Honorable Board of Public Works The City of Los Angeles
Commissioners:
1212 SOUTH FLOWER STREET - REQUEST BOARD APPROVAL FORA FEE PERMIT TO REMOVE FIVE INDIAN LAUREL FIG (FICUS MICROCARPA), FOUR BOTTLE BRUSH (CAlLiSTEMON CITRINUS), AND ONE HOllYWOOD JUNIPER (JUNIPERUS CHINENSIS 'TORUlOSA') TREE DUE MATERIAL STAGING, TOWER CRANE ERECTION, AND REQUIRED STREET IMPROVEMENTS FOR CITY PLANNING CASE CPC-201l-4125-TDR-MCUP-ZV-SPR. TREE REPLACEMENTS ARE REQUIRED. RECOMMENDATION:
That your Board:
1. Certify the Board has reviewed and considered the information in the Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration (AiMND) for the project at 1212 South Flower Street and find the information contained therein appropriately addresses the requested tree removals.
2. FIND that this project will not have a significant environmental effect under the above described Addendum (AiMND) to the Mitigated Negative Declaration (Case No. ENV-2013-4126-MND) as the imposition of the mitigation measures described in the AlMND and incorporated herein as project conditions, there is no substantial evidence the proposed project will have a significant effect on the environment pursuant to the City's Environmental Guidelines and is in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
3. FIND the project's conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as tree preservation policies or ordinances is less than significant with the incorporation of mitigation measures IV-4, as contained in the AlMND. 4. Adopt the Addendum to Mitigated Negative Declaration (Case No.
ENV-2013-4126-MND).
5. Specify that the Bureau of Street Services (Bureau), Urban Forestry Division located at 1149 South Broadway, is custodian of the documents of other material that constitute the record of proceedings upon which the Board's decision is based. 6. Approve the request for a fee tree removal permit to remove five Indian Laurel Fig
(Ficus microcarpa), four Bottle Brush (Callistemon citrin us), and one Hollywood Juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Torulusa') tree. Tree replacements are required.
BUREAU OF STREET SERVICES REPORT NO. # 2 Page 2 of 4 Date: April 28, 2017 CD# 14 TRANSMIITALS:
1. Copy of fax sheet sent to Council office and e-mail sent to CFAC. 2. Application for a Tree Removal Permit.
3. Service Request # 1-256002861.
4. Letter from ONNI Contracting, dated February 24,2017. 5. Mitigated Negative Declaration ENV-2013-4126-MND.
6. Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration ENV-2013-4126-MND. 7. Letter of Determination, dated September 11, 2014.
8. Photos of trees. 9. Plot Plan.
CONDITION:
The applicant shall plant a minimal of eleven, 48-inch box sixe London Plane 'Columbia' (Platanus x hispanica 'Columbia') trees on the 12th Street and Hope Street sides; and nine 36-inch box size Golden Medallion (Cassia leptophylla) trees on the Flower Street side. The replacement trees shall be provided irrigation for a minimum of three year period after planting.
The applicant shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City, its agents, officers, or employees from any claim, action, or proceeding against the City or its agents, officers, or employees relating to or to attack, set aside, void or annul this approval.
ALTERNATIVE METHODS AND OPTIONS EXPLORED:
The location, size, and condition of the trees negate the possibility of tree preservation or relocation.
RECITAL:
The ONNI Contracting Company is developing a mixed-use development project located at 1212 South Flower Street. The project is bounded by South Flower Street to the west, West of 12th Street to the south, and South Hope Street to the east in the community of South Park. The development will consist of two high-rise residential apartment towers with associated support services such as parking, resident amenity facilities, storage room, bike storage, lobby circulation, and service space. Commercial, retail and restaurant space would be located at the ground level.
The project's two towers would contain a total of 730 residential units and 7,873 square feet of retail space. A total of 732 parking spaces would be provided on four underground and seven podium levels. Mr. Wayne Romanek, property owner representative contacted the Bureau of Street Services (Bureau) requesting the project site be inspected to determine the relationship between the proposed construction and improvements and the adjacent street trees.
A Bureau Arborist inspected the subject location on March 1, 2017 to determine the project's impact to any existing street trees. The inspection revealed five Indian Laurel Fig (Ficus microcarpa) trees growing on the Hope Street side; and four Weeping Bottle Brush (Callistemon citrinus) trees and one Hollywood Juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa') tree on West 12th Street side. The trees are in fair health measuring four to twenty-four inches in diameter by ten to forty-five feet in height planted in four feet tree wells and in five feet parkways. The roots and root crowns from the five Indian Laurel Fig trees have not significantly affected most of the public sidewalk; however, were planted directly adjacent to the concrete curb and their root crowns have grown and girdled over the curb. The root pruning required for required sidewalk, curb, and gutter repair would significantly affect the structural integrity and health of the trees. The four Bottlebrush and one Hollywood Juniper trees are under fifteen feet in height and are not considered to be prime specimen trees. All trees are growing along the streets and sidewalks targeted for closure for material staging areas. The developer will need to utilize the street and sidewalk space for multiple construction activities including staging for large excavators, dump trucks, and logistics. Additionally, project requires clear access for loading, unloading, and hoisting of supplies and material via a large overhead crane. The removed trees shall be replaced with a species that provide shade in addition to other aesthetic and environmental benefits.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA):
The Department of City Planning prepared an Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration (AIMND - Case No. ENV-2013-4126-MND) for the project finding the project will have a less than significant environmental effect with the incorporation of Mitigation Measures IV-4 as identified in the AlMND. The Bureau reviewed the project AlMND and compared the appropriate AlMND language with the tree removal application. The BSS determined the project AlMND properly addresses the tree removals proposed for this project. The project AlMND was utilized in forming the recommendations in this report and is on file with the Bureau and available to the public upon request.
BUREAU OF STREET SERVICES REPORT NO.
#
2Page 4 of 4
Date: April 28, 2017
CD# 14
Nate Hayward, fourteenth Council District Office, was informed of the tree removal request on March 2,2017. The Council Office will inform any persons inquiring of the opportunity to be heard by the Board at the public hearing for the tree removal permit request.
Public comments on this tree removal request will be received and heard, both in-writing and in-person, during the scheduled public hearing with the Board. The following public noticing of this tree removal permit was conducted:
• Notice of the proposed tree removals was physically posted on the subject trees on
March 6, 2017.
• Proposed tree removals were included on the Bureau of Street Services Tree Removal Notification System;
• The Community Forest Advisory Committee was notified.
The applicant shall plant a minimal of eleven, 48-inch box sixe London Plane 'Columbia' (Platanus x hispanica 'Columbia') trees on the 12th Street and Hope Street sides; and nine 36-inch box size Golden Medallion (Cassia leptophylla) trees on the Flower Street side. The replacement trees shall be provided irrigation for a minimum of three year period after planting.
The applicant shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City, its agents, officers, or employees from any claim, action, or proceeding against the City or its agents, officers, or employees relating to or to attack, set aside, void or annul this approval.
The applicant has been advised of the recommendations contained in this report.
Prepared by:
Urban Forestry Division Ext. 7-3077
(TT---NS---GS) Respectfully submitted,
