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Neighbors and homeowner clash over removal of protected redwoods at 530 Barron Avenue
Summary
At a continued Palo Alto director's hearing, applicant Tom Sullivan asked to remove a protected redwood that he said makes building a comfortable family home impractical; neighbors and the city's urban forester disputed that a financially feasible, tree-preserving alternative has been shown, and the director said he will issue a written decision within 14 days.
The director's hearing on a proposed house at 530 Barron Avenue in Palo Alto ended without a decision after more than an hour of testimony for and against removing protected redwood trees.
Applicant Tom Sullivan, who owns the property, told the hearing he needs to remove a multi-trunk redwood on the lot to build a 2,528-square-foot, two‑story home with an attached garage and accessory dwelling units. "Trees are great, but there is one tree on our property that is in the way of me building a comfortable house for my family," Sullivan said, and said he would plant replacement trees if removal were allowed.
Neighbors including Vicky Young and Carrie Jung urged the director to deny removal, arguing the city's tree-protection ordinance (PAMC 8.10.050) allows removal only when a retention scenario reduces permissible buildable area by more than 25% and there is no financially feasible design alternative that meets project goals. "The data to meet the requirement to remove a protected tree has not been met," Young said, saying the applicant conceded alternative designs would not raise construction costs above the…
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