Exhibit 18. Applicants Response to Arborist Peer Review 5/8/2025
Matthew Morgan
Kimley-Horn
10 S Almaden Blvd, Ste 1250
San Jose, CA 95113
408.785.3518
matthew.morgan@kimley-horn.com
Re: response letter detailing changes made to report in accordance with City Arborist
comment letter dated 5/7/2025 for proposed renovation at 31 University Ave, Los Gatos,
CA 95030
Dear Matthew,
Here is a list of the changes made to my report based on the City Arborist comment letter
referenced above. The comment letter was prepared by Erin Walters and contains three
points requiring attention.
● Point 1:
○ This information is included in the map accompanying my arborist report,
titled “31 University Ave Tree Map V1 2025-03-05,” available at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ACHFDb0XSloLUUmBJgu24aLrJXGNfO0E/vie
w?usp=drive_link
Prepared for Kimley-Horn by Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting on 5/8/2025 1 of 3
EXHIBIT 18
● Point 2:
○ Appraisals have been performed, and a new column with appraised values
has been added to the tree table, available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11bNTsHKxEEWvZs3-UxinKoGs1GJl4Ndr/view?
usp=drive_link
● Point 3:
○ This item is outside my purview and will need to be addressed by others on
the project team.
Respectfully submitted,
Katherine Naegele | Consulting Arborist | She/Her
Master of Forestry, UC Berkeley
International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist #WE-9658A
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification Credentialed
katherine@aacarbor.com | (408) 201-9607
Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting | (408) 675-1729
aacarbor.com
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Terms of Assignment
The following terms and conditions apply to all oral and written reports and correspondence pertaining to the
consultations, inspections, and activities of Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting:
1. All property lines and ownership of property, trees, and landscape plants and fixtures are assumed to be
accurate and reliable as presented and described to the consultant, either orally or in writing. The
consultant assumes no responsibility for verification of ownership or locations of property lines, or for
results of any actions or recommendations based on inaccurate information.
2. It is assumed that any property referred to in any report or in conjunction with any services performed by
Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting is in accordance with any applicable codes, ordinances, statutes, or
other governmental regulations, and that any titles and ownership to any property are assumed to be good
and marketable. The existence of liens or encumbrances has not been determined, and any and all
property is appraised and/or assessed as though free and clear, under responsible ownership and
competent management.
3. All reports and other correspondence are confidential and are the property of Aesculus Arboricultural
Consulting and its named clients and their assigns or agents. Possession of this report or a copy thereof
does not imply any right of publication or use for any purpose, without the express permission of the
consultant and the client to whom the report was issued. Loss, removal, or alteration of any part of a
report invalidates the entire appraisal/evaluation.
4. The scope of any report or other correspondence is limited to the trees and conditions specifically
mentioned in those reports and correspondence. Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting assumes no liability
for the failure of trees or parts of trees, inspected or otherwise. The consultant assumes no responsibility
to report on the condition of any tree or landscape feature not specifically requested by the named client.
5. All inspections are limited to visual examination of accessible parts, without dissection, excavation, probing,
boring or other invasive procedures, unless otherwise noted in the report, and reflect the condition of
those items and features at the time of inspection. No warranty or guarantee is made, expressed or
implied, that problems or deficiencies of the plants or the property will not occur in the future, from any
cause. The consultant shall not be responsible for damages caused by any tree defects, and assumes no
responsibility for the correction of defects or tree related problems.
6. The consultant shall not be required to provide further documentation, give testimony, be deposed, or to
attend court by reason of this appraisal/report unless subsequent contractual arrangements are made,
including payment of additional fees for such services as set forth by the consultant or in the fee schedule
or contract.
7. Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting makes no warranty, either expressed or implied, as to the suitability of
the information contained in any reports or correspondence, either oral or written, for any purpose. It
remains the responsibility of the client to determine applicability to his/her particular case.
8. Any report and the values, observations, and recommendations expressed therein represent the
professional opinion of the consultant, and the fee for services is in no manner contingent upon the
reporting of a specified value nor upon any particular finding.
9. Any photographs, diagrams, charts, sketches, or other graphic material included in any report are intended
solely as visual aids, are not necessarily to scale, and should not be construed as engineering reports or
surveys unless otherwise noted in the report. Any reproduction of graphic material or the work product of
any other persons is intended solely for clarification and ease of reference. Inclusion of said information
does not constitute a representation by Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting as to the sufficiency or accuracy
of that information.
