Sandpoint forestry commission approves list of street-tree species to replace 16 dead downtown trees

The Sandpoint Urban Forestry Commission voted Thursday to approve a short list of tree species that city staff may purchase this fall to replace dead street trees in the downtown core.

Commissioners and staff said the effort aims to replace 15 dead trees on First Avenue and Cedar Street and one additional planting island in the downtown parking lot, increase species diversity and improve canopy resilience in the downtown corridor.

City staff liaison Eric Busch said the work will be funded from the city’s current urban forestry budget and that Parks and Streets staff will perform the plantings. “We’re hoping to purchase and replace those trees this fall, to get our canopy growing and maturing downtown,” Busch said. He told commissioners he will check with local nurseries on availability and may use fiscal‑year 2026 funds for other sidewalk/height‑obstruction trimming work that could not be completed before the fiscal year ended Sept. 30.

Busch presented a short list of species for commissioners to consider: Zelkova (Zelkova serrata, including the columnar 'Musashino' variety), European beech (Fagus…