RE: 'An open letter to Grace Gabrielli

To: Gene and Deborah Zinn

First, I’d like to offer my condolences about the loss of the tree on your lot. I love the trees at the Park; they are what make Valley Oaks a special and beautiful place to live. I do not take it lightly whenever we have to remove a tree. Any trimming or pruning we do is intended to promote the well being of the trees. If I were to take a political stance, I would say that I am ‘pro tree.’

We only remove trees that are showing signs of disease or distress, and could present a safety hazard. We want residents to feel assured that they are safe. Beyond health and safety, the purpose of trimming and pruning trees is to keep them healthy and flourishing. In your case, our records show that the tree had dead branches and needed to be thinned. The park staff was acting in good conscious to maintain the tree and had no intention of doing harm.

California Oak trees have a large, shallow root system that can extend as much as 90-feet from the tree. This allows the trees to endure the drought months of Southern California. The building of roadways, driveways, utility systems and landscaping, can all compromise the ideal environment for their growth. The fact that you” added a great deal to the backyard, including a deck and lots of flowers” could be the very conditions that caused the trees final decline. It is difficult to know exactly why the tree died. My guess is that the tree was failing, which is why it had dead branches, and that subsequent efforts were too little, too late.

Ultimately, my responsibility, among other things, is to maintain the park in good condition and provide for the safety of all residents. With 212 households, it is impossible to keep everybody happy. I am very sorry that the tree on your lot died.

Grace Gabrielli

Managing Partner