Pg&e Tree Removal At Alto Substation Mill Valley

From the City of Mill Valley:

March 5, 2020

On Thursday, February 27th, City staff and Vice-Mayor Sashi McEntee met with approximately twenty community members at Hauke Parke to speak with residents about PG&E’s recent tree removal and the resulting visibility of the substation. Community members suggested a variety of ideas to address the situation, primarily focused on screening the site. The group requested that PG&E and City host an evening community meeting to solicit further input and discuss screening concepts for the facility that would then be incorporated into a plan and installed. City staff has shared this request with PG&E, and we are pressing PG&E to respond. The City will continue to provide future updates via MV Connect and other media, and through contact with neighborhood representatives.

Background

PG&E’s Alto Substation has existed in Mill Valley for over 100 years. The substation was previously well screened from most views from the adjacent Enchanted Knolls neighborhood, Hauke Park, Pickleweed Marsh and bike path, Community Center, Middle School by over one hundred mature trees (mostly Italian Stone Pine, but including some Coast Live Oak, Eucalyptus, and Coast Redwood). The substation was probably most visible adjacent to the Longfellow Road / Roque Moraes Drive intersection, which is mostly gravel in front of the screening fence.

After notifying the City in September 2019, PG&E commenced extensive vegetation management operations to address years of deferred maintenance that posed a substantial hazard to the facility and community. While supporting the deferred maintenance work, the City requested that PG&E work with the City to maintain vegetative screening around the perimeter in order to retain a positive aesthetic appearance and screen the facility from public views. City staff met with PG&E crews prior to the tree removal work to understand the goals of the operation and clearance requirements and identified perimeter vegetation that should be retained if feasible.

The extensive tree removal that occurred at the site revealed the industrial facility to views from all sides, with a few remaining pockets of trees and vegetation. The stark site is in dramatic contrast to the overgrown forest of trees that previously screened much of the facility. The City desires that extensive screening vegetation be reinstalled around the perimeter of the facility to screen it from views from all angles, to the greatest extent feasible, while still protecting the important facility from threats such as tree fall and wildfires. Unfortunately, we recognize that it will take a decade or more for trees to mature and provide substantial screening for the facility.

City’s Point of Contact Steve Ross, Senior Planner sross@cityofmillvalley.org or 384-4805.

This press release was produced by the City of Mill Valley. The views expressed here are the author’s own.