TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: APRIL 1, 2026
SUBJECT:
Title
REQUEST FOR TREE REMOVAL - 347 INDIANA AVENUE
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SUMMARY
The property owner at 347 Indiana Avenue is requesting the removal of one City-owned Canary Island pine tree located within the right-of-way in front of the property. The resident cites risk to personal safety, stating that the tree’s height and size and existing wind patterns could lead to it being blown over in a wind event. The property owner’s request is included as Attachment A.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Community and Human Services Commission deny the request for the removal of the Canary Island pine tree at 347 Indiana Avenue.
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ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
A. Approve the request for the removal of the tree at 347 Indiana Avenue and the replanting of two trees, as required by the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual, at the property owner’s expense, for an estimated total cost of $2,260.
B. Refer the matter back to staff for additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The removal cost of a tree is determined by its diameter at breast height (DBH). The cost to remove the tree in question is $49 per inch DBH. The tree measures approximately twenty-nine inches DBH, for an approximate removal cost of $1,420. If approved for removal, two replacement trees will be planted, as required by the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual. The cost to plant two 24”-box-sized trees is $840. The total estimated cost of removal and replacement is $2,260.
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $1,700 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The property owner at 347 Indiana Avenue is requesting the removal of one Canary Island pine tree adjacent to his property. There is one viable planting site at this property, which is currently vacant. The pine tree is located on the Michigan Drive side of the property, in the parkway north of the driveway and within the City right-of-way. Additionally, there are three Canary Island pine trees on the south side of the property along Indiana Avenue. Photos of the tree in question are included as Attachment B.
The property owner is requesting that the tree be removed due to the potential for failure during a high wind event. The owner states that he and his wife are elderly, disabled individuals subject to protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and he feels that they are at special risk. Concerns over the possibility of the tree striking their house if it were to fail causes them to lose sleep, leading to impaired balance. The resident further states that a fall resulting from sleep deprivation may in their case have serious consequences.
The Canary Island pine trees along Indiana Avenue, Michigan Drive, and in the surrounding neighborhoods were likely planted as part of the housing development, and the City has no record of their planting. Due to the size, structure, and other considerations of the species, the City no longer plants Canary Island pine trees as street trees. These considerations include characteristics such as branch strength, root damage potential, possible allergens, and disease/pest susceptibility. According to the Street Trees Recommended for Southern California guide, Canary Island pines are only recommended for planting in spaces greater than seven feet. The Canary Island pine is no longer a tree that the City actively plants due to the space requirements and other considerations. The Canary Island pine tree remains on the Designated Street Tree List for only two streets within the City, as a means of preserving neighborhood character. According to the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual, staff cannot remove healthy trees due to size, structure, or other considerations of the species.
In response to the January 7, 2025 wind event, the City Arborist and a second staff Arborist evaluated the trees on Indiana Avenue and Michigan Drive, and both noted that the trees are healthy and within City standards. In accordance with the appeal process, the City Arborist conducted a Level I inspection on the Canary Island pine tree at 347 Indiana Avenue and noted the following:
Tree S-2 has a diameter at breast height of approximately 29 inches and a height of 45-60 feet. The tree is in good health with no observable structural defects. The tree was pruned in January 2020 and February 2024 as part of routing grid trimming. The approximate value of the tree is $14,740.
Per the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual, identifying a tree as potentially hazardous shall be based on, but not limited to, the severity of the following conditions:
• Large dead branches in the tree
• Cavities or rotten wood along the trunk or in major branches
• Mushrooms or conks present at the base of the tree
• Fractures or splits in the trunk
• Fractures or splits at the crotch or branch attachment
• Strong, uncorrected lean at the trunk with lifting soil
• Multiple branches with poor attachments arise from one point on the trunk
• Damaged, broken, or injured roots
• Tree has been topped or otherwise heavily pruned, resulting in poor structure
Based on the above-mentioned conditions, the tree would not be considered hazardous. For this reason, staff recommends denying the request for removal. However, Claremont Municipal Code 12.26.020 authorizes the Community and Human Services Commission to grant approval of such requests if it finds that not removing the tree would result in a burden on the property owner that substantially outweighs the benefit to the public of maintaining the tree. If the request for removal is granted, the City Arborist will work with the resident to select the best viable planting sites and species for replanting.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
COMMITTEE REVIEW
On March 18, 2026, the Tree Committee recommended that the Community and Human Services Commission deny the request for the removal of the Canary Island pine tree at 347 Indiana Avenue. Public comment distributed to the Tree Committee prior to the March 18 meeting and received prior to publication of this agenda has been included as Attachment C. An excerpt from the draft March 18, 2026 Tree Committee Meeting minutes is included as Attachment D.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the Community Services Department.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Cari Dillman
Community Services Director Community Services Manager
Attachments:
A - Request from Property Owner - 347 Indiana Avenue
B - Photos of Canary Island Pine Tree - 347 Indiana Avenue
C - Public Comment
D - Excerpt from the Draft 03-18-26 Tree Committee Meeting Minutes