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7A <br /> Page 27 <br /> for us is that you seek removal of mature street trees, which are a community asset supported by a <br /> range of ordinances and City Council adopted policies. We are also not obfigated to remave trees <br /> for the purpose of providing new solar access per any State legislation. As Ciiy staff, we must act <br /> as guardians of the public realm and right-of-way investments made by the City. And thus, we take <br /> your request very seriously. <br /> Beyond that, we encaurage you and your contractor to take a step back and consider a more <br /> holistic approach to the energy needs of your property. We are very concerned that the solar panel <br /> system is sought as a panacea for more challenging issues. For example, the house apparently has <br /> an electric base-baard heating system. This type of system is knawn ta be a very expensive way fo <br /> heat a home and we suspect that a new natural gas furnace and duct sys#em could be more cost <br /> effective than the proposed solar system. Another overlooked aspect of the site that we have briefly <br /> discussed is the passive cooling prnvided by the very trees that you seek to have removed. This <br /> really shauld be considered. Planting deciduous trees on the southern side of a home is actually <br /> considered a best practice by green building advocates and is commonly referenced in literature on <br /> this tapic. Many technical studies conclude that the presence of tree canopies reduces the heat <br /> island affect associated with large areas of asphalt-concrete (e.g. the street in front of your house); <br /> and cities with good canopies report better nighttime coaling. Trees also reduce particulate pollution <br /> and provide other benefits related to storm water retention. Thus, the loss of mature City trees has <br /> an environmental consequence in addition to the aesthetic value and fra�c cafming nature of tree- <br /> lined streets. Also worth consideration, if the most important energy need is to heat water, then we <br /> are again concerned abou# method. Using electricity to heat water is likely not the most efficient <br /> option. We hope that these and other issues wiff be considered in thafi we real(y do want to see you <br /> succeed with a soltation that meets both your short and long term needs and is environmentally <br /> sensitive. <br /> Please feel free to call Gordon Mann (780-7439) or me (780-7298) if you or your solar contractar <br /> has any questions about our information �equest as described in detail above. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> ����_ <br /> Jill Ekas, AICP <br /> Senior Planner <br /> Copy: <br /> Pater Ingram, Pubiic Works Services Director <br /> °�" '�blic Warks Superintendent <br /> , <br /> �. ......._: ,�Y <br /> Michael Church, Pfanning Services Manager <br />