The City of Mountain View Zoning Administrator George Schroeder convened a hybrid public hearing on 2026-09-10 (per the provided meeting timestamp; the transcript itself says September 9, 2026). The public could participate in person or via Zoom, with two to three minutes for comments. The only agenda item was a development review permit and heritage tree removal permit for 191 East El Camino Real. Staff recommended approval and a CEQA categorical exemption under Section 15304. The hearing ended with an approval decision appealable to the City Council within 10 calendar days.
All right. All right. Good sorted. Well, good afternoon. Sorry. Welcome to the administrative zoning public hearing of September 9th, 2026. My name is George Schroeder, and I'm presiding over the hearing today as the zoning misreader. And I'd like to call the meeting to order today at 41 p.m. Today's hearing will operate in a hybrid format. Staff, the applicant, and second members are in person. However, we will also ask if community members joining us virtually want to speak on an item at certain points of the meeting. When those opportunities arise, typically during the public comment portion of each agenda item, members of the public wishing to comment, do so by clicking on the raise hand feature in Zoom when I announce the item on which you wish to speak. Speakers will be notified of their turn shortly before they're called on to speak. All speakers, virtual or person, will have two to three minutes to provide comments with timing dependent on the total number of speakers for each item. If you're in person and wish to comment on the agenda item, please also fill out a yellow speaker card for us so we're able to accurately spell your name for the meeting minutes. The next portion of the meeting is for oral communications for the public. This is a time set aside for persons wishing to address the zoning misreader on any matter not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three minutes, and state law prohibits any action on any items which are not on the agenda. Is there anyone that would like to speak on any items that are not on the agenda? Seeing the members of the public in person. Is there anyone online that would like to speak during oral communications? No. Seeing that. Okay, thank you, Roxanne. I will now move on to item three, which is the zoning administrator public hearing. Item 3.1 is at 191 East El Camino Real with a request for a development review permit to construct minor site modifications, including removal of 12 non-heritage trees and associated landscape modifications and heritage tree removal permit to remove 26 heritage trees in an existing residential mobile home park on a 17.34 acre site. And a recommended determination that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Equality Act or CEQA, pursuant to Section 15304, which is minor alterations to land of the C guidelines. And Madeline Fall is a project planner. I did yes. Okay, thank you. Madeline Fall project planner. I'd like to start with the background on the project. The applicant first began to look at a project to remove non-native eucalyptus trees on their property along the Stevens Creek in the aftermath of a major erosion event in 2011. A mudslide and partial collapse of the creek bank threatened some of the mobile home units on the site, prompting initial work to repair and stabilize the bank. At that time, the applicant initiated assessments at bank areas along the creek and discovered some additional areas of erosion. Tree removables were contemplated as a proactive measure to protect against future destabilization of these creek banks. Eucalyptus trees tend to have shallow root systems and are susceptible to falling over during storms and high wind events. In the event that a tree falls, there may be an increased risk that the creek bank would collapse. Also provide a brief summary of the project as part of the proposed work. 33 trees are proposed for removal, including 26 heritage trees and seven non-heritage trees. And landscape modifications are proposed in the form of a revegetation plan with 100% native plants. The proposed tree removals are spread along the creek and on the project plans, they are divided into four clearly defined zones around which boundary fencing would be placed while tree removal work is completed. Zone one is the southernmost section of tree removables, just south of an existing retaining wall on the property. Zone two is just north of that same retaining wall. Zone three is a little further north of that, and only one heritage tree is proposed for removal. And zone four is the norm and most zone. Under the project's proposed revegetation plan, new landscaping with 100% native species will replace the trees proposed for removal. As per the city's standard replacement requirement, heritage trees are typically replaced at a two to one ratio and non-heritage trees at a one-to-one ratio. The applicant has proposed a site-specific re-vegetation plan to offset the loss of each heritage tree and each non heritage tree with one replacement tree for a total of 38 replacement trees. Each replacement tree shall be a tree pot four inch or one gallon if that's not available.