Parks commission approves two street-tree removals, updates several street-tree designations

The Santa Barbara City Parks and Recreation Commission voted May 28 to approve the removal of two trees in public parkways and to adopt changes to the street-tree master plan for several blocks, actions commissioners said are intended to balance property improvements, public safety and urban forest health.

The commission approved a street-tree removal at 2310 Chapala Street for an American sweet gum after staff and the Street Tree Advisory Committee concluded the tree conflicted with proposed property improvements. The applicant’s landscape plan calls for three replacement trees—two on the Pueblo side of the parcel and one on the Chapala side—and the commission’s approval was conditional on those three trees being planted.

The commission also approved removal of an African fern pine in the front setback at 15 Broadmoor Plaza, accepting the advisory committee’s finding that the tree’s location and damage to…