VIDEO.  Due to questions about the way PG&E is cutting the trees down (leaving roots in place?), the City of Half Moon Bay Planning decided to continue this agenda item until the next meeting on August 11th, 2020 meeting.

The trees are planted on top of a PGE gas pipe. There is a plan for 3 to 1 tree replacement.

Full Agenda for 7/14/2020 Meeting

7/14/2020 Full Agenda Report for PGE Item

RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Planning Commission review the project, accept public comments, provide feedback to staff and the applicant, and then continue the hearing to the August 11, 2020 Planning Commission meeting.

Background Update. This item was originally presented at the June 23, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting. As noted in the June 23rd staff report, the Planning Commission would not be able to take final action on the CDP application at that time, because the 30 day comment period on the Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) would not end until June 25, 2020. Staff presented the project and received comments on the project and the IS/MND. Then, the Planning Commission continued the item to the July 14, 2020 meeting, to allow time for staff to receive and respond to comments. In addition to written and verbal comments provided by the Planning Commission on June 30, 2020 the City received comments from Gina Dawson, representing the group Save Lafayette Trees (Attachment No. 1). No other comments have been submitted to the City at this time. Staff is still reviewing comments and preparing the responses.

Additionally, in response to Planning Commission questions raised at the June 23rd meeting, the City has retained Dr. Mark Jennings to provide an independent opinion concerning the proposed removal of the Monterey cypress trees in the Southwest Work Area and the habitat value of eucalyptus woodlands generally in the Northeast Work Area (Attachment No. 2). This information will be included in the written staff response to comments.

Request to Continue Final Decision. The decision to approve, approve with modifications, or deny this project will have to be continued to a later date, to allow time for staff to complete comment review and prepare the final resolution and conditions of approval.

Michael and Gina Dawson speak from Lafayette by Zoom

Dawson Letter to City HMB Planning

Michael and Gina Dawson speaks from Lafayette and their experience with PGE and trees and the risks to having trees over the pipeline. They formed the Gas Safety Task Force in order to get answers from PGE and the SFPUC.

They question the tree program. They are asking why is PGE cutting the trees down and leaving the roots in place?

More on the PGE Hwy 92 Vegetation Control Project on Coastside Buzz