the area with a
solution of Root Shield one week prior to planting the tree and immediately after planting the
tree to protect the new tree from soil-borne root pathogen fungi.
It should be noted that it is possible that the death of this tree could have been prevented by more
careful consideration to landscaping activities around the tree such as irrigation, changes in the
grade, and rototilling. You should limit activities within roughly a 4-foot area around tree trunks.
Because La Valencia has many large trees that add immensely to the character of the apartment
complex, the existing trees on the site should be properly maintained in order to ensure their
long-term health.
During my site visit on April 17, 2003, I observed that construction activities near the new office
and pool house are adversely impacting the trees near the construction. The photos on the
following page show that wood is being stored up against the trunk of the tree, which could
result in significant damage to the trunk and root system. In addition, a large pile of dirt is near a
newly planted Redwood tree that was a replacement tree for a former Tree Removal Permit.
Since these are protected trees, materials or debris may not be stored around or under the trees,
and nothing may be dumped on the ground new the trees. I have provided Ginger with notices to
be posted near the protected trees and sending a copy of this letter to the contractor, Randy Smith
Construction. Failure to comply with these tree protection requirements will result in the
issuance of a stop-work order.
70 North First Street · Campbell, California 95008 436 - TEl_ 408.866.2140 · FAX 408.871.5140 · ']'DJ) 408.866.2790
PLN 2003-44- Tree Rerno Permit Application for dead Campho} . ee
350 Budd Avenue- La Valencia Apartments
April 22, 2003
Please contact me after you have planted the replacement tree so that I can conduct a site
inspection to ascertain that the replacement tree has been installed and is healthy. Should you
have any questions regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at (408) 866-2193.
Sincerely,
Darcy Smith
Planner 11
CC~
Geoff Bradley, Senior Planner
Frank Mills, Senior Building Inspector
Bill Brooks, Sequoia Equities, 1777 Botelho Drive, Suite 300, Walnut Creek, CA
94598
Ginger Schafer, Community Business Manager, La Valencia Apartments, 350 Budd
Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008
Randy Smith Construction, 5662 La Ribera Street, Suite C, Livermore, CA 94550
Deborah Ellis, MS
Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist
Steve Boca
EnviroScapes
45051 Industrial Drive
Fremont, CA 94538
,.Cercice since 1984
April 11,2003
Re: La Valencia Apartments, Campbell - Evaluation of Camphor kee in pool area
Dear Steve:
At your request I evaluated the above camphor
tree (Cinnamomum camphora) today. There
was a question as to whether the tree was dead
or alive. The tree is Indeed dead and should be
removed. The cause of death appears to be on
extension infection by Armillorio me/leo (ook root
fungus)L The tree was probably predisposed to
aggressive attack of this fungus by recent new
landscaping that was done around the tree. A
change in the environment around a tree,
particularly an older tree such as this camphor,
often predisposes trees and other woody plants
to aggressive infection by Armillaria. This is
particularly true if irrigation of the area was
added or increased, rototilling was done near
the tree (injuring roots) or the grade was raised
(soil was added over the root system,
particularly near the trunk). Additionally,
camphor trees are highly susceptible to lethal
infection by Armillaria.
~ A. rmill(Jria mellec, i is a native soilborne fungus present on the roots of many woody plant species and most
native oaks in our area, usually living as a saprophyte and not causing much damage. When a woady plant is
weakened and environmental candifians favor growth of the fungus (particularly wet soil during our dry manths
on plants ill-adapted to this), the fungus can become aggressively parasitic, decimating woody tissue. Large
amounts of fungal inoculum in the soil (such as old roots of infected plants, where the fungus survives) can lead
to infection of healthy plants as well. White strands or plaque between the bark & wood is diagnostic for this
fungus. In advanced cases the whitish growth can be seen at the root collar and lower trunk. As more tissue is
lost the plant may decline and/or die. Large trees with an extensive root system may not begin to show
symptoms of decline until the fungus kills half the root system.
J This document was emailed from Deborah Ellis at decah@oacbell, net. J
PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95050. Phone & Fax: 408-725-1357. Web site: http://www.decah.com/
!
