Documentation regarding Tree Removal permit TR07-214

in preparation to build a driveway and garage at 260 North 18th

Questions: email me.



The problem:

Neither 260, nor 264 North 18th street has a usable garage or a sole-access driveway. The 200 block of North 18th street has a severe street parking problem due to a four-plex and several duplex units. North 18th street is also extremely narrow - when cars are legally parked on both sides, there is just barely enough room for two cars to pass on the street.

The proposal:

We plan to build a driveway and garage on the south side of 260 North 18th Street. At the same time, we plan to re-grade some areas to improve drainage and to re-landscape with California native, low water-use species.

The new garage and driveway on our lot will allow us to park our two cars off the street. It will also allow us to re-write the easement with 264 North 18th Street to allow them to park their cars off the street.

The history:

Before 1982, this was a single, 100' wide lot with two houses sharing a single driveway and a two-car garage.

In 1982, it was split into two lots: 260 and 264 North 18th Street.

The new property line was placed down the middle of the driveway with a slight jog to run through the middle of the garage. The garage was divided with an interior wall on the new property line, making each side too narrow to park a car inside.

We bought 260 North 18th in 1989.
The two photos below are taken from across the street, looking east at the north and south edges of 260 North 18th Street. [To simplify this documentation, I'm describing 18th street as running north-south. Therefore, looking from the street, north is to the left.]
The photo above is looking down the center of a shared driveway. The garage -- at the end of the driveway -- straddles the property line.

As can be seen, neither side (260 nor 264) can park on the driveway as it would block access to the garage for the other property. Furthermore, the two houses allow insufficient space to widen the driveway.		 This is the South edge of our property where the the new driveway will be.

The first step in building the driveway is the removal of several trees.

TR07-214 Tree Removal permit:

The only street access for our lot is on the west side. With no room to expand the driveway on the north side, our only option is to build our driveway on the south side of the lot. Unfortunately, three trees (marked A, B, and C, below) currently stand on this path. We propose to remove these three trees so that we can develop the property with a driveway and garage on the south side of the lot.

Two other trees One other tree (marked D and E) will also be removed as part of new landscaping and grading.
The two sketches below depict North 18th street at the bottom, the street planting strip, the sidewalk, and the lot. The sketches are to scale, including the footprint of the house and the approximate locations of the trees, driveway and garage.
 [The north arrows in the two sketches below are approximately true north. However, when I refer to the north edge of the property I'm talking about the left edge of these sketches.]



Sketch 1: (above) shows the existing condition of the lot.

[Not shown is a shed on the north-east corner. It was built (without permits) by previous owners. It will be demolished as part of this project.]



Sketch 2: (above) shows the proposed garage,  driveway, and curb-cut. Also shown is a future master bedroom extension to the rear of the house (labeled "Future Addon").
[Also not shown on the above sketches are the two street-trees in the curb planting strip. The photo below shows them. The northern tree (left in the photo) will remain.; The southern tree will be removed. However, as street trees fall under a separate permit process, they are not part of the TR07-214 proposal.]


Specific trees covered by TR07-214:


The following photos show both the trunk and branches of each of the five trees in this proposal.  See sketch 1 for the locations.

Tree A:

Unknown species, multiple trunks adding to more than 78" circumference.

reason for removal:

Driveway development.


Above (center): tree A branches.

Tree B:

Unknown species, multiple trunks adding to 149" circumference.

reason for removal:

Driveway development.


Above: tree B branches
Below (center): tree A trunk


 Below: tree B trunk



Tree C:

Ponderosa Pine, double trunks adding to 110" circumference.

reason for removal:

Garage development.

above: tree C branches
below: tree C trunk


Tree D:

Tree of Heaven, double trunk adding to 109" circumference.

reason for removal:


This invasive species, originally from Asia, is now a major problem in most of the lower 48 states. It grows quite quickly and propagates using both seeds and runners, pushing out native plants and trees. We plan to remove it for the betterment of mankind.

Click here to read what the US National Park Service has to say about this tree.

Tree E: -NO LONGER PART OF THIS PERMIT-

Ponderosa Pine, single trunk 91" circumference.

reason for removal:

Tree E is located approximately 12 feet from the rear of the existing house. Its branches extend over the house and its root system prevents re-grading the soil in this area. We have had basement flooding almost every winter since purchasing the property in 1989 and plan to improve the drainage in this area to prevent future basement flooding. Excavation in this area will almost certainly kill this tree so we are merely proposing to remove it legally with this permit.

We also have plans to extend the rear bedroom to make a "master bedroom" with a second bathroom and much more closet space.

This tree has been taken off the current permit application.

Above: Tree D branches
Above: tree E branches
Below: Tree D trunk Below: tree E trunk


Click  TR07-214 to see the permit status.
Then, click on "Get details" and then "Get Map" to see an interactive Java map of the neighborhood.


Questions: email me.
 Comments for or against this permit:
email Rachel Roberts or call her at 408-535-7860

Public hearing scheduled:
November 14, 2007, 9am
City Council Chambers,
200 East Santa Clara Street,
San Jose, CA 95113




  • 8 August, 2007: Request filed with city.
  • 24 September, 2007: Original file.
  • 10 October, 2007: Included future master bedroom plan sketch and supporting text. 10/10/07 hearing postponed by city staff. No new date given.
  • 25 October 2007: noted that tree E has been taken off permit TR07-214. Hearing date set.