Parks Commission approves three street‑tree removals; one conditioned on 30‑foot replacement

Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission members on April 23 voted to approve three separate street‑tree removal requests presented by staff and recommended by the Street Tree Advisory Committee.

The commission approved removal of a single queen palm at 1025 Chino Street, the removal of three queen palms at 1260 North Ridge Road to allow residential development, and removal of two blue gum eucalyptus at 112 (Barker Pass/Calabello) with a condition that the applicant plant a replacement tree that can achieve about 30 feet at maturity.

The removals followed recommendations from the Street Tree Advisory Committee and staff reports from a city arborist, identified in the meeting as Mr. Slack. The committee found that the single queen palm at 1025 Chino provided little neighborhood benefit and showed only “fair” health; the commission accepted the committee’s recommendation that removing it would not “materially impact” the character of the street. The 1260 North Ridge application was approved after committee and staff review found that relocating a reconstructed garage would put it in…