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Residents say CalFire exemption let old‑growth redwoods be cleared in Lower Redway; supervisors promise review
Summary
At a packed Humboldt County Board meeting residents and property owners urged the board to investigate recent commercial removals of old‑growth redwoods in Lower Redwayarguing the cuts circumvened a local "Q zone" ordinance. Supervisors said staff is reviewing the matter and promised a fuller agenda item.
Residents and business owners from Lower Redway urged the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on March 3 to investigate the commercial removal of several old‑growth redwood trees inside the countyQ‑zone protection area, saying the work bypassed the countypermit and neighbor‑notification processes. Public commenters told the board the trees were healthy and not imminently dangerous, and they asked for a post‑mortem review and stronger enforcement.
Adona White, a Lower Redway resident, said the Q‑zone ordinance (adopted in 1996) protects redwoods over 12 inches in diameter "and they may be removed only if they pose imminent danger of falling or if no feasible alternative development location exists," and that the removals took place without county permit review or neighbor notice. Multiple speakers said CalFirehazard exemptions were used to authorize the removals and that the exemption process does not require the paper trail, alternatives analysis or neighborhood notice the Q zone requires.
Speakers described visible impacts to tourism access and property values, and asked the board to require hazards be addressed first by targeted limb‑removal and not whole‑tree removal. "Relying solely on CalFire's exemption process undermines the Q‑zone and puts the remaining old growth at risk," Adona White said.
Supervisor Bushnell told residents she had called Director John Ford and CalFire after learning of the incident and that the planning department has put the matter under review. Supervisor Madron urged the board to place a full agenda item on the Q‑zone so supervisors and staff can examine records and enforcement options. Supervisor Bone responded to criticism of county staff by saying the clearcutting was a CalFire action that never reached the planning director's desk and defended his staff.
The board did not vote on remedies at the meeting. Several speakers asked the county to (a) perform a post‑mortem review to determine how the removals were approved; (b) clarify and strengthen the Q‑zone enforcement procedures; (c) require hazard assessments consistent with the ordinance; and (d) add neighbor notification for future hazard reviews.
Next steps: Supervisors said staff would review the recent removals and return with options; residents asked that the board calendar a full hearing on the Q‑zone protections and stronger oversight.
