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Commission approves tentative plat with $85,000 tree-trust proffer after arborist dispute
Summary
For a tentative plat tied to redevelopment activity near Sunset, the applicant and city debated specimen-tree relocation feasibility; the applicant offered and raised a voluntary contribution to a city tree fund from $70,000 to $85,000, and commissioners approved the plat with that proffer and conditions that funds be used to plant trees within a year.
A quasi-judicial tentatively approved plat on Oct. 1 included negotiated mitigation for specimen trees: developers and arborists presented technical constraints to on-site relocation, and the applicant offered a voluntary contribution into the city27s tree/trust fund.
Company representatives said some mature live oaks could be candidates for relocation but that complex constraints (overhead utilities, power-line clearances, root‑ball impacts and construction means-and-methods for deep foundations) made successful in-place preservation or relocation uncertain and time-consuming. Staff and outside arborists met on site; the developer initially proffered $70,000 to underwrite planting canopy elsewhere, then increased the offer to $85,000 during the hearing.
Commissioners discussed alternatives (bulb-outs, removing parallel parking to create larger planting zones) and asked that any proffer be used promptly for planting. One commissioner asked the city to ensure the funds are spent on planting within a year rather than sitting in a general fund; the applicant agreed to payment within ten business days. The motion to approve the tentative plat passed (roll call recorded), with the mayor recorded as voting no on the final motion.
Why it matters: the plat and the tree mitigation decision determine whether a limited on-site salvage effort will proceed or the city will receive a dedicated tree-fund contribution to accelerate canopy planting in public rights-of-way; commissioners asked for precise DBH (diameter at breast height) data and a planting timetable to accompany the final recorded plat.
