From: Maya Briones
To: City Council
Cc: Holly Pearson; Catherine Martineau; Christie Galitsky Subject: 555 Middlefield Project
Date: Friday, February 4, 2022 2:23:04 PM
Attachments: Letter to MV City Council 2-4-22 Canopy.pdf CAUTION: EXTERNAL EMAIL - Ensure you trust this email before clicking on any links or attachments.
Hello,
I work for Canopy, local urban forestry nonprofit that plants and cares for trees in midpeninsula communities. I have three of my colleagues cc'd here: Catherine Martineau, Executive Director, Christy Galitsky, Senior Director of Programs, and Holly Pearson, our Advocacy Committee chair.
Attached is a letter with our comments regarding the 555 Middlefield project. Please share this letter with the city council for the February 8th council meeting.
Thank you!
Best regards,
--
Maya Briones (she/her)
Advocacy Associate
cell: 669-250-4128
email: [email protected]
Working Part-time Remotely M-F
Please note that I work part-time and may not respond to emails immediately. website | facebook | Instagram | youtube
Staff LeadershipCatherine MartineauExecutive DirectorChristie GalitskySr. Director of ProgramsShannon McDonaldOperations DirectorMaika HorjusSr. Development SpecialistNatalie BrubakerDirector of Special ProjectsVanessa WynsEducation Director Board of DirectorsKammy Lo - ChairLaura Martinez - Vice-ChairShelley Ratay - TreasurerMarilyn Keller - SecretaryDavid ArmstrongMaria ChaiMary DateoUriel HernandezRachel KnowlesKirsten MouradianSally O’NeilHolly Pearson Advisory CommitteeMatthew BahlsTony CarrascoJames F. CookUrban K. CummingsMarty DeggellerSusan EllisPatricia FosterJeff GreenfieldJoe HirschLeannah HuntJeanne KennedyCarole LangstonRoy C. Leggitt, IIIJohn McClenahanMary McCulloughScott McGilvrayDave MufflyBrooks NelsonSally O’NeilGeoff PaulsenSairus PatelNancy PetersonForest Preston, IIIElizabeth SchwererJeffrey SnyderJane StocklinLauren Bonar SwezeyJennifer WeiLanie Wheeler We envision a day when everyresident of the Midpeninsulacan step outside to walk, play,and thrive under the shade ofhealthy trees.
February 4, 2022
City of Mountain View500 Castro StreetMountain View, CA 94041 RE: 555 Middlefield Project
Dear Mayor Lucas Ramirez and Council Members,
We at Canopy wish to express our thanks for your leadership over the past year through theCOVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate the work to improve the quality of life for current andfuture generations. We’re writing today to underscore the importance of a healthy treecanopy as an integral part of the development project at 555 W. Middlefield Road.We'd like to echo the community about the importance of moving forward with targetedinvestments in community resiliency programs and nature-based solutions. Trees–inparticular, mature trees–are critically important.
Tree canopy cover provides a multitude of benefits that support community resiliency,sustainability, and harmony with the natural world around us. Trees are our first line ofdefense against extreme heat, storms, and air and noise pollution. Their shade and beautypromote cardiovascular and respiratory health through various mechanisms such asincreased physical activity, as well as positive mental health outcomes, reducing overallhealth costs in the community. Trees also bring nature into what would otherwise be aconcrete jungle, increasing habitat for wildlife. Finally, trees bring people together. Treescan give a neighborhood a distinct identity and point of pride.
While we understand that development projects often necessitate removal of some trees, weurge you to minimize the number of trees lost. Trees take over a decade to mature - as alsoindicated in the staff report regarding open space and trees; large, mature trees and acontinuous canopy provide the most benefits. Native oaks in particular are especiallyvaluable for climate resilience and carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and neighborhoodcharacter. New plantings should be robust, with native species and locally appropriatedrought tolerant non-natives.
We urge the City to require the project developer to:● Allocate a sufficient 10-year budget to hire reputable, experienced tree professionals tocare for, maintain and monitor all the trees at the project site, including thereplacement, transplanted and existing trees, in order to ensure their long-term healthduring and after the construction. This budget would be above and beyond the normallandscaping maintenance budget.● Preserve as many healthy, mature trees as possible.● For replacement plantings, use native species, including native oaks, and locallyappropriate nonnatives that are climate resilient and robust. 3921 East BayshoreRoad Palo Alto, CA 94303 [email protected] 650 964 6110 canopy.org
● Ensure the long-term viability and health of all replacement plantings and transplantsby following the guidelines in the City’s new Tree Technical Manual.● Provide lush greenspaces to enhance the residents’ health and increase biodiversity It is our hope that city staff and designers will consider the urban forest as an integralelement of the 555 W. Middlefield Road project, and each new development project, inorder to improve the City’s livability, quality of life, sustainability and climate resiliency.
Sincerely,,
Maya Briones (she/her)CanopyAdvocacy Associateemail: [email protected]: 669-250-4128 3921 East Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 650 964 6110 www.canopy.org