Page 1 of 3
Deborah Ellis, MS
Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist
Service since 1984
Upper photo: dead, blackened
branches of the tree.
Lower photo: Patch of loose bark I
removed near the base of the trunk,
facing the pool. The white flecks are
the mycelium (fungal strands) of the
Armillaria fungus.
PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95050. Phone & Fax: 408-725-1357.
Email: decoh~pacbell.net. Web site: http://www.decoh.com/
Page 2 of 3
Deborah Ellis, MS~
Consulting Arborist & HorticultuHs
Recommendations:
~ervice since 1984
1. Remove the tree and as many of the roots of the tree as possible. Grind the stump 12 to 18
inches below grade. Remove at least a 5-foot diameter of existing plants (Lantana) around
the previous tree trunk and have workers (with shovel and pick) remove as many of the leftover
tree roots as possible. Leftover roots infected with Arm#laria can serve as a source of infection
for nearby plants.
2. Take care in changing the landscape (particularly irrigation) around mature trees. Mature
trees often cannot adapt to a change in their environment, are weakened by this, and
succumb to normally present but quiescent pathogens that attack and kill weakened plants.
Mature trees generally do best in a stable environment that is not changed. At minimum,
preserve an undisturbed area of at least 3 times DBH (trunk diameter at 4.5 feet above the
ground) radius all around the trunk. Keep the trunk and root collar free of all vegetation, mulch
or excess soil. Do not allow sprinklers to spray trunks or root collars.
3. A possible replacement trees (for the same location): Cordyline australis, especially cultivar
'Atropurpurea' with bronze/purple leaves. This is a palm-like plant that is similar to a large
Yucca. It is described on page 290 in the current Sunset Western Garden Book. This is a very
"clean" plant for a pool area.
4. One week prior to planting this tree, I recommend that it be watered with a solution of Root
Shield2, and then water it again with the same solution (:2 tablespoans per gallon of water)
immediately after planting. This product protects plants from soilbarne raot pathogen fungi
(such as Armillaria).
I hope that this information will be helpful to you. Thank you for the oppodunity to provide service.
Please call me if you have questions or if I can be of further assistance.
PS: I will be out of town April 14-18.
Sincerely,
~e ~orafi tE ffis
Deborah Ellis, MS.
Consulting Arbodst & Horticulturist
W.C.I.S.A. Certified Arbodst #457, ASCA Registered Consulting Arbodst#305
2 Antaaonistic funaus biocontroI products such as RootShieldTM may be helpful when replanting into Armillaria
infested soils. Products such as these contain naturally occurring sail fungi that compete with plant pathogenic
soil fungi such as Armillada, Pythium, Fusadum, Rhizoctonia, etc. The antagonistic fungus grows onto plant roots
as they develop, crowding out the pathogenic species. This is supposed to provide prolonged protection from
infection by root pathogenic fungi, but they must be applied prior to infectian. These products were
developed and have been tested primarily for agricultural production crops and in nursery situatians, but they
may be useful in landscapes where Armillaria or other fungal root pathagens are a problem. Store this Drodvct
in a freezer. The product can be purchased from: Harmony Farm Supply, 707-823-9125, or on the web at:
http://www.hormonyfarm.¢om/~;toreFront.bok. Look under "Pest Controls" and "Biological Fungicides".
PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95050. Phone & Fax: 408-725-1357.
Email: decah~pacbell.net. Web site: http://www.decah.com/
Page 3 of 3
Envko
~ LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
45051 INDUSTRIAL DR. · FREMONT CA 94538 · (510) 651-8996
Apfil15,2003
City of Campbell
Ms. Darcy Smith
70 North First Street
Campbell, CA 95008
Dear Darcy,
Recently Ginger from La Valencia Apartments in Campbell found a dead Camphor Tree
near the pool area. Attached you will find our permit request form to remove this tree as
well as Deborah Ellis Horticulturist report indicating that this tree is indeed dead.
If possible could you provide Enviroscapes, Inc. authorization to remove this tree ASAP.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have at (510) 651-8996.
Sincerely,
President/CEO
CC: Ginger