Tree Removal Permit - 2003Memorandum
O~CH A~.~) '
Community Development Department
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
August 20, 2003
Glenn and Jeanne McClelland
Melinda Denis
Planner I
Tree Removal
Hello Glenn and Jeanne,
Enclosed is a copy of the letter I mailed to Pacific Gas & Electric's Vegetation Management
Department for your records. You do NOT need to contact PG&E to remove the cedar tree in
your back yard since I have already notified PG&E. They will be contacting you to arrange a
time to remove the tree. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (408) 866-
2142. Have a wonderful time in Lake Tahoe!
Take care,
Melipda~
70 North First Street. Campbell, California 95008-1436 · TEL 408.866.2140- F^X 408.871.5140 · TDD 408.866.2790
CITY oF CAMPBELL
Community Development Department
CAMPBELL
August 20, 2003
W. Kirk Shearer
Project Manager
Western Environmental Consultants, Inc.
10900 North Blaney Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
Re: Tree Removal at 872 N. Central Avenue in Campbell
Dear Mr. Shearer,
The Community Development Director of the City of Campbell has determined that the
cedar tree located on the property at 872 N. Central Avenue in a R-l-6 (Single Family
Residential) Zoning District is exempt from the City's Tree Protection Regulations under
Section 21.56.060 of the Campbell Municipal Code. This determination is based on Ms.
Victoria Land's description of the tree and a site visit confirming that the tree is
extremely close to high-voltage power lines and impacts the safe operation of public
utilities. The cedar tree is exempt from the City's Tree Protection Regulations and may
be removed without approval of a Tree Removal Permit from the City of Campbell.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at (408) 866-2142 or via email at
melindad@cityofcampbell.com.
Sincerely,
Melinda Denis
Planner I
encl: Tree Removal Release Form prepared by Victoria Land of WECI
CC:
W. Kirk Shearer, via fax (408) 725-3375
Geoff Bradley, Senior Planner
Glenn and Jeanne McClelland, 872 N. Central Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008
70 North First Street · Campbell, California 95008-1436 · 'rF_k 408.866.2140 - FAX 408.871 .5140 · TDD 408.866.2790
Dear :,,.e,y Owner: *'
Company s T mming Cont,.mr
· emo~e'~he ~ree(s) :in~effe~ng w~h ~G~'s clerical:die.uriah ':wi~s in t~is ama.
~ndi~es ~hat ~he ~emo~al of ~ees (as-s~dfied ~low)is ne~ssa~ ~o.ensure the safety and reliability ~
PG&Ets electrical facilities.
has been engaged~o
A survey ~of {he situation
Please indicate 'your agreement to the removal .of'these trees ~3y signing 'in the space provided 'below. Your
signature verifies that you have ,a legal interest ,in the 'property and you are authorized to grant such removal
;permission.
WR :No:
Tag No.
Routing No.
No. of Trees: ]
Tree(s) stumps will be treated with an EPA approved herbicide to control re-growth where appropriate.
PG&£ or Tr~ Trimming ¢ontra~or will not remow tr~ ~ump(s) and Will 4eaw all wood as d~$¢rib~d above.
City:
Prepared by: Vt
Company: [_X3 ,~',
(Print Name)
Phone:
Copies Original AUA office
This agreement subject to approval by PG&E.
-.-,--", ~ Li
Tree Contractor / Customer
t
62-1103 (5100)
AUG-19-2003 14:33 PG&E UEG. MANAGEMENT P.01/02
FAX
Date: August 19, 2003
No. Pages Including Cover: 2
WESTERN
To: Melinda
Fax: 871-5140
From: W. Kirk Shearer, Project Manager
Western Environmental Consultants, Inc.
10900 North Blaney Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 725-2264 Telephone
(408) 725-3375 Fax.
Melinda,
I received your message and am happy to respond to your request concerning our tree
removal guidelines.
As you surely know, maintaining clearance around high voltage power lines is a serious
business involving much risk and expense. Our public education campaign, "The Right
Tree, In The Right Place" along with periodic flyers included with PG&E customer's bills
describing why we trim trees around power lines has done a great deal to raise public
awareness and knowledge about the job we do.
Tree trimming is a maintenance issue,, and many times we look to solve problems at
certain property locations (at either our initiative or the customer's) because annual
trimming is not sufficient to maintairt compliance, or frequently the customer would prefer
us not to have to perform this work every year. The trees we actively seek to remove are
the smallest individuals (11.9 inches diameter and smaller) growing directly underneath or
adjacent to our high voltage equipment. Many times we will also look to remove trees
larger than this for various reasons: they may be a fast-growing species capable of putting
on 10-12 feet of growth every year, the tree is a potential hazard due to disease or decay,
or they present a constant public safety/compliance problem. Species with a dominant
leader growth form (such as redwoods, pines, sycamores, and cottonwoods) are forever
changed after being 'topped' and thc sprouts that occur afterwards are never as strongly
attached as the original stem, and are of course not nearly as appealing to the eye. While
AUG-19-2003 14:33 PG&E VEG. MANAGEMENT P.02/02
visual appeal alone is not a sufficient reason for removing the tree, many times customers
will agree that another species would be more appropriate, would reduce or eliminate
altogether the need for trimming on their property, and help PG&E improve their overall
service and reliability.
Many of our inspectors, and all of our senior staff have a Horticultural or Forestry
background, and are Certified Arborists through the International Society of Arboriculture.
If one of our field personnel is unsure about seeking a removal on a particular tree, they
will ask a second opinion from a Senior Staff member or the PG&E Forester as well.
Besides the permits each citT in the South Bay area require, all tree removals over a certain
size must be approved by PG&E due to the time and expense required, so our removal
process is kept in check this way as well.
I hope I have answered your questions, but should you have any other concerns please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Kirk Shearer
TOTAL P.02