WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• On June 26, 2024, the City of Los Altos approved and posted a Tree Removal Permit (24-0062) for twenty-five (25) Apricot Trees behind the Los Altos Police Department at 1 N. San Antonio Road. The Tree Removal Permit (picture below) states the City's justifications for permit entitlement and removal of 24 orchard trees–and effectively the orchard land these tree sites sit on. The City's posted permit questionably cites a number of City staff development additions, and the replacement of "street trees" somewhere on City lands. (Note: apricot trees are not listed as on the City list of suitable street trees.) Our take: We interpret this City action as "a permanent removal of the trees from this orchard section, and removal of land that is part of a City historic resource without required steps ." We also recognize that this City action and project is one of many Civic Center protects cumulatively and substantially changing the shape, size, historical context and agricultural operations of the Heritage (Civic Center) Orchard. •On June 28, 2024 a formal Administrative APPEAL was filed with the City of Los Altos requesting the City and Council review of the matter and DENY this permit. Our take: We argue the removal of these orchard trees in the "northeast sector" of orchard lands at the Civic Center referenced in multiple City documents to describe the Heritage (Civic Center) Orchard is changing and altering this historic resource–the land, acreage, trees, tree sites, orchard areas including the landmark area, and character-defining features and context as a historic working orchard. Effectively, the loss of this land, as well as other recent Civic Center projects in and around the orchard, reduce the City-recognized and -recorded size of the Orchard by nearly 30%, from 2.86 acres to <2 acres this year alone 2023-2024. In April 2024, City documents were revised to represent the Heritage Orchard, and its maintenance as <2 acres, including a large, but not whole, portion of the City landmark area, also a part of the historic resource. This maintenance is provided by a contract with LAHM for most of this Orchard area, with decision on maintenance area irrigation, land use and modifications due to multiple other City facility discretionarily determined by the City . The City's actions to remove unmaintained trees and tree sites in other orchard lands designated at the Civic Center (the Police Station) are areas once relied upon as the location for the most productive part of historic working orchard, and the area for agricultural equipment storage needed to keep the orchard healthy. Any attempts to modify, change or remove parts of the historic resource must be studied with a full EIR, process and foundational historic preservation evaluation and study. This process encourages the City as a Certified Local Government to resource and staff a cohesive preservation plan for the Hertiage Orchard across the full Civic Center site with a full and transparent planning process involving qualified experts in public view. Without the replacement (and maintenance) of the removed trees in this northeast sector of the Civic Center orchard lands (around the Police Station) represents “demolition by neglect.” The City's permit approval rationale of using this land for undisclosed "future and proposed" building and construction projects to be clearly understood. Our hope is the City Council will deny this permanent tree removal permit for the northeast sector and will meet the City's commitments to historical preservation, follow the rules, engage in public transparency, and put in place a plan and EIR study on how we can preserve this historical centerpiece for our community. upcoming On Sept 10, 2024 as Item # 7 on the Council Meeting agenda, the Public Hearing for this review has been scheduled. There is an opportunity for the public–that means you!–to: 1. ATTEND THE MEETING! 2. WRITE A PUBLIC COMMENT by Monday Sept 9 at 2 pm to be on record and in the council packet [email protected] Subject line must include: PUBLIC COMMENT - CITY COUNCIL MEETING 9/10/24 - ITEM #7 PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPEAL 3.SPEAK AT MEETING - MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT Fill out a public comment card for Item #7 upon arrival. 4. GET THE WORD OUT Forward this note and talk to neighbors! THE ORCHARD TREE REMOVAL PERMIT FOR THE NORTHEAST SECTOR OF THE CIVIC CENTER HERITAGE ORCHARD.
WANT TO DO MORE TO
(2016 photo) The Los Altos Heritage Orchard is a City, County and State historical resource to remain a "historic working orchard in perpetuity" located at the Civic Center bordering the City Hall, LACY, Library, Smith House and Police Station. The registered historic resource includes land use designation, a landmark, tree sites and trees to be replaced, not .removed.
Additionally the historic resource encompasses the historic designation as a historic working orchard representative of the City's and Region's past. (photo circa 2011, prior to City's neglect, development and damage.
|
PRESERVE & RESTORE
LOS ALTOS HERITAGE ORCHARD “A working historic orchard and City Historic Landmark demonstrating and showcasing the City’s and the region’s historic agricultural roots and heritage that is maintained and kept productive” 2021 Los Altos City Ordinance 2021-477 PLANTED in 1901 AND THE OPERATING ORCHARD SHOWPIECE FOR CIVIC CENTER MASTER PLAN SINCE 1965. A recorded CITY OF LOS ALTOS HISTORIC RESOURCE of Civic Center 2.86 acres of orchard lands SINCE 1987 with a City landmark area designated 1991 STATE OF CALIFORNIA HR#15 & CALIFORNIA HISTORIC POINT OF INTEREST RECORDED AND AWARDED BY SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORIC REGISTRY IN 1986 IN CALIFORNIA, HISTORIC SPACES AND PLACES ARE PART OF OUR PRECIOUS AND FLEETING ENVIRONMENT. LET'S PROTECT THEM. |
|
|
