Planning & Design Meetings 12/1/2009 - Minutes
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 1
PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL MASTER PLAN
Palo Alto Unified School District
PROGRAMMING AND PREDESIGN: MEETING NO.
DATE: 1 December 2009, 3:30-5:00 pm
SUBJECT: Landscape Subcommittee Meeting
ATTENDEES: See attached sign-in sheet
The following are the highlights of the meeting:
1. Todd Young (TY), Principal of Gates of Associates, summarized the tree mitigation for
all projects
Question by the Public:
When evaluating the mitigation strategy are you taking sequestration, the absorption
of carbon dioxide, into account? Will the replacement of trees be equivalent to the
loss of trees in terms of sequestration and the fight against global warming?
Response:
We are proposing tree species that are fast growing because they are more efficient
at absorbing carbon dioxide. The replacement of trees cannot be equivalent in
sequestration to the trees removed because of the difference in maturity. That is why
we would be planting three trees when removing one mature tree.
2. Todd Young presented the tree study for the multi-fields. 15 trees are to be removed
(14 Redwoods & 1 Sycamore).
Question by the Public:
Why are the Redwood trees being removed? Are three trees enough to replace one
mature tree?
Response by TY:
To make room for the new fields and fence.
Response by Committee member (Canopy):
Canopy is not as concerned about the removal of the Redwood trees as we would be
if the trees were Oaks. Redwoods require substantial irrigation and we would rather
be planting drought tolerant species. Also, the Redwoods near the multi-fields are
planted too close together and would eventually crowd one another out.
Comment by the Public:
It seems like the mitigation strategy is driving the design solution.
Response by Committee member:
The purpose of the master plan is to identify appropriate locations to plant new trees.
We don’t want too few trees, but we also don’t want to place too many trees just to
meet a number criteria. The mitigation strategy is intended to provide guidance to
keep track of trees that are lost and a target for replacement trees. The master plan
will tell us where it makes sense to plant more trees.
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 2
Question by the Public:
Will tree waste be processed in a sustainable way?
Response by TY:
Yes, we follow Bay Friendly and LEED practices in regards to green waste.
3. Todd Young presented the mitigation strategy for the multi-fields. 17 trees need to be
replaced. 41 trees are proposed. That creates a surplus of 24 trees to be banked.
Tree species for perimeter planting proposed – Quercus agrifolia & Cercis
Canadensis. Tree species options for parking lost introduced – Fraxinus angustifolia
‘Raywood’, Tilia tomentosa, Pyrus calleryana ‘Holmford’, or Acer fremanii ‘Autumn
Blaze’
Question by the Public:
It looks like you are adding a lot of trees to the parking lot between the football field
and the multi-fields. How many parking spaces are we losing? That lot is full during
events.
Response by Committee member:
We will be losing 4-6 spaces. The parking lot will be reconfigured to maximize space,
which is currently wasted. Many people attending events also park in the North lot.
Comment by the Public:
The Raywood Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia ‘Raywood’) is not a suitable choice for Palo
Alto. We have had a lot of disease and dieback issues with this species. They have
not earned their drought tolerant reputation. They do fine for the first ten years but
consistently develop problems after that.
Comment by the Public:
The Silver Linden is a great tree. It does not have the honeydew drip problem that
other tilias experience. It has a nice large canopy, adapts well to different watering
conditions, and does not have uprooting problems. It may start out slow but the
growth rate really picks up with time.
Comment by the Public:
The Pyrus is a good tree, but it does have poor branching structure. Other than that it
is a well adapted tree. It is important to choose well branching trees and refuse poor
branching trees from nursery stock.
Response by TY:
The ‘Holmford’ cultivar is an improved ‘New Bradford’ cultivar and is supposed to
have better branching structure.
Comment by the Public:
The Acer fremanii is also a good tree, but may pose maintenance issues because of
the large leaf size. It also burns a little in the summer.
Comment by TY:
How about using the Tilia and the Pyrus in the parking lot area, the Tilia in the center
of the island and the Pyrus around the perimeter?
