Edhat Staff
The nostalgic skyline of East Anapamu Street, known for its historic Italian stone pines, is set to see a major transformation. The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission, following recommendations from its Street Tree Advisory Committee (STAC), has unanimously approved the planting of native coast live oaks as the new street trees for the area.
This decision, reached during last Thursday’s meeting, marks a significant shift in the city’s urban landscape strategy and closes a longstanding chapter on the problematic stone pines. These trees, while historically significant, have caused numerous issues over the decades, including damaged sidewalks, disrupted plumbing systems, at least two falling on vehicles this year, and continual challenges for street maintenance due to their shallow, invasive root systems.
Arborist Duke McPherson, a member of the STAC, highlighted the problems with the Italian stone pines, describing their use as a “failed experiment” by early city planners who did not foresee the complications their roots would bring to the urban infrastructure.
Despite passionate appeals by local advocates at the meeting, who urged reconsideration and proposed alternatives such as expanding the tree wells to save the pines, the commission decided that a change was necessary.
Commission Vice Chair Nichol Clark summed up the sentiment of the panel, invoking the definition of insanity as doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results and stating they are not the right tree for that location, emphasizing the need for a more sustainable solution.
The commission selected coast live oaks after deliberation on their suitability as replacements. These trees are admired for their deep root systems, compatibility with urban environments, and extensive shade canopy. They are also native to the area, a factor that resonates with local ecological priorities.
Keith Nevison, director of Horticulture and Operations at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, praised the decision, pointing out that coast live oaks support a high level of biodiversity, including over 400 species of caterpillars, which in turn attract various songbirds, enhancing urban wildlife.
The decision will not affect the 46 remaining landmark stone pines that continue to line East Anapamu Street, which will be preserved as landmarks. However, for future plantings, coast live oaks will be the new standard, ensuring a sustainable and native tree landscape for Santa Barbara’s historic streets.
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I dig the stone pines on the way to SBHS, but it looks like it’s time for them to go. They’ve outgrown their spot.
You do know the pines are going to be allowed to die a natural death, no? Sounds like you think they’ll be removed.
We have one on our street. Currently its dropping acorns on the sidewalk and street. It spews pollen far and wide each spring. No fun for allergy sufferers. I can’t imagine a street of these things. I forgot to mention the branches drop, grow out low enough to be in the way of delivery trucks. The city will need to do a better job maintaining these than they do with the pines.
We have a giant old Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) in our neighborhood. It is in a back yard. It’s a pretty great asset all around, I think, because there are so many birds (and insects) that enjoy the habitat provided. Plus the tree provides a wonderfully continuous supply of oak leaves for composting. That said: I think the people living all along Anapamu St. will, in future, be amazed at how many little Oak seedlings they will have to pluck out of their yards and potted plants. (Not a problem with the present Stone Pines, right?)
This “oak tree seedlings” thing won’t be happening anytime soon, and only once the trees mature enough to begin producing acorns aplenty: around age 20+ or so. (Scrubjays and squirrels do love to bury those acorns.) The Acorn woodpeckers will be thrilled.—————– sbdme is correct. I foresee a lot more pruning needed by City Tree crew, as well. What is the median age of Edhat readers? Many of us probably won’t be around to see those oaks mature, so . . . Although I’m also kind of surprised by this choice of street tree . . . C’est la vie, right?
The article here fails to mention that the Historic Landmarks Commission, even though Parks and Rec tried to keep them out of the process, voted unanimously to keep the Italian Stone Pines. That multi-block stand of trees was designated a City Historic Landmark by City Council in 1997. Also only three members of the Street Tree Advisory Committee were present the day they made the recommendation to switch the designation from the Italian Stone Pines to the Coast Live Oak. Not nearly enough discussion about such a consequential decision, especially since there are many issues with Coast Live Oaks that were not fully explored, nor many options considered–including a comprehensive plan for better care of new replacement stone pines.Take a look at how the Italian Stone Pines on Quarantina Street have had much better care with permeable surfaces and larger spaces for their roots, and they are not even historic landmarks. But Parks and Wreck’s long refusal to replant, years of neglect and poor maintenance practices of these trees has finally prevailed.