Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tree Removal Appeal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission allows front‑yard pear removal for homeowner, requires large replacement tree
Summary
The Planning Commission granted a homeowner—s appeal to remove a protected pear tree at 385 Redondo Terrace, citing potential hazard and landscape incompatibility, and conditioned the approval on planting a large replacement tree in the front yard.
The Sunnyvale Planning Commission on Oct. 27 granted a homeowner—s appeal and approved a tree removal permit for a 21‑inch fruitless pear tree at 385 Redondo Terrace, attaching replacement‑tree requirements and concluding the removal met municipal code standards cited by the commission.
Staff planner Cindy Holmes summarized the record and recommended upholding the director—s denial, saying the tree was healthy, that corrective pruning and root/soil work were recommended by the city arborist, and that removal criteria in Sunnyvale Municipal Code were not met. The arborist testified the species is healthy but is susceptible to summer limb failure (limb drop) when vigorous end growth becomes heavy and brittle.
The homeowner, who has pruned the tree for three decades, testified the tree had shed a large limb unexpectedly, that the tree has required frequent and costly pruning, and that the homeowner—s insurer (Liberty Mutual) previously declined to renew her policy citing the tree. "The branch was big enough that it could have killed somebody," the homeowner said, describing both safety fears and rising maintenance costs.
Commissioners asked about prior tree removals in the neighborhood, the potential for root and sidewalk damage, the cost differences between pruning and removal, and whether replacement trees could be planted elsewhere on the property. City staff said about six tree permits had been issued in the surrounding neighborhood recently for other species; staff clarified that if removal is approved the permit requires either two 24‑inch box trees or one 36‑inch box replacement tree or payment of an in‑lieu fee, but the commission—s motion removed the in‑lieu option and required a 36‑inch box tree in the front yard.
After extended deliberation the commission voted 5–2 to grant the appeal. Commissioner Davis framed the findings under Sunnyvale Municipal Code §19.94.060 (finding the tree represented a potential hazard and had outgrown its useful landscape value due to species, size and location). Vice Chair Shukla seconded the motion. Commissioners Segura and Cerrone voted no.
The approved permit is final; city staff said the owner must comply with the replacement‑tree condition and other permit requirements.