Response by Public:
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 3
Agreed
4. Todd Young presented the tree status of the El Camino field. 19 trees have been
removed.
5. Todd Young presented the El Camino field mitigation strategy. 33 trees need to be
replanted. 15 trees are proposed. That creates a deficit of 18 trees. However, there
was a surplus of 24 trees at the multi-fields. Therefore we still have a surplus of 6
trees. Proposed species at the El Camino field include Quercus agrifolia along the
west and south edges of the field and Olea europea ‘Swan Hill’ and Cercis candensis
at the north entry.
Comment by Public:
Cercis candensis is not drought tolerant. Swan Hills have good root structure. You
may want to consider the Persian Ironwood to replace the Cercis candensis.
Comment by Public:
The Swan Hill is a good tree but does it make sense to plant it right up against the
fence?
Response by Todd Young:
Perhaps you want a more columnar tree against the fence. How about the Laurus
nobilis ‘Saratoga’?
Response by Public:
The Laurus nobilis ‘Saratoga’ is an excellent choice for that location.
Comment by Todd Young:
Do we agree to replace the Olea europea ‘Swan Hill’ with the Laurus nobilis
‘Saratoga’ and to replace the Cercis candensis with the Persian Ironwood at the El
Camino Field and the multi field?
Response by Public:
Agreed
Question by the Public:
Is there an opportunity for planting between the El Camino field and the parking lot?
Response by Committee member:
There is no space in this location currently.
Question by the Public:
Is there a campus wide pruning effort taking place?
Response by Committee member:
The bond money does not pay for that. It will fund pruning efforts in locations where
capital improvements are taking place. For example, when the El Camino field was
constructed Chuck was able to assess the trees in the area and conduct a pruning
and removal effort. As each new project comes up we will continue to assess the
health of the trees in that location and use the bond money for pruning, removal, and
replacement as necessary. Bond money does not, however, cover maintenance
costs.
Question by Committee member:
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 4
Currently there is a tomato garden, about 4 plants, along the edge of the El Camino
field. It is not a suitable location. Can we consider a more appropriate location for
gardens?
Response by Committee member:
We should identify garden opportunities in the master plan. In the meantime we can
look at a temporary location for the tomato plants.
Question by the Public:
Can we consider planting fruit trees on the campus?
Response by Committee member:
Fruit trees pose a maintenance problem, especially in the summer when students are
not around to harvest the fruit.
Response by Public:
You could use trees that fruit during seasons other than the summer, like Citrus trees.
Response by committee member:
It is a policy decision we can talk more about.
6. Group 2 projects and mitigation plans were reviewed for the upcoming projects in
schematic design. A layout was presented with trees to remain and trees that will to
be removed. Details are shown in the presentation.
7. Following are additional comments from the Public highlighted by topics.
Tree Sizes
• It is best to plant either 15 gallon or 24 inch box trees because the young trees
adapt better to their surroundings.
Construction
• Construction will begin in summer of 2010. The new classroom building and
media arts building are scheduled to begin spring of 2011.
• The public would be interested in participating in a walk-through prior to
construction
Maintenance
• Maintenance should be included in the master plan goals.
Lighting
• The campus is used as a night facility and it is currently very dark. Parents
actually bring flashlights.
• The campus is used as an adult school at night. Light bollards may be
appropriate for the adult school. However, higher lights are recommended.
Circulation
• We must make sure we maintain clear evacuation paths to the football field and
the El Camino field. These are our two evacuation sites.
Stormwater Treatment
• We have serious drainage problems which need to be fixed on this campus and
we must contain as much of the water as possible because of limited capacity of
the City’s stormwater infrastructure.
Furnishings and Materials
PALO ALTO HS LANDSCAPE
Programming and Predesign
Palo Alto Unified School District
10 NOV 2009 | Page 5
• We should use continuous materials of a calming nature, mellow natural materials
versus harsh reflective materials. We have to remember this is not an urban
environment it is a school campus and should be calming and nurturing. We
should also integrate such materials into the building architecture.
END
Please advise if you feel that any of the above items are inaccurate or need further
clarification or detail.
cc: Attendees
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