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Tree Removal
updated: Jul 16, 2012, 12:01 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

Why are all of the large trees on my street being cut down? Looks like they're planning to cut down nearly all of them on San Simeon. It's really going to change the feel of the neighborhood. Why is this happening?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 298054P	2012-07-16 12:08 PM
Because the department that maintains street trees for the county is overfunded. Their goal is to replace all street trees with bushes and they have the budget to do it. Call Janet Wolf and complain.
SBJULES	2012-07-16 12:11 PM
Have you asked the workers? Are you in Goleta? Call your city hall if so. Or perhaps they are diseased.
COMMENT 298058	2012-07-16 12:13 PM
It could be that they are near the electrical lines.
COMMENT 298059	2012-07-16 12:13 PM
NOOOOOO!!!
COMMENT 298063	2012-07-16 12:18 PM
You mean those trees whose roots have pushed up the sidewalk by a foot or more over the years making the sidewalk barely navigable for anyone with a disability? San Simeon's sidewalk is a joke. Not the tree's fault or the sidewalk's fault, it was whomever planted them there in the first place.
COMMENT 298077P	2012-07-16 12:45 PM
How about calling the city admin about it? Edhat folks sometimes give wrong info in their supposing about what might be the reason. Likely there is a good reason.
COMMENT 298079	2012-07-16 12:46 PM
I've seen tree removal notices on La Colina (off La Cumbre) as well. I figure the City planted trees that interfered with the power lines and have decided to change them up for something more appropriate. As it is, these trees frequently get a haircut that's the world's ugliest buzz-cut. Bummer to see the trees go, but they obviously weren't a good choice to begin with, hopefully new trees will go in that are more appropriate.
COMMENT 298096	2012-07-16 01:16 PM
Make sure the trees will be replaced with appropriate street trees. Those trees, some Australian native, are not appropriate street trees. The whole neighborhood has some of the oddest trees but they are mature 55+ year old trees and add greatly to the viewscape and home values. Since you are in the unincorporated area of SB County, that's your authority. Hey, your neighborhood voted against incorporation into the City of Goleta, a Tree City USA, so have to deal with the County's hamfisted culture (that should be their trademark). Sorry, you and the trees don't deserve it!
COMMENT 298153	2012-07-16 03:23 PM
I wish they would come over and do ours. Sidewalks are REALLY unsafe.
COMMENT 298184P	2012-07-16 04:18 PM
153, call the City, whichever one you're in (or the County) and request it! You'd be surprised how much weight citizen complaints carry
COMMENT 298205	2012-07-16 04:45 PM
SB County Street Tree Policy The first phase, described above, involved the drafting of the policy and incorporating public input. Key points of Phase I are first, when removal occurs a tree must be planted, and second, the homeowner adjacent to the recently replanted tree will be responsible for its establishment. The county thereafter, will be responsible for the maintenance of the tree. The establishment period is between 3 and 5 years depending upon the species of the tree. The second phase involves working with neighborhood groups to select suitable tree species and designate each roadway county-wide with a specific tree. During the second phase...Google, it's better than sliced bread.
LALALALA	2012-07-17 07:00 AM
Because all the Ash trees (Fraxinus) planted in that neighborhood were a mistake at the time those houses were built. Sure, they're fast growing, lovely shade trees but the hazards and costs associated with damage to sidewalks and sewers from their highly invasive roots makes them not an appropriate street tree. That's why cities have Street Tree Masterplan's now.
FLICKA	2012-07-17 07:22 AM
Interesting comments, I appreciate all the information about street trees. It really is horrible when they screw up sidewalks and enter sewer lines, expensive to correct.
COMMENT 298305	2012-07-17 08:03 AM
Trees don't "enter sewer lines" by themselves. The lines develop cracks and leaks and the tree roots grow toward the water. When this happens you need to have your pipes replaced not the trees.
COMMENT 298382P	2012-07-17 10:00 AM
They are Ash trees? I read that Ash is now considered a "nuisance species," because in addition to their thirsty roots, they drop zillions of seeds which germinate and invade freely. I have a xeriscaped front yard that I hardly ever water, and still the neighbor's ash seeds germinate constantly, putting down long tap roots that are difficult to pull. The ground cover in my yard is ash leaves; they do make a good cover, but are a problem if you don't want leaves on the ground. Though pretty, they're not good choices for street trees, particularly in a place with sidewalks.
COMMENT 298537P	2012-07-17 02:44 PM
A lot of guessing here. But I do agree with the comment on call your city or county. You do have way more power than you think, especially if you mobilize your neighbors and attend meetings. In S B, trees have to be "noticed" and there is always at least one meeting (sometimes 2 or 3 - tree committee, park and rec, city council) you can attend to protest tree removal.
COMMENT 298604	2012-07-17 04:37 PM
It's unincorporated county, not in any city.
COMMENT 298641	2012-07-17 06:10 PM
People - we live in a climate that favors shrubs, not trees. In case anyone has forgotten, shrubs photosynthesize just as trees do. Replace the nasty trees with shrubs. Hibiscus was a wonderful example, and would be still, but for the spread of the giant white-flies.
COMMENT 298646	2012-07-17 06:27 PM
Gee - the notices were posted on the street and on everyone's doors at various times last year and again this winter. The liquidamber trees are being removed, along with most of the Brazilian peppers and some of the ash, sidewalk and gutter concrete work is being repaired.replaced as needed, asphalt is being ground to match, potholes filled, cracks tar-sealed, and the entire road surface chip-sealed. New street trees will be planted - a mix of three species that grow well, but not too fast or too tall, have tap roots and not surface-spreading roots. There were also neighborhood informational meetings at the school and at a couple of homes too.
COMMENT 299116	2012-07-18 05:42 PM
Where I recently came from in North Dakota, the city would decide if a tree needed to be removed due to disease or whatever or needed to be trimmed and it was at the expense of the homeowner on that lot. If you didn't do it, the city would and then they added the expense to your property tax bill. Also, the homeowner was responsible for maintaining the sidewalks. So, it could be worse folks.
COMMENT 299125	2012-07-18 05:50 PM
I just realized I have another comment on this issue. Again where I came from in ND any repairs, maintenance and resurfacing of the city streets was voted for by the city council with no public input and the expense was added to your property tax bill as a "special assessment" that could easily be close to the cost of the property tax itself. There was a lot of controversy about this during the 12 years we lived there, especially since the Council members voted for street resurfacing that definitely did not seem needed when much cheaper spot repairs would seem to do. Older people on limited incomes were really affected by the increases in their taxes. Again, it could be worse than you have it here.

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