Palo Alto Weekly 10.30. 2009-section1

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Upfront LAND USE

Commission: Look at ‘forest,’ not just trees The Bowman program builds confidence, creativity and academic excellence. Lower School - Grades K - 5 Middle School - Grades 6 - 8 Individualized, self-directed program Rich international & cultural studies Proven, Montessori approach State-of-the-art facility Low student-teacher ratio

www.bowmanschool.org 4000 Terman Drive l Palo Alto, CA l Tel: 650-813-9131

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Consider broad vision for California Ave. before replacing trees, planning commission says alo Alto should slow down and carefully consider its vision for the California Avenue Business District before replanting the dozens of trees that were hastily chopped down last month, members of the city’s Planning and Transportation Commission argued Wednesday night. The commission’s review of the controversial streetscape project was the latest step in an outreach effort the city has adopted after workers felled 63 holly oaks on California Avenue in mid-September, enraging residents and surprising the City Council. On Wednesday, staff and consultants presented two possible plans for replanting trees — one relying predominantly on deciduous plants and one splitting the tree palette between deciduous and evergreen species. The commission, which typically reviews new developments, traffic projects and zoning issues, acknowledged repeatedly that its members aren’t qualified to debate the merits of various tree species and irrigation methods. But members said they were worried that the city might be moving too fast. “I’m feeling like I’m being asked to look at trees, and I don’t know what the forest is,� Commissioner Susan Fineberg said during Wednes-

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by Gennady Sheyner day’s discussion. Commissioner Karen Holman urged city officials to consider other long-term enhancements to the California Avenue area in conjunction with the tree-replacement project. The city’s current plan calls for replanting the trees before the end of this year and then considering other improvements such as street furniture and lane changes next spring. “I am concerned about committing the streetscape to a 40-year future without having thought through what the possibilities are and without considering the rest of the plan,� Holman said. The city arrived at its two alternatives for tree planting after two community meetings and consultation with four arborists. City arborists Dave Dockter and Eric Krebs and consulting arborists Barrie Coate and Dave Muffly all took part in selecting the tree palette, which includes evergreens such as the Canary Island pine, the southern live oak and elegant Tristania and deciduous species such as the silver linden, the Freeman maple and the Chinese pistache. Each plan includes a “unifying� tree, which would be planted throughout California Avenue; and larger “signature� trees at large intersections and entrance points.

Native valley oaks would be planted at the El Camino Real entrance, an acknowledgement of their iconic status. About 20 residents and business owners from California Avenue attended Wednesday’s meeting. Several of them urged city officials to select larger trees and lobbied for evergreens, which would provide shade to pedestrians all year. “Fall color is nice, but evergreens give you not only visible satisfaction but physical comfort,� resident Brent Barker said. The commission steered clear of criticizing any particular species and focused on the city’s muchmaligned process for implementing the streetscape improvements in the busy business district. Commissioner Lee Lippert acknowledged the process has been riddled with problems but pointed out that any major delays would only further harm the residents and business owners. “They will be forced to live another year without trees,� Lippert said. “In tough economic times, it would be tough for people to go to California Avenue, to go to farmers market and see such a barren cityscape.� N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be e-mailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

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