Oak comes down for a gas line — but only after a survey settles whose tree it is

At 20 Oak Grove Road, owner Robert Grant asked the Planning Commission for a heritage tree removal permit to take down an oak so PG&E can install a new gas line, replacing a 1949 copper line that ruptured in 2023. Staff recommended approval, but with an unusual condition: because the neighbors dispute whose land the tree stands on, a record of survey confirming the tree's location would have to be filed before a saw touches it.

“I think the neighbors have a reasonable expectation about preserving heritage and that outweighs all the others.”— a Planning Commissioner, during deliberation on the 20 Oak Grove Road removal · ▶ Watch this exchange

Grant told the commission the stakes were bigger than one tree, arguing there is a documented history of risk from the aging line, and that the trunk — leaning, and partly buried under rocks and boulders — sits at its base about 10 inches inside his property line. Neighbor Glenn Cox saw it differently. "The tree is uh per a couple of surveys clearly on our property... the entire oak foliage trunk at 2 feet, everything is on our property," Cox said, and added that this was not the first time: "He's removed every tree on his property that's uh and he's uh you know which were property line trees. He's already done this without asking me. We wake up, the trees are gone."

One commissioner said he would deny the application as submitted, noting that a lot of new information had surfaced that night and that it wasn't fair to members of the public, including the Coxes, who hadn't had a chance to review it. Staff, for its part, questioned whether tree fights belong at a public hearing at all, observing that if the oak becomes a hazard it will have to come down anyway.

The commission approved the permit (HTR26-00006) 3-0, with Commissioner Sapar having left for the evening. Conditions: the record of survey must come first, and Grant must plant a replacement heritage-quality, fire-resistant tree in a suitable location per the arborist's recommendation.

Gas station store gets beer and wine — with a no-singles rule the applicant volunteered

The convenience store at the 600 Magnolia Avenue gas station, already approved for an interior conversion, won a conditional use permit to sell beer and wine on site. Staff recommended approval with standard conditions covering theft prevention, security and compliance with state alcohol rules.

“The single? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, like I said, I put it on myself to single sales.”— applicant, agreeing to a no-single-sales condition at 600 Magnolia Avenue · ▶ Watch this exchange

Commissioners pressed on how the store would handle minors and single-container sales. Asked whether he'd accept a ban on singles as a formal condition, applicant Aaron Khamosh didn't hesitate: "The single? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, like I said, I put it on myself to single sales." He also agreed to keep beer and wine displays at least five feet from the cash register and front door.

The permit (PLN 26-014) passed 4-0.