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Town Of Los Altos Hills April 6, 2006 Staff Report to the Planning Commission RE: AMENDMENT TO THE SITE DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIRING REMOVAL OF BLUE GUM EUCALYPTUS TREES (EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS) AT TIME OF SITE DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL(SECTION 10-2.802) FROM: Debbie Pedro, AICP, Senior Planner�Q_ APPROVED BY: Carl Cahill, Planning Director/Acting City Manager C_C, RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission: Review and discuss the proposed ordinance regarding mandatory removal of eucalyptus trees at the time of site development approval. BACKGROUND At their meeting on March 9, 2006, the City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance requiring property owners to remove of all Tasmanian Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus globulus) on their properties at the time of Site Development approval. Prior to finalizing the draft ordinance, staff is requesting input from the Planning Commission. Some of the issues that the Commission may wish to consider could include the following: Benefits from removing Blue Gum Concerns with regard to the required Eucalyptus-Trees at the time of Site removal of Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees Development at the time of Site Development • These trees have a tendency drop large • Removal of these trees could result in limbs or uproot and fall over and are a the localized loss of existing landscape potential safety hazard. screening. • The dead bark, fallen branches and leaf • Removal. of trees would incur litter of Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees are additional development expenses for flammable and if left to accumulate, property owner. (average cost for can be a potential fire hazard. removal: $2,000+per mature tree) • Removal of Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees at the time of site development would result in a very gradual removal of Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees from the Town and therefore not result in significant impacts to the environment.