TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
CLAREMONT BOULEVARD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TREE REMOVALS - CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE
Body
SUMMARY
Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is requesting the removal of twenty-three street trees along Claremont Boulevard to accommodate construction of the Roberts Campus East Sports Bowl Project (previously the Claremont Colleges East Campus Project) and related complete streets public improvements. Planned improvements include Class IV bike lanes, new curbs and gutters, new fire hydrants, and necessary sidewalk improvements to comply with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accommodations, consistent with the City’s ADA Transition Plan requirements.
CMC acquired the services of consulting arborists Carlberg Associates to prepare a report on all trees affected by the project. Carlberg Associates completed the initial report in 2016 and provided an update in 2024. The report was further amended in 2025, following approval of the final project design. The 2024 update noted the removal of additional trees from the 2016 report, based on the design at that time. The amendment letter, dated October 23, 2025, accounts for all street trees impacted by construction of the final, approved design. The amendment letter evaluates and describes the trees that will need to be removed to accommodate a driveway serving a fire access lane, new streetlights, new fire hydrants, a below-grade pedestrian tunnel, and complete streets improvements. A copy of the amended arborist report is included as Attachment A.
CMC will plant two replacement trees for every tree removed and will work with the Community Development and Community Services Departments to create a planting plan that compliments the proposed improvements and includes native plant species. The proposed landscape plans will be submitted to the Community Development Department and the Community and Human Services Commission for review and approval.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Community and Human Services Commission approve the request to remove twenty-three trees along Claremont Boulevard between Sixth Street/Arrow Route and Foothill Boulevard to accommodate construction of the Claremont McKenna College Roberts Campus East Sports Bowl Project and related complete streets improvements.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the staff recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information from staff.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Claremont McKenna College will be responsible for all costs associated with the tree removals and replacements, the planting of additional landscaping per the approved landscape plan, and the preparation of this report.
ANALYSIS
Background
In December 2016, the Claremont University Consortium (CUC) requested that the City Council approve a map subdividing 30 acres in the City of Claremont for the future implementation of the Claremont Colleges East Campus Project. The City Council approved Parcel Map 70243 for the subdivision of these 30 acres located on the east side of Claremont Boulevard, between Arrow Route and Foothill Boulevard. The East Campus site is partially located in the City of Claremont, with 30 acres in Claremont and 45 acres in the City of Upland.
As part of the City’s approval process for the Claremont Colleges East Campus Project, both the Tree Committee and the Community and Human Services Commission reviewed a request for the removal of eight trees. On September 28, 2016, the Tree Committee recommended that the Community and Human Services Commission approve the removal of eight trees and require replacement with sixteen trees. On October 5, 2016, the Community and Human Services Commission reviewed the same request for tree removals and recommended that the City Council approve the removal of the eight trees and require replacement with sixteen trees.
The Claremont Colleges East Campus Project, approved by the City Council in December 2016 included a full Environmental Impact Report, Parcel Map 70243 and a Development Agreement. The City Council approval required CUC to complete public improvements along the east side of Claremont Boulevard between Arrow Route and Foothill Boulevard. In 2016, the Upland City Council also approved plans for the portion of the project located within their city. The initial project was not completed, and CMC has since acquired the East Campus property to develop the Roberts Campus Sports Bowl. CMC is now responsible for the required public improvements identified in the Development Agreement.
As part of a larger campus expansion project, CMC recently completed construction of the Robert Day Sciences Center, located at the southwest corner of Ninth Street and Claremont Boulevard. Approval of this project required CMC to provide public improvements along the project frontage and extended to Sixth Street, to be consistent with the requirements for the east side of Claremont Boulevard. Construction of the required public improvements on both sides of Claremont Boulevard will be coordinated under one project.
Current Project Scope
In 2016, the requirements for Claremont Boulevard improvements were consistent with typical subdivision requirements for the provision of public improvements at the time. With the construction of the Foothill Boulevard Master Plan improvements and the adoption of the Complete Streets Policy in 2019, interest in projects that reflect the Complete Streets philosophy grew due to their sustainability and safety aspects. As a result, in early 2020 CMC approached City staff with a proposal to revisit the design of the East Campus street improvements for Claremont Boulevard. The new proposal incorporated complete streets and traffic-calming components such as pedestrian bulb-outs, Class IV (protected) bike lanes, narrowed traffic lanes, and more pedestrian-friendly parkway/sidewalk options consistent with the City’s ADA Transition Plan. The proposed enhancements were well received and supported by City Staff, the Traffic and Transportation Commission, and the Architectural Commission.
In line with this new vision, CMC has moved forward with an updated design of the complete streets improvements, the Ninth Street/Claremont Boulevard traffic signal, and the supporting infrastructure, and is now ready to begin construction. CMC’s project also includes the construction of a pedestrian arcade (tunnel) under Claremont Boulevard. The plans for complete streets improvements, utilities, traffic signal, and pedestrian tunnel are currently in the process of being approved by the City’s Engineering, Building, and Planning Divisions. The final design of the landscaping, bioswales and irrigation for the Claremont Boulevard street improvements will be reviewed by the Community Development Department then reviewed for approval by the Community and Human Services Commission.
CMC plans to commence work on the initial phases of the construction of these improvements on November 3, 2025. Because the work involves extensive excavation for the tunnel, CMC will implement a traffic control plan that will include a full closure of Claremont Boulevard between Sixth Street/Arrow Route and Foothill Boulevard.
Completion and refinement of the improvement designs has provided a better understanding of the number of trees impacted by project construction. The following improvement summaries include a description of the improvements, as well as the number of trees impacted.
The scope of required improvements along Claremont Boulevard includes the following:
• Class IV protected bike lanes
• Class II green bike lane bike lanes and transitions
• ADA-compliant bus stops
• Pedestrian bulb-outs (curb extensions)
• Narrowed vehicle lanes
• New fire hydrants, water services, and fire access
• Undergrounding of utilities
• Public streetlights to meet the City’s Streetlight Policy
• Upgraded sidewalks and pedestrian pathways to meet ADA requirements and consistent with the City’s ADA Transition Plan
• A new traffic signal at Ninth Street and Claremont Boulevard, including accessibility features
• A tunnel under Claremont Boulevard to enhance pedestrian safety
• Tree planting and additional landscaping
Based on standard industry practices consistent with this type of project, construction of these improvements will require extensive excavation, removals below grade, and soil compaction. As stated in the arborist report, this work will affect tree roots within these areas, compromising the health and structural integrity of the impacted trees.
After careful consideration and arborist evaluation, it was determined that the proposed improvements will require the removal of twenty-three street trees along Claremont Boulevard as follows:
Arrow Route to Foothill Boulevard (east side) - 18 trees
Sixth Street to Ninth Street (west side) - 5 Trees
Removal of twenty-three trees along Claremont Boulevard is necessary to accommodate construction of the Roberts Campus East Sports Bowl Project and related complete streets public improvements.
Replanting Requirements
As a condition of the removal of twenty-three trees, CMC will be required to replant new street trees at a 2:1 replacement ratio, resulting in the planting of forty-six new trees.
In addition to the tree replanting requirements, CMC will work with the Community Development Department to ensure that the plan for new landscaped areas will be established using locally indigