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Monte Sereno leaders report Caltrans cleared underbrush on Highway 9 and identified more tree removals
Summary
Chair Chapin told the Better Streets Commission that Caltrans contractors recently cleared underbrush along Highway 9, removed four trees and identified up to 10 more for potential removal as officials weigh fire-safety and scenic-highway constraints.
Chair Chapin updated the Monte Sereno Better Streets Commission on interagency steps to address vegetation along Highway 9, where county and city officials have raised safety concerns. "They cleared a lot a lot of the underbrush, meaning a lot of tree trimmings, and they removed 4 trees so far, and they have identified up to 10 more that they need to be removed," Chapin said, describing work done by a Caltrans contractor in late July and early August.
Chapin said Santa Clara County Fire and the county supervisor's office have coordinated with Caltrans and neighboring towns (Los Gatos and Saratoga) on maintenance, and that the City Council may take a position on tree removals later this year. Chapin cautioned that Highway 9's scenic-highway designation means Caltrans will require a process that could include a replanting and long-term maintenance plan if removals proceed. "There is some factors that we would need to address," Chapin said, noting that full removal would require policy decisions and likely city or local funding for replanting and ongoing upkeep.
Commissioners and participants asked whether the identified removals are part of a larger program addressing eucalyptus trees; Chapin said some residents have advocated for broader eucalyptus removal but that large-scale tree work could be costly and requires interagency agreements. The commission did not take a vote on policy at the meeting and Chapin encouraged commissioners to send comments to the City Council ahead of its October 7 discussion.
