Planning Commission meeting agenda packet 7-9-25

City of Pleasanton—Vineyard Avenue Residential Project 15183 Consistency Checklist Consistency Checklist 61 Heritage Trees by requiring a tree survey plan or tree report be prepared by a certified arborist at the discretion of the City’s Community Development Director. The Housing Element Update FEIR concluded that compliance with applicable goals, policies, programs, and State and federal requirements would reduce impacts to less than significant. Proposed Project Analysis and Conclusion Section 17.16.010 (Permit–Required) of the City’s Municipal Code requires the approval of a tree removal permit prior to the removal of any heritage trees, defined in part as any single-trunked tree with a trunk circumference of 55 inches or more measures at 4.5 feet above ground level; any multi-trunked tree of which the two large trunks have a circumference of 55 inches or more measures at 4.5 feet above ground level; or any tree 35 feet or more in height. A Tree Inventory Report was prepared for the proposed project by Horticultural Associates (see Appendix C),8 as well as an additional Addendum to the original Tree Inventory Report (see Appendix D).9 The Tree Inventory Report evaluated all 10 on-site trees, which are comprised of three olive trees (Olea europaea) and seven black walnut trees (Juglans nigra). The olive trees are part of entry landscaping, while the black walnuts are remnants of past agricultural activities in the surrounding area. According to the Tree Inventory Report Addendum, four of the existing trees are considered heritage trees and are protected under the City’s Municipal Code. However, as discussed in the Tree Inventory Report Addendum, all on- site trees can be preserved. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183(f), “An effect of a project on the environment shall not be considered peculiar to the project or the parcel for the purposes of this section if uniformly applied development policies or standards have been previously adopted by the city or county with a finding that the development policies or standards will substantially mitigate that environmental effect when applied to future projects, unless substantial new information shows that the policies or standards will not substantially mitigate the environmental effect. […]” In the case of the proposed project, if on-site trees required removal, the proposed project would be required to comply with Chapter 17.16 of the Municipal Code. Compliance with the City’s tree ordinance would substantially mitigate effects related to the removal of on- 8 Horticultural Associates. Tree Inventory Report, Vineyard Avenue, Pleasanton, CA. September 13, 2024. 9 Horticultural Associates. Addendum to Tree Inventory Report. November 23, 2024.