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Albany commission approves removal of failing London plane at Marin Avenue after engineer and arborist review
Summary
The Albany Parks Commission voted unanimously to remove street Tree #1643 — a 21-inch London plane near Marin Elementary — after staff and a contractor arborist said a planned 10-foot storm drain excavation and the tree's advanced decline made removal the safest option.
The Albany Parks Commission voted unanimously to remove a failing street tree at the northwest corner of Curtis and Marin avenues, after public-works staff and a contractor arborist reported the tree is in advanced decline and at risk from upcoming storm-drain construction.
James Cirelli, a public works engineer, told the commission the Marin Avenue pavement and curb‑ramp rehabilitation includes a new storm-drain inlet that requires excavation about 10 feet deep. He said the contractor’s arborist concluded the excavation would cause “high” root disturbance and recommended removal. City forester John Hawkridge later inspected the tree and documented extensive canopy dieback, trunk decay, previous topping cuts and root pruning dating to 2016.
“[The tree] is in its later stages of decline,” Cirelli said, describing missing bark, cavities and dead limbs. Cirelli told commissioners the city would not be able to replant a tree in the exact spot because of the curb ramp and drainage inlet but that two younger trees nearby should grow to replace canopy over time.
Commission discussion focused on the tree’s history, whether prior construction or topping contributed to decline, and public notification. Staff said they followed the city’s process, posted signage and mailed postcards to nearby property owners. An alternate option — heavy pruning and attempting to preserve the tree through construction — was raised but staff said that would only delay failure and prolong public-safety risk near a busy school crosswalk.
A motion to approve the removal was moved and seconded; commissioners recorded five yes votes and the motion passed.
The tree is listed as Tree #1643 at 1451 Marin Avenue in project documents. Staff cited the city’s tree‑removal policy and procedures in recommending removal under the category of public‑safety/detrimental condition. The project team said civil work on the Marin Avenue pavement and storm-drain improvements is scheduled to begin next month, with paving later in summer.
The commission did not record any dissenting votes; next steps are to proceed with removal under the project schedule and maintain the adjacent planter strip in the short term. The staff presentation noted the project intends to preserve and expand tree canopy elsewhere along the corridor where feasible.
