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Commission approves street-tree species changes for school and State Street blocks, favoring crepe myrtle and marina madrone
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Commission approved Street Tree Advisory Committee recommendations to modify species designations around Peabody Charter School and on parts of State Street, adding crepe myrtle and marina madrone to improve diversity and performance in narrow parkways.
The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission on Feb. 26 approved multiple Street Tree Advisory Committee recommendations to change street-tree designations in several neighborhoods, including parkway strips around Peabody Charter School and the 2600–2700 blocks of State Street.
Staff said the existing designation of purple leaf plum near Peabody has performed poorly; committee members recommended species better suited to narrow parkways and school settings. The commission approved using crepe myrtle and marina madrone (arbutus) for two contiguous sections around Peabody (Vista De La Cumbre and Kaineguera) and retaining jacaranda where appropriate for larger planting opportunities. Commissioners emphasized species diversity to reduce reliance on a single species.
On State Street (the 2600 and 2700 blocks), staff described an opportunity created by new 3-by-6-foot infill tree wells and recommended adding crepe myrtle and marina madrone to the historical coast live oak designation to allow flexible planting in small wells. Staff said the crepe myrtle selections are nursery-grown standards (single-stem, 15-gallon) that reach about 25–30 feet and are easier to clear for sidewalk and under-canopy clearance. Staff estimated planting patterns would include nine crepe myrtles in a continuous pattern along one block.
Commissioners asked about fruit/seed drop and safety near schoolchildren; staff said arbutus (marina madrone) produces edible but unpalatable fruit and that the proposed species are safe for school settings. Commissioners also discussed maintenance, typical pruning/clearance expectations (staked 15-gallon stock, incremental lift to achieve about 8-foot clearance over time) and neighborhood petitions. The advisory committee reported robust public participation, including a resident petition regarding tree wells.
Motions to adopt the committee recommendations passed for Vista De La Cumbre, Kaineguera, and the 2600–2700 blocks of State Street; votes were recorded as passed (detailed roll-call tallies were not specified in the transcript).