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31 University Avenue
May 8, 2025
Arborist Peer Review Recommendation #3-
- The plan set does not contain the required Tree Preservation Instructions (T-1) sheet
Section 29.10.1000. New Property Development.
Applicant’s Response-
T-1 Sheet (T-1A, T-1B and T-1C) have been added to the plan set, providing Tree Protection
Report, Tree Map, and Tree Table with Applicable Data. Tree protection measures are
provided on Sheet T-1C and depicted on the Tree Map. Tree Appraisals are provided on
Sheet T-1C, depicted in the tree table.
10.6 ft.1 0 .3 f t .10.4 ft.6.2 ft.6.6 f t .4.9 f t .6.8 f t .
9 .4 f t .
9 .3 f t .
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t.6.2 f t .6.1 f t .2.6 ft.3.6 f t .2.7 ft.0.9 ft.
6 f t .
2ft.
#10
#11
#12
#13
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
0 10 20 30 ft
03/05/2025Tree trunks, to scale.
Locations approximate where
not matched to survey. Note
that tree trunks may not be
round in cross section.
Critical root zones (minimal
disturbance recommended)
Tree protection zones (ideal;
may differ significantly from
canopy size and from
recommended tree protection
measures)
Tree removals
Minimum distances for tree
protection fencing. Fencing
may be placed farther away
from trees if desired.
31 University Tree Table Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting
5/8/2025 1Tree # (13 total)Common NameSpeciesDBH (in.)Canopy Spread (ft.)Vitality Rating (%)Structure Rating (%)Form Rating (%)Suitability for Preservation(%)Protected Tree - 11Street Tree - 8Off-Site Tree - 0Protected Removals - 2Appraised Value(worksheet availableupon request)CRZ radius(ft. from center of trunk)TPZ radius(ideal; ft. from center oftrunk)Expected Impacts (withrecommended protection)1 Callery pear 6.2 10 50 50 60 50 $16,800.00 1.8 6.2 Minimal from project
as proposed
2 Callery pear 5.6 8 30 40 30 35 $900.00 1.6 7.0 Minimal from projectas proposed
3 Callery pear 2.4 4 10 10 10 10 ----
4 Callery pear 6.6 10 50 50 60 50 $1,400.00 1.9 6.6 Minimal from project
as proposed
5 Callery pear 4.9 10 40 50 50 45 $790.00 1.4 4.9 Minimal from project
as proposed
6 Coast live oak 21.1 40 80 50 80 65 $13,200.00 6.2 10.6 Minimal from project
as proposed
7 Coast live oak 20.7 30 80 50 80 65 $12,600.00 6.0 10.3 Minimal from projectas proposed
8 Coast live oak 9.0 18 60 50 60 55 $2,280.00 2.6 6.8 Minimal from project
as proposed
9 Coast live oak 12.5 16 50 50 50 50 $4,270.00 3.6 9.4 Minimal from project
as proposed
10 Coast live oak 9.3 20 30 50 30 40 $2,250.00 2.7 9.3
Moderate to major
from proposed
sidewalk work
Pyrus calleryana
Pyrus calleryana
Pyrus calleryana
Pyrus calleryana
Pyrus calleryana
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
31 University Tree Table Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting
5/8/2025 2Tree # (13 total)Common NameSpeciesDBH (in.)Canopy Spread (ft.)Vitality Rating (%)Structure Rating (%)Form Rating (%)Suitability for Preservation(%)Protected Tree - 11Street Tree - 8Off-Site Tree - 0Protected Removals - 2Appraised Value(worksheet availableupon request)CRZ radius(ft. from center of trunk)TPZ radius(ideal; ft. from center oftrunk)Expected Impacts (withrecommended protection)11 Crape myrtle 3.0 7 70 50 60 60 $260.00 0.9 2.3
Incompatible with
proposed sidewalk
work
12 Coast live oak 7.0 18 60 50 60 55 $1,380.00 2.0 5.3
Incompatible with
proposed sidewalkwork
13 Coast live oak 20.8 30 80 50 60 65 $12,500.00 6.1 10.4 Minimal from project
as proposed
Lagerstroemia indica
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
31 University Tree Table Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting
5/8/2025 3Notes-
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Tag #3281; girdling
root
Tag #3282
Tag #3283
Canopy spread is
average due touneven canopy dist.
One foot-deep cavityin base.
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31 University Tree Table Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting
5/8/2025 4Notes-
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