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Piedmont commission backs removal of leaning eucalyptus at 21 Cambridge Way, contingent on HortScience concurrence
Summary
The Park Commission voted Aug. 5 to recommend removal of a leaning eucalyptus in the public right-of-way at 21 Cambridge Way — but the decision is contingent on an independent HortScience arborist report and requires city staff to plan replacement tree(s). The planning commission will review the related garage/driveway on Aug. 10.
The Piedmont Park Commission voted on Aug. 5 to recommend removal of a eucalyptus street tree at 21 Cambridge Way, provided an independent HortScience arborist concurs with the city's assessment, and asked city staff to prepare a plan for replacement trees and locations.
Pierce McDonald, the city's senior planner, told the commission that “City staff recommend that the park commission recommend approval of the tree removal and associated changes in the public right of way subject to conditions of approval.” The staff report says the applicant would be responsible for removal, stump grinding, disposal, new tree well installation, sidewalk patching and contractor liability insurance; the replacement street tree would be bonded for health for four years.
Public works' arborist Nick Milosevic described structural concerns with the eucalyptus: “The tree has an extreme southerly lean to it.” He told commissioners he and the city engineer had flagged the tree for removal after noting codominant leaders, rubbing limbs and possible girdling roots, and he said unknown work under the sidewalk heightened his concern that the tree could become unstable.
Neighbors spoke strongly on both sides. David Howe and Gloria Howe urged preserving the long-standing canopy and warned that a replacement would take years to provide equivalent shade; Brian Cantrell pushed back on locating a replacement tree at the driveway edge, emphasizing safety issues on a steep slope and calling the proposed driveway “ludicrous” and “a 30% grade.”
The commission debated whether to require an outside expert review in addition to the city arborist. After amendments and discussion, commissioners voted to approve staff’s recommendation contingent on HortScience concurring with removal and to direct public-works staff to evaluate locations and species for replacement tree(s). The commission recorded support from all members present in the final roll-call on the amended motion.
The planning commission will separately review the garage and driveway plans at a regular meeting on Aug. 10, 2026; if the planning commission approves the driveway, removal of the street tree would be a condition of that project. The Park Commission asked staff to return with a timeline and implementation details, including how many replacement trees would be planted and where.
