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Commission denies removal request for coast live oak at 125 South Ontario Road without prejudice; staff and committee recommend pruning
Summary
The commission denied without prejudice an application to remove a coast live oak at 125 South Ontario Road after the Street Tree Advisory Committee recommended denial and said pruning could address the tree's lean; denial without prejudice allows the applicant to return if pruning does not succeed.
On Aug. 27, 2025, the Parks and Recreation Commission denied without prejudice a request to remove a coast live oak located within the front setback at 125 South Ontario Road.
Street Tree Advisory Committee members who visited the site concluded the tree had been suppressed by an adjacent weeping bottlebrush street tree, was otherwise in good condition, and could benefit from an aggressive pruning and a multi-year maintenance plan to reorient growth. The committee recommended denial without prejudice to allow the property owner to attempt corrective pruning and return to the commission later without paying an additional processing fee if pruning proves ineffective.
Commissioners discussed the likely multi-year nature of corrective pruning and the applicant’s ability to perform the required maintenance. One commissioner who visited the site said they disagreed with the committee’s recommendation, while others noted the denial-without-prejudice approach preserves flexibility: if pruning does not resolve the nuisance, the owner may reapply.
The commission voted to deny the removal request without prejudice and encouraged the owner to pursue pruning and reassess the tree’s response before returning.
