However, the Bill only applies to counties, not
cities or other local jurisdictions. Thus the Planning Commission discussed
adding the provision for oak woodlands to the ordinance so the requirements and
regulations would be uniform between County and City.explained the mission of the group which is to protect,
conserve, and restore oak trees and oak woodland resources in both Amador and
Calaveras Counties. Bowers said she wanted to make it perfectly clear
that the group is not anti-growth, because they realize that growth is
inevitable and that well planned growth could contribute to the local economy.
She explained that the Oak
Woodlands Conservation Group is simply trying to preserve the Oaks while
encouraging participation and education in the program among all stakeholders,
which includes cross sections of the community. Carla Bowers a representative of the Oak Conservation Group of Amador
and Calaveras County addressed the Council. She
Bowers referred to several lawsuits that have
occurred over the “decimation” of Oak Woodlands and said one way to avoid a
lawsuit by an active environmentalist group is to make sure the City has the
proper rules and regulations in place. She also said that the conservation and preservation of oak
woodlands is beneficial because having them increases property values and can
actually increase the value of a home by 10%. Bowers concluded by saying
that the Oak Conservation Group thinks that an ordinance would do nothing but
benefit the City of Sutter Creek. “We as the oak conservation group are prepared and willing to work with
the Planning Commission we will work hard to make the ordinance a win for all
stakeholders,” said Bowers.
Terry Strange the Upper Mokelumne River
Watershed Coordinator added to Bowers comments in support of another layer of
protection for Oak Woodlands. “One thing we haven’t heard tonight,” he said are the habitats that the
Oak woodlands provide. He said the current Landscaping ordinance is not
sufficient enough because, “It
addresses commercial development and multi-family, but you don’t spell out
single family residential development which potentially is the largest
potential impact on oak trees and woodlands.” The public attending the
meeting seemed divided on the issue. Some public members felt the existing
ordinance is sufficient, while others said they find an Oak Woodlands ordinance
beneficial. “Oak trees take
many, many, many years to grow…but once you cut one (that’s full grown) it’s
gone forever,” said Tony Lindy. The final consensus of the City Council
was to send the item back to the Planning Commission for their discretion in
whether or not to amend the City’s Tree and Landscaping Ordinance to add regulations
pertaining to oak woodlands.