UC IS removing all tall trees on Claremont Avenue

On 9/11 UC released a CEQA notification announcing their plans to remove all trees over 100' tall (or in their determination, hazardous) from their property on the upper part of Claremont Avenue. Here's the notification:

We encourage all concerned folks to write UC with letters of opposition. We think that the most obvious concern is that UC's contention that this project is covered under the 2020 Long Range Development Plan is not true...and that they must complete an EIR for this project. In fact, they are currently in the process of releasing an EIR that will cover this activity in addition to a number of other projects.

Claremont Canyon Evacuation Support Project

34 Documents in ProjectSummary SCH Number2003082131Lead AgencyUniversity of California, BerkeleyDocument TitleClaremont Canyon Evacuation Support ProjectDocument TypeNOD - Notice of DeterminationReceived9/11/2020Posted9/11/2020Project ApplicantUC BerkeleyPresent Land UseOpen SpaceDocument DescriptionUC Berkeley proposes to commence the Claremont Canyon Evacuation Support Project (Project) from November 1, 2020, through December 15, 2020, consistent with fuel management activities evaluated in the 2020 Long Range Development Plan Environmental Impact Report (SCH # 2003082131). Vegetation treatment would focus on removing trees that could potentially block access if they fall across the road. The Project comprises 18 acres in the Hill Campus and would involve vegetation removal conducted along a strip of land up to 100 feet from the edge of pavement on both sides of Claremont Avenue. Over a six-week period, UC Berkeley would remove any tree located along and within 100 feet adjacent to either side of portions of Claremont Avenue that is either unhealthy and determined by an arborist to be dead or in poor or fair condition, regardless of species type or maturity, or that is taller than 100 feet or located so that in a fire it could fall across the road blocking vehicle access on Centennial Drive becoming a safety hazard. The Project is part of on-going fuel management activities UC Berkley implements in the Hill Campus. The proposed Project is a preventative measure to support emergency evacuation along Claremont Avenue in the event of a landslide, wildfire, earthquake, or other need for evacuation.Contact InformationRaphael Breines UC Berkeley A&E Building UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720 Phone : (510) 642-6796 rbreines@berkeley.eduLocation CitiesCity of Oakland OaklandCountiesAlamedaCross StreetsClaremont Avenue Total Acres18Notice of Determination Approving AgencyUC BerkeleyApproving Agency RoleLead AgencyApproved On9/10/2020Final Environmental Document Available athttps://capitalstrategies.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/eir-volume-1.pdfDeterminations (1) The project will have a significant impact on the environmentYes(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQAYes(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQANo(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQANo(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the projectYes(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this projectYes(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this projectYes(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQAYesAttachments Notice of Determination10-10-2020_NOD   PDF 148 KDisclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.

Here are some photos taken earlier this am....