Board asks city to remove distinction between native, owner-planted trees

Recommendation going to council

After hours of sometimes heated debates, an ad hoc committee that was formed to recommend changes to the citys tree protection laws has reached a verdict.

The citizen-led committee was formed by the Thousand Oaks City Council after the removal of scores of trees from Westlake Plaza last spring ignited public outrage.

A moratorium on sections of the tree law expires in May. The committees suggestions will be considered by the planning commission and the City Council before that time.

The group voted 6-4 on Jan. 20 to recommend that owner-planted exemptions for the removal of oak trees only be granted to requests from single-family residential properties, not commercial, and for not more than three trees.

Requests for more than three exemptions would require review by the planning commission.

For trees in parking areas, the committee recommended that any request for removal or relocation of more than three oak trees or more than five landmark trees be considered by the planning commission, regardless of whether the trees are indigenous or nursery grown.

Requests for removal or relocation of more than five protected landmark trees should be reviewed by the planning commission. City staff may review requests to remove five or fewer.

On Tuesday, committee members engaged in a two-hour tugof war as some defended the rights of property owners to cut down trees they planted themselves and expressed concern that too-strict laws would deter people from planting oak trees. Others feared that the recommendations would fail to protect enough trees.

Its a tough decision because there are people who dont want to see any oak trees removed, committee member Judy Lazar told the Acorn after the meeting. On the other hand, you want to have reasonable use of private property. I think (the decision) is a good compromise.

Originally posted here:
Board asks city to remove distinction between native, owner-planted trees