The Atherton Planning Commission on July 23 approved removal of one valley oak (tree #10) at 285 Camino Al Lago, denied removal requests for a Deodar cedar (tree #6) and a second valley oak (tree #1), and asked staff to verify the dimensions of trees near a proposed fountain along the shared property line.

Town planner Brittany Bennix presented the item and said staff recommends approving removal of trees #1 and #10 and denying removal of the cedar (#6). After public comment and further discussion, the commission split from the staff recommendation and approved removal of tree #10 while denying removal of tree #1 and tree #6. Commissioners also directed staff to confirm the diameter measurement of a nearby borderline tree (about 15 inches) that neighbors had raised as potentially qualifying as a heritage tree.

Brittany Bennix summarized earlier actions: commissioners had approved removal of a coast live oak (tree #20) and a valley oak (tree #18) in a prior hearing. The current staff report noted that the town arborist supported removal of trees #1 and #10 due to structural concerns identified in the project arborist report and site visits, but she recommended denying removal of tree #6 because it was in good health and could be retained with canopy pruning and driveway realignment.

Neighbor Evangeline Cook, who lives at 289 Camino Al Lago, urged the commission to deny removal of tree #1 and suggested feasible driveway alternatives and pruning to reduce hazard. The neighbor also requested staff verify the measurement of a nearby tree that fell just below the heritage threshold in town rules (15.2 inches) and asked that the commission consider that borderline tree’s status.

Commission action: A commissioner moved to approve removal of valley oak tree #10 with replacement plantings and to deny removal of the Deodar cedar tree #6 and valley oak tree #1; the motion also included a direction that staff verify the diameters of trees near the proposed fountain along the shared property line. The motion carried.

Why it matters: The decision preserves two trees the town arborist had identified as retainable and allows removal of one tree the arborist and staff identified as structurally compromised. The verification requested by the commission addresses a neighbor’s concern that a tree just under the heritage threshold might be mismeasured.

Details: The town arborist recommended replacement plantings if removals were approved (36‑inch box oak trees for certain removals; if tree #6 were approved, she recommended four 24‑inch box Chinese pistache as replacement). The commission directed staff to verify tree dimensions near the proposed fountain along the common property line and to attach replacement planting conditions in the permit if removal were confirmed.

Next steps: Staff will verify the measurements of the trees along the shared property line and proceed with plan review consistent with the commission’s decision and replacement‑planting conditions.