Planning commission recommends new protected-tree ordinance, adds sycamore and walnut to list

The Agoura Hills Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend the City Council adopt a consolidated protected-tree ordinance intended to streamline permitting, incentivize planting, and strengthen mitigation requirements for larger trees.

Principal Planner Robbie Nesovich presented the draft ordinance, saying it consolidates protected-tree regulations into a single code section (proposed section 9.657), creates three permit categories (general tree permits, hazardous tree permits, and development tree permits), and adds incentives such as registered plantings, fee waivers for variances made to avoid tree removal, a streamlined general permit process, and a certification program for tree-care companies.

Nesovich said the update responds to stakeholder concerns that enforcement and permit costs were burdensome for single-family homeowners and that mitigation rules did not differentiate between removing small and large trees. The draft raises the minimum protected tree diameter from 2 inches to 6 inches, and scales mitigation based on tree diameter so larger trees require larger mitigation.…