Resident alleges tree‑permit at 705 Sunrise Avenue violated tree preservation ordinance

During public comment at the April 16 City Council meeting, resident Jennifer Chapman raised concerns about a recently approved tree permit for 705 Sunrise Avenue and said the permit relied on an arborist report that she believes does not comply with the city’s tree preservation ordinance.

Chapman told the council the report was prepared by a biologist, not an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)‑certified arborist, that the site plan does not depict all protected trees or show the base or drip lines required by the ordinance for trees over six inches diameter at breast height, and that measurements in the report differed significantly from her own measurements and those of two retired arborists she consulted. Chapman said she presented a photo to the council on March 25 showing three protected trees she believes were not evaluated.

She said the planning director indicated staff would have the project planner look into the matter, but that she had not received a follow‑up. Chapman asked the council and city manager to review the permit and the underlying report; she said staff had told her the only remedy might be litigation but she hoped for alternative resolutions.

Response and next steps: the mayor invited Chapman to leave contact information with staff; no formal action was taken at the meeting. Chapman was one of several members of the public during the open comment period and her remarks were recorded for council consideration alongside routine staff follow‑up.