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 concluded the 1997 council resolution landmarked specific mature trees rather than requiring the same species be replanted indefinitely and that the commission acted within its authority under the municipal code. "Staff is recommending that city council deny the appeal filed by Mr. Richard Claussen, Ms. Sherry Ray, and Ms. Emma Brinkman, and uphold the Parks and Recreation Commission's action to change the street tree species designation for the 300 to 800 blocks of East Anapamu Street to Quercus agrifolia, Coast Live Oak," Slack said during his presentation.

Appellants' case: Appellants argued the landmark designation was intended to preserve the canopy as a continuous cultural resource and that when trees are removed they should be replaced with Italian stone pines to sustain the landmark. Rick Claussen, representing the appellants, told the council: "A city or any government must speak with a single voice," and he read a letter from then-Councilmember Greg Hart who wrote, "It was my understanding at the time, and I believe the expectation of both the council and the community, that this landmark designation was intended to preserve not just the existing trees, but the continuity of the historic tree canopy." Appellants also raised CEQA concerns, saying the commission's action could cause a cumulative adverse change to a historic resource.

Commission and advisory committee testimony: Kathy McGill, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, said the commission's recommendation reflected concern about the long-term prospects of Italian stone pines in the street's narrow parkway conditions. "Recommending a change in designation was a very difficult decision," McGill said. Duke McPherson of the Street Tree Advisory Committee, a certified arborist, cautioned that in constrained parkways Italian stone pines tend to develop root and stability problems after repeated root pruning and infrastructure repair.

Council decision and direction: After public comment spanning residents, preservation groups and arborists, Councilmember Wendy Harmon moved to uphold the appeal; Councilmember Eric Friedman seconded the motion. The council vote was 6-0 with Councilmember Sten absent. The council decision directs staff to return with a resolution to maintain the existing landmark designation and the collective canopy and to propose a plan for continued care and replacement that reflects that determination.

What happens next: The council directed staff to draft and return with a resolution that reflects the council's findings and to bring forward implementation steps for preserving and replanting the historic canopy, including a replanting schedule and infrastructure or policy options that would support long-term survival of replacements. Staff said future steps could include multi-commission coordination and additional public outreach.

Background: The Duramus stone pines along East Anapamu trace to plantings beginning around 1908 and later plantings into the 1920s. In 1997 the council adopted resolution No. 97-131 that designated 79 mature Italian stone pines as a city landmark (the "Duramus Pine Trees"). The Parks and Recreation Commission voted in October 2024 to change the street-tree designation for the corridor to coast live oak, citing tree failures, root and pavement conflicts, and long-term climate suitability concerns.

Public comment: More than two dozen residents and preservation advocates addressed the council during the public hearing. Speakers included neighborhood residents who said the canopy defines Anapamu's streetscape and representatives of Citizens Planning Association and the Historic Landmarks Commission who urged the council to preserve the landmarked canopy.

Council members said they were sympathetic to the Parks Department's arboricultural concerns but concluded the 1997 action and the record supported preserving the landmark canopy. The council's direction requires staff to return with a resolution and an implementation plan for how the city will maintain and replace trees consistent with that resolution.