Parks commission approves removals at Seacliff lot, conditions replacement for Braemar coral tree and updates street-tree species

The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 24 approved a set of street-tree actions that include removing 17 mature trees at a Seacliff property to allow required soil remediation, conditionally approving removal of a large South African coral tree on Braemar Drive with a three-tree replacement requirement, and adopting new street-tree species for several blocks along Calle Cesar Chavez and Channel Drive.

Commission staff and the Street Tree Advisory Committee told the commission that 3139 Cliff Drive — a parcel formerly used as a nursery — contains soil contamination from historic herbicide use and requires extensive excavation and off-site disposal of soil. That remediation, staff said, would prevent preservation of 13 weeping red gum eucalyptus, three lemon-scented gum eucalyptus and one Cook pine in the front setback and additional interior volunteer trees. The committee recommended approving removal as a “reasonable and practical development of the property.” The commission approved the committee’s recommendation.

The applicant submitted a landscape plan that shows 55 proposed new trees for the site, including 17 trees identified as offset replacements for the front-setback removals. Mr. Slack, who presented the Street Tree Advisory Committee recommendations, said the replacement ratio and the landscape plan would be finalized through the planning review process. Linda Blackburn of RRM Design Group, speaking for the property owners, said, “We are in support of Slack’s recommendation to the commission, and I am available to answer any questions you may have.”

On a separate item, the commission approved removal of a single large South African coral tree at 3205 Braemar Drive. The applicant plans to extend the house with a new garage and realign a driveway that would conflict with the tree. The Street Tree Advisory Committee recommended conditional approval on the requirement that three replacement trees be planted in locations where they can reach a minimum 20-foot mature height; the commission approved that condition.

The commission also moved forward with two master-plan species-designation changes recommended by the committee. For several blocks of Calle Cesar Chavez staff and the committee recommended replacing the current little gem magnolia designation with a palette of four species — gold medallion tree, Catalina cherry, sweetshade and New Zealand Christmas tree — selected in part for lower water use and coastal tolerance. For a small section of Channel Drive adjacent to the Cabrillo roundabout, the commission adopted primrose tree and flame tree as the designated street species; the committee said the road segment had not previously had a formal designation because it was unimproved.

Commissioners discussed water use classifications (WUCOLS) and the committee’s emphasis on plant species that match local rooting volume and coastal exposure. Commissioners asked staff to confirm that landscape plans and planning approvals will carry the tree-planting requirements forward so offsets are installed if the removals proceed.

The two property removals and the species-designation changes were presented by City/committee staff and approved by motions of the commission. No formal vote tally was recorded in the transcript; each motion was noted by the chair as passed at the meeting.

The commission’s actions will be reflected in the planning review for each site; staff said landscape plans and planning approvals will be the mechanism to require planting of the replacement trees.