HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 - Denying an Appeal and Upholding the Decision of the P. B & R Commission's Decision to Remove a Special City Landmark Blue Gum Eucalyptus Tree at the Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station - CorrespondenceReceived after Agenda Printed
September 24, 2024
Item No. 16
From:
Webb. Dave (Public Works)
To:
Brown, Leilani
Subject:
FW: September 24, 2024 Council Meeting
Eucalyptus/Palm Trees
Date:
September 20, 2024 2:41:41 PM
Attachments:
image001.pnna
FYI 9/24/24 Meeting Item 16
Agenda Item 16, Appeal of PB&R Decision to Remove
David Webb
Director of Public Works
Public Works Department
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Office: 949-644-3311
From: Paul Watkins <paul@lawfriend.com>
Sent: September 20, 2024 2:13 PM
To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov>
Cc: Hartson, Melissa <MHartson@newportbeachca.gov>; Ronnie Watkins
<rhondaw949@gmail.com>; Chase Rief <chase@riefinedia.com>; Webb, Dave (Public Works)
<DAWebb@newportbeachca.gov>; Sandefur, Tom <tsandefur@newportbeachca.gov>;
janetmarieray@gmail.com; sjurgis@newportbeachca.gov; Pekar, Kevin
<KPekar@newportbeachca.gov>; nancy gardner <ngardner636@gmail.com>; kburritt@dudek.com
Subject: September 24, 2024 Council Meeting: Agenda Item 16, Appeal of PB&R Decision to Remove
Eucalyptus/Palm Trees
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Dear Honorable Mayor O'Neill and Honorable Councilmembers:
Please uphold the decision of the PB&R Commission to remove the diseased and
possibly hazardous Special City Landmark Blue Gum Eucalyptus and Canary Island
Date Palm trees located at the Balboa Branch Library.
Assistant City Engineer Sandefur has done a fine job in the Staff Report of recounting
past Board of Library Trustees and PB&R meetings addressing these diseased,
possibly hazardous, and severely compromised trees. While no one wishes to remove
healthy appropriately placed trees, unfortunately the useful lives of these beautiful
specimens are nearing an end.
Received after Agenda Printed
September 24, 2024
Item No. 16
Mr. Sandefur has persuasively responded/countered in detail each point raised by
Attorney Pitet on behalf of the Appellant (Friends of Library Park). Mr. Sandefur has
also outlined a thoughtful removal plan keeping the Blue Heron population well in
mind. The neighbors and others have been generously afforded repeated
opportunities to express their views; while sympathetic to those views, Board of
Library Trustees, PB&R, and City leadership have reached a different
measured conclusion on removing the trees due to untreatable, quickly progressing
decay as verified by recent sonic tomographic evidence.
In addition to the foregoing, we urge the Council to approve at the September 24,
2024 meeting the Coastal Development Permit and Zoning Exemption (PA2024-0140)
to allow the demolition of the existing Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1
and the construction of the new Balboa Branch Library with the attached new 2-story
Fire Station No. 1.
Thank you for considering our point of view.
Sincerely,
Paul K. Watkins,
Former Chair, Board of Library Trustees
Paul K. Watkins, APC
6408 West Ocean Front
Newport Beach, CA 92663-1929 and
485 East 17th Street, Suite 600
Costa Mesa, CA 92627-4705
Of Counsel: Self & Bhomre
Cell: (714) 403-6408
E-Mail: naul@lawfriend.com
Received after Agenda Printed
CiT lteft'M jejapl&4
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
949 644-3311 1 949 644-3308 FAX
newportbeachca.gov/publicworks
September 11, 2024
SENT VIA U.S. MAIL AND EMAIL
Christopher L. Pitet
Adkisson Pitet LLP
100 Bayview Circle, Suite 210
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Email: cpitet@apiuris.com
Re: Notice of City Council Hearing on Appeal of Decision to Remove Tree
Dear Mr. Pitet:
This letter is to provide you with notice that your appeal dated June 14, 2024, of
the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission decision to remove the Blue Gum
Eucalyptus Tree at the Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station will be held at the
September 24, 2024, City Council Meeting. The Regular Council Meeting will start
at 4:30 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers located at 100 Civic Center
Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
The Agenda Report will be available on the City's website on September 20, 2024:
www.newportbeachca.gov. For more information, please call the Public Works
Department, Municipal Operations Division at 949-644-3055.
Sincerely,
Michael Sledd
Deputy Public Works Director, Municipal Operations Division
Cc: City Attorney Aaron Harp
City Clerk Leilani Brown
File
Received after Agenda Printed
September 24, 2024
Item No. 16
From: Biddle, Jennifer
To: City Clerk"s Office
Subject: FW: Support for Tree Removal and Coastal Development Permit at Balboa Branch Library
Date: September 23, 2024 10:04:44 AM
From: Chase Rief <chase.rief@gmail.com>
Sent: September 23, 2024 9:45 AM
To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov>
Cc: Hartson, Melissa <MHartson@newportbeachca.gov>
Subject: Support for Tree Removal and Coastal Development Permit at Balboa Branch Library
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Dear Honorable Mayor O'Neill and council members,
I respectfully urge you to uphold the decision of the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation
Commission to remove the diseased Blue Gum Eucalyptus tree at the Balboa Branch Library
location.
The Board of Library Trustees reviewed this issue after public comment and determined that
tree removal was in the best interest of the community. The Parks, Beaches, and Recreation
Commission conducted a deep dive into the specific condition of these trees, with input from
experts, and concluded that their advanced decay posed a significant safety risk.
While it is unfortunate to remove these trees, their rapid deterioration means preserving them
is no longer feasible. Extensive community input has been considered, but the need to protect
public safety and move forward is clear. In addition, we will be gaining a state-of-the-art fire
station to serve the people of the Balboa Peninsula and a new library that will continue to
serve generations to come.
Additionally, I urge the Council to approve the Coastal Development Permit and Zoning
Exemption at the September 24, 2024, meeting to allow for the construction of the new Balboa
Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Chase Rief
Chairman, Newport Beach Board of Library Trustees
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