Attachment 16 - Applicant's response to Consulting Arborist's Report, received November 1, 2017October 26 2017
IAN GEDDES
AND ASSOCIATES
ARBORICULTURAL CONSULTING
P.O. Box 2962, Saratoga, California 95070
(408) 379-8011 • (888) OR TREES
Fax (408) 374-8262
www.drtrees.com
Patrick J. Flanders,
Flanders Bay Company,
12175-C Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
Re: Veterans Memorial, Los Gatos.
Dear Mr. Flanders,
RECEIVED
NOV 01 2017
TOWN OF LDS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
Thank you for the opportunity to become involved in this tree related plan by acting
as Project Arborist (PA).
You have asked me to review and pass comment upon the report supplied by Walter
Levison, Contract Town Arborist (CTA) of 11/18/2017. Included in the review
material were grading plans by Westfall Engineers, Inc. and construction details
from your company.
The report compiled by the CTA is thorough and concise. It is prepared with the
overall health, stability and long-term welfare of the associated trees at the
forefront. Frequently when building projects and trees coincide it is at the expense
of tree survival, or stability, and the safety aspects when dealing with such large
trees in a high -traffic public area cannot be emphasized enough. If the conditions are
followed as presented, there is good reason to believe that neither longevity nor
stability of the trees will be significantly affected.
To encapsulate;) endorse the suggested irrigation regime, a sudden cessation of
moisture in an established root plane can be debilitating, especially when coupled
with drought or activity in the root zone. Establish who will do this and when, so
that it may be monitored.
Shallow positioning of conduits, both for electrical irrigation as detailed should be a
necessity, as should the installation of shallow cut walkways with installation of the
underlay as described. Noted is the recommendation to lessen the depth of the
walkway edgings, with concerns being outlined in section 1.0 (b )3 a-d of the CTA
report, and solutions being recommended in section 4.
The CTA is correct insofar as tree welfare is concerned to recommend the avoidance
of deep footings, and instead use small diameter piers with grade beams for
structural item foundations.
A
AMER,GN SOG,E r, p
CONSULTING ARBOReSTs
ATTACHMENT 1 6
Mr. Patrick J. Flanders
10/26/17
Page 2.
The appraised tree values are within the expected range (ref. Council of Tree and
Landscapers Appraisal, Guide for Plant Appraisal, 1992) for such specimens in their
given location. Contractors should be reminded of the value of the tree stock to
bring further awareness for the need for care, especially of root zones, during
construction.
The recommendation is made for the use of standard chain -link fencing as a tree
protection zone (TPZ), with appropriate signage to remain throughout the project.
This again is a standard procedure of proven benefit.
The recommendation has been made to remove tree number 6 (tag #26). Sequoias
are poor long-term performers in this particular area, and a slow decline as is
apparent in the canopy of this tree is inevitable and irreversible. The
recommendation for its removal is based upon sound reason.
It is apparent that some minor changes need to be applied to the engineering detail
prior to operations. The CTA has eloquently detailed his recommendations, all of
which are based upon maintaining the trees in a safe and healthy environment post
construction. I endorse his findings and suggestions.
Yours sincerely,
ji
lainGeddes, ONDI-1(Arb), MIoD
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #308
WCISA Certified Arborist #593
4' IAN GEDDES AND ASSOCIATES,