Carlsbad commission accepts residents' appeal to nullify Charlene Circle tree plan

The City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 15 voted unanimously to accept an appeal from residents of Charlene Circle to nullify the neighborhood's Tree Resource Conservation and Reforestation Plan, removing the special, site-specific removal schedule for Tipu (Tipuana tipu) trees and placing those street trees under the city's standard Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan.

The commission's decision followed a presentation by Todd Rees, Park Services Manager, who summarized the plan's history and staff recommendation. Rees told commissioners that the plan, adopted by the commission on Nov. 20, 2000, had established an orderly schedule of underplanting and phased removal intended to fully transition the street tree canopy by 2045. Rees said staff "does not object to the nullification of the tree plan at Charlene Circle." The motion to accept nullification was made by Commissioner Aleman and seconded by Commissioner Gisbert; the vote carried unanimously among the…