Lompoc eyes Chinese elm removal project

Lompoc is looking at trimming the number of city-owned Chinese elms to remove fast-growing trees that require constant care so they dont interfere with utility lines.

The proposed Elm Tree Removal and Replacement Project, presented by the Urban Forestry Division, will take place over a five-year period and suggests removing about 30 to 40 percent of the 1,111 Chinese elms on city property and rights of way.

The Lompoc Beautification and Appearance Commission

discussed the first draft of the long-term plan Tuesday night and the proposal may make its way to the City Council in the next few months.

Chinese elms are high-maintenance trees that grow quickly without water and about 100 of them pose a threat to power lines, said Urban Forestry Supervisor Codie Blea.

Were calling it the Elm Tree Removal and Replacement Plan, but there are other trees involved, Blea said. Its about high-maintenance trees and ones that interfere with utilities and electric power lines. The maintenance issues with them are daunting.

In 2014, the projected first year of the plan, Blea told the Beautification and Appearance Commission that the city will target Chinese elms and other high-maintenance trees in the northwest part of town.

Without quite as many of those trees, money can be used for public road maintenance instead, he said.

We dont want to keep replacing our sidewalks and curbs because we are planting the wrong trees in a small area, Blea said. We want money to go to roads where they belong.

After the trees are removed, Blea said the Urban Forestry Division will offer to plant new trees that require less maintenance and will not interfere with

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Lompoc eyes Chinese elm removal project