Save Laguna's threatened trees and landscape

Laguna Beach and its Greenbelt have been recognized as a “Historic American Landscape” by the National Park Service as well as “Tree City USA Community.”  Help protect our invaluable and irreplaceable trees.

Last Thursday, 1/14, at 5PM, the City published the agenda for the Planning Commission on January 20 with a similar one planned for the City Council on January 26 .  Because the City failed t  o give proper notice, this will now be addressed at the Council Meeting on February 23.The Fire Department is proposing to amend the General Plan allowing them to require systematic tree removals on private property as well as greatly restrict planting of new trees.  These rules were originally written to apply to properties on the edge of the wildlands, but now the Fire Department wants to apply them to 87% of Laguna Beach. This would be devastating for the landscape of Laguna Beach.  

The Fire Department has developed a list of “target species,” trees and plants that they consider to be fire hazards and which they will require to be removed when property owners request permits from the City.  Pines, Brazilian and California peppers, toyon, lemonade berry, melaleuca, palms, eucalyptus and others are their removal targets.  Calfire and other fire experts maintain that the species of plant is relatively unimportant when it comes to fire danger but that proper maintenance is critical.  If a tree’s dead wood and leaves are removed regularly and the moisture content of the foliage is maintained (through irrigation if necessary), large trees can be our allies in preventing the spread of fire.

Even if trees aren’t on the “target list” they still likely will not be safe.  Trees with canopies closer than 10’ from the house, or those which grow over a  property line must be removed as well.  New trees in those situations will not be allowed.  In a 20’ wide front yard, for example, there is no approved location for a tree to be planted.  In addition, wood patio covers and fences will be prohibited.  Combined, these Fire Department rules will have a devastating effect on the unique, richly landscaped garden character of Laguna Beach.  Laguna Beach is a city of trees.  Their beautiful tapestry of foliage obscures the lot boundaries and creates park-like neighborhoods.  Imagine the change that would occur in the neighborhood pictured above if every tree on the list, every tree with foliage extending closer than 10’ from each building, and every tree growing over the property lines were removed.   

We urge the City of Laguna Beach to reject the proposed amendments to the Landscape and Scenic Highways Element, direct the Fire Department to create landscape management guidelines that respect the landscape character of Laguna Beach, encourage the preservation of Laguna’s trees and vegetation, and concentrate on maintenance guidelines and flexible approaches for plant placement and garden construction.

Your opinions do matter, and testimonies from Laguna citizens are often what convince the Planning Commission or City Council to vote a certain way.  The city’s meetings are being held remotely making it even easier for all of us to call into the meeting on February 23 at 5 PM. 

Access the agenda and the link to the on-line meeting here:
http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/cityhall/citygov/cityclerk/mam.htm

Here’s a recap of what you can do to help:
1.      Sign this petition to tell the Planning Commission and Council to save         Laguna’s trees!
2.      Call into the City Council meeting on Tuesday, 2/23 at 5PM 
3.      Leave a comment when you sign the petition so someone can read your words during the meeting.

Direct the City and Fire Department to do the following:
1.    Respect the landscape character of Laguna Beach
2.    Abandon the “target species” approach
3.    Concentrate on maintenance guidelines, and enforcement
4.    Develop flexible approaches for plant placement and garden construction