Santa Barbara council upholds appeal, orders preservation of Anapamu stone-pine canopy

The Santa Barbara City Council voted 6-0 on Jan. 14 to uphold an appeal filed against a Parks and Recreation Commission decision that would have changed the designated street tree for the 300–800 blocks of East Anapamu Street to coast live oak.

The appeal, filed by neighborhood residents and preservation advocates, argued the city council's 1997 resolution landmarking the Duramus Italian stone pines protected the continuity of the tree canopy and required replacement plantings of the same species. After several hours of testimony, the council directed staff to return with a resolution to maintain the existing designation and preserve the historic canopy.

Why it matters: The 300–800 blocks of East Anapamu contain a historic allee of Italian stone pines first planted in the early 20th century. Appellants and preservation groups said the trees form a cultural and visual corridor tied to the city's history and that altering the designated species would amount to de facto removal of a landmarked landscape.

Staff and commission view: Urban Forest Superintendent Nathan Slack told the council the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Street Tree Advisory Committee had recommended changing the street-tree designation after recurring tree failures and infrastructure conflicts. Slack summarized staff's legal and policy analysis, saying staff…