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Residents press council over tree removals; council approves summer events
Summary
A resident urged the council to stop after‑the‑fact removal of mature trees for hotels and private development; the council noted a public hearing about Jones Street trees and approved several summer festivals and a celebrity pop‑up at Bowen's Wharf with crowd‑management conditions.
During the public‑comment portion of the meeting, resident and commissioner Lola Herrera told the council she learned that centennial trees near Broadway were cut for apartment construction and that additional mature trees near the Hall of Fame and on Jones Street are scheduled for removal to make way for a hotel and related development. "Once again residents learn about these decisions after the fact when little can be done," Herrera said, urging greater transparency and developer accountability for canopy loss.
Councilors acknowledged the concern and noted a scheduled public hearing on the Jones Street trees. The council then moved through the consent calendar, approving a temporary retail activation at Bowen's Wharf scheduled for June 11–14; Adrienne Murata of Bonesworth Company said the applicant plans staff, brand ambassadors, private security and is willing to hire police detail to manage crowds and keep public access. The council also approved a number of summer festivals, entertainment licenses and the annual special‑events schedule with routine conditions to protect pedestrian access and traffic flow.
Councilors asked administration staff to ensure neighborhood notification for significant tree removals and to follow up on the upcoming public meeting for Jones Street.
