Council upholds permit to remove two coast redwoods at 401 Ingalls after long appeals process

The Santa Cruz City Council on Nov. 30 voted to deny an appeal and uphold the Parks and Recreation Commission's approval of a Heritage Tree Removal Permit (TR2500087) allowing the removal of two coast redwood trees at 401 Ingalls Street.

Urban Forester Leslie Keaty and city staff presented evidence including a plumber's camera that showed ponding water in the property sewer lateral, a root-excavation trench that revealed roots near the water and sewer lines, and a staff cost estimate. The city—s analysis estimated in‑kind repair, stump grinding and associated work at roughly $10,200; a full rerouting of water and sewer away from the trees was estimated at about $74,700.

Appellant Jillian Greenside (Save Our Big Trees) argued removal was premature and said key documentation (engineer and camera imagery) became available only after the initial staff decision; Greenside—s expert, arborist James P. Allen, contended the trees were healthy and mitigation options (root pruning, pipe sleeving, trench bridging, directional boring or pipe bursting) could preserve the trees. The applicant and property owner, James Allen, said he had sought professional opinions, had multiple plumbers inspect the line and that camera evidence showed a reverse pitch and ponding near the structure.

Council members debated standards of evidence, the urban forester's duties to both preserve the urban forest and advise applicants, and costs borne by property owners. Council Member O'Hara moved to deny the appeal and uphold the permit; the motion passed on roll call.

Why it matters: The decision balances the city—s heritage-tree protections against documented utility conflicts and private-property investment. The hearing highlighted procedural questions about what evidence must be in the record at the time a permit is granted and whether further non-destructive testing is required before authorizing removal.

Vote: Council voted to deny the appeal and uphold the Parks & Recreation Commission's approval of TR2500087 (motion by Council Member O'Hara; second by Council Member Golder). The motion passed on roll call.

Quotes: "Tree removal is irreversible," wrote James P. Allen in a statement read by the appellant. "These two trees are healthy, structurally stable and fully retainable through standard arboriculture and civil engineering practices."