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Council approves 2025 Arterial Streetscape Master Plan update to broaden plant palette and phase tree work
Summary
The Agoura Hills City Council unanimously approved the 2025 update to the Arterial Streetscape Master Plan, adding adaptive and accent plants, narrowing high-maintenance species, and directing phased nonnative tree removal and Canaan Road median enhancements.
The Agoura Hills City Council voted 5–0 to approve the 2025 update of the city's Arterial Streetscape Master Plan, a revision to the 2017 guidance that adds adaptive species, introduces accent plants for color and calls for phased nonnative-tree removal to prioritise oak health.
City Engineer and Public Works Director Charmaine Yambao presented the update to council, with landscape consultant Brian Brodersen available to answer plant-selection questions. Yambao said the 2017 master plan set objectives to favor predominantly native, drought-tolerant plants, avoid turf, install drip irrigation and emphasize oak trees, but staff found some originally selected natives did not thrive under existing roadway conditions.
The 2025 update removes poorly performing species, adds proven native and adaptive shrubs and accent plants (including limited use of lantana on Agoura Road but not Canaan Road), and adds a new tree where suitable in some corridors (for example desert willow on Agoura Road and toyon on Thousand Oaks Boulevard). The plan also recommends informal planting patterns rather than rigid blocks and prioritizes low-maintenance selections compatible with the city's operations budget.
Council discussion emphasized public outreach, phased implementation and sensitivity regarding removing healthy-looking nonnative trees to "release" oaks and improve long-term oak canopy. Mayor Pro Tem Wolf and other members urged a careful, staged approach and robust public communication before removals.
Councilman Barry Anderson moved to adopt the plan; Mayor Pro Tem Wolf seconded. The city clerk recorded the roll-call vote: Anderson — Aye; Anstead — Aye; Klein Lopez — Aye; Wolf — Aye; Mayor Sylvester — Aye. Mayor Sylvester announced approval 5 to 0.
Staff said the Canaan Road median enhancement will be implemented through the city's operations and maintenance budget over the next three years and that future median-specific plans will return to the Public Works Subcommittee and the council for review and additional public outreach.
