Public Works approves removal of overgrown junipers and trimming at 1 West of Lakeshore Drive

The Public Works committee on Sept. 8 approved a request from a private party, at the party’s cost, to remove overgrown junipers and limb up a magnolia at the southwest corner of Comiana Road and Lakeshore Drive (near the Lakeshore circle). The request, presented by staff, cited recurring homeless encampment activity and public‑safety concerns in the dense shrub area.

Staff said the junipers were poorly suited to the site, had been used historically as a dense screen and regularly conceal activity that requires police response. Public Works staff recommended removing the juniper plantings and limbing the magnolia while leaving the magnolia as a feature. Committee members approved a motion authorizing the work subject to a city tree permit and directed staff to coordinate removal to the bridge end of the designated exhibit shown in meeting materials.

Ending: Staff will process the tree permit and schedule the work at the requestor’s expense; Public Works will monitor the area after removal and return if additional plantings or design changes are needed to maintain visibility without removing the magnolia.