Just so everyone is clear … It’s still OK to cut trees in Willow Glen (and all of San Jose, for that matter). You just have to embrace the City’s permit process. Take the future home of “Almaden Walk,” a 56-unit Condominum project approved last year for the corner of Malone & Almaden Road.

In the wake of the illegally cut Sycamore trees, the fruit trees on the Almaden Walk project got a little extra attention last week when their demolition began. The SJ Mercury News got at least one phone call from a concerned passer-by, and City staff mobilized to figure things out. Fortunately, it was all above-board.

From the one of the City’s senior planners,comes the official word: The old lot had 95 trees on it, 36 of which were “ordinance-sized,” and 91 of 95 trees were approved for removal as part of the project. As mitigation, the developer included a lot of on-site replacement trees and made a five-figure donation to San Jose Beautiful.

The current tree replacement schedule was made available to WGx:

Tree Replacement Schedule:

Four (4) replacement trees for each tree removed that is greater than 18 inches in diameter as measured at two feet above grade, two (2) replacement trees for each tree removed that is 12-18 inches in diameter as measured at two feet above grade and one (1) replacement tree for each tree that is removed is less than 12 inches in diameter as measured at two feet above
grade.

As an alternative to on-site tree plantings, a donation of $300 per mitigation tree can be provided to San Jose Beautiful or Our City Forest for in-lieu off-site tree planting in the community.

As demolition was proceeding, staff from the arborist’s office visited the location and were told by the contractors that they had permits; however, they did not have the permits
on the job site. A proposal to change the existing ordinance requiring tree removal permits be posted and shown upon request is being brought to the City Council by the City Attorney’s Office on February 13.