The Atherton Planning Commission approved a tree protection zone (TPZ) exception for 98 Maple Avenue on Wednesday, with conditions intended to protect a large street‑adjacent tree while allowing a vertical addition to the existing home.

Town planner Britney Bendix told commissioners the applicant withdrew a prior heritage‑tree removal request and resubmitted as a TPZ exception after neighbors expressed concern. Bendix described the property and said town arborist Sally recommended approval subject to conditions that include continuous project‑arborist involvement, certified arborists for pruning, application of four inches of mulch beneath the tree, root protection (plywood) where heavy equipment is used and quarterly arborist reports reviewed by town staff.

The nut graf: The applicant is proposing a vertical addition close to a protected tree; rather than remove the tree, staff and the applicant negotiated a protection plan the commission approved that limits canopy removal to about 7 percent, requires certified arborist oversight, and requires on‑site protection measures during construction.

During public comment, resident Paul Quinlan, who had objected to the earlier removal request, praised the applicant’s change of approach and asked that the contractor use plywood to prevent root compaction and that the tree‑protection conditions be enforced. Neighbor Karen Goodman asked for clarification on how the TPZ measurement changes would affect the foundation; Bendix explained the requested TPZ reduction brings the new second‑floor footprint about one or two feet closer to the trunk but that the arborist concluded preservation was feasible.

The commission approved the TPZ exception in a roll‑call vote (yes: Levison, Lugers, Lane, Polito; one member absent). By approving the exception rather than removal, the commission left a path for the applicant to pursue the second‑floor work while requiring the arborist protections and ongoing monitoring.