Parks commission splits on street-tree removals: four approvals, two denials

Santa Barbara — The Parks and Recreation Commission on Wednesday approved several street-tree removal permits while denying others, drawing frequent debate over precedent, property damage and neighborhood character.

The commission voted to approve the removal of an ailing American sycamore at 288 Cannon Drive after the Street Tree Advisory Committee documented trunk decay and dead limbs and recommended removal with no mitigation. Nathan Slack, urban forest staff, told commissioners the committee unanimously concluded “the tree didn’t have much of a future.” Commissioner Ramsey moved to accept the committee’s recommendation and the motion passed.

The panel also voted to approve removal of a large Italian stone pine at 536 Bath Street, where the applicant presented an arborist report documenting progressive damage to walkways, multiple retaining walls and evidence of foundation impacts. Chair McGill said he made the motion “with a heavy heart” to approve removal on the condition the applicant plant a new canopy tree expected to reach about 30 feet at maturity; the applicant indicated a jacaranda was the preferred replacement.

Separately, the commission approved an application allowing pre-approval to remove up to five coast live oaks at 1350 Las Besitas Road if necessary during redevelopment, on the condition that for each tree removed the applicant plant five replacement trees (a 5:1 replacement ratio). Urban forest staff explained wetlands and stormwater constraints on the parcel and said the committee supported a higher replacement ratio than the usual 1:1.

But commissioners denied two other removal requests. Staff presented an application to remove a New Zealand Christmas tree at 194 Cannon Drive so a coast live oak could be planted for habitat and perceived fire resilience; the Street Tree Advisory Committee had recommended approval conditioned on planting a coast live oak. Commissioners pressed staff on precedent for removing a healthy, small nonnative tree for aesthetic reasons. Commissioner Nielsen, who visited the tree, described it as “healthy” and argued the application did not meet the bar for removal. The motion to deny the application carried 4–1.

The commission also denied an application to remove a red flowering gum located between 560 and 566 Royal Avenue. The applicant cited repeated vehicle damage from gumnuts (including a cracked windshield and sunroof); urban forest staff and commissioners discussed pruning and other mitigation strategies. Eric Anderson, the applicant, said gumnuts “are up there pretty much year round.” Commissioners agreed pruning and targeted maintenance could reduce risk and concluded removal was not warranted; the committee recommendation to deny was accepted.

Public commenters included Rhonda Wheatley, who said she feared foundation damage at her home adjacent to the Italian stone pine and urged the commission to weigh home safety. Applicant Eric Anderson addressed the Royal Avenue item during the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Approve removal: 288 Cannon Drive (American sycamore) — motion passed; mover: Commissioner Ramsey; seconder: Commissioner Nielsen; vote not individually recorded in transcript beyond motion passing. - Deny: 194 Cannon Drive (New Zealand Christmas tree) — motion to deny passed 4–1 (member-by-member votes not specified in transcript). - Approve removal: 536 Bath Street (Italian stone pine) — motion passed unanimously; condition: applicant to plant a canopy tree reaching ~30 ft at maturity. - Approve (conditional): 1350 Las Besitas Road — pre-approval to remove up to five coast live oaks if needed; condition: 5:1 replacement ratio per removed tree; motion passed. - Deny: 560/566 Royal Ave (red flowering gum) — committee recommendation to deny accepted; motion passed.

What this means Commissioners balanced competing priorities: neighborhood character and precedent versus private property impacts and public safety. For private-property damage claims (536 Bath), commissioners accepted the committee’s finding that the extent of damage and likely detriment to the tree from mitigation justified removal. For aesthetic or species‑change requests (194 Cannon Drive), commissioners signaled reluctance to approve removals that could create an undesirable precedent unless clear safety or health reasons exist.

Next steps Each approved private‑tree removal will proceed under the conditions set by the commission and the city’s urban forest rules. For the Las Besitas approval, replacement plantings and mitigation details will be coordinated with staff and conditioned on permits.

Reporting note: Votes and tallies reported above reflect what is recorded in the transcript. Several motion outcomes were announced without a roll-call that attributes each vote to named commissioners; member-by‑member roll calls are included only where they were read aloud in the record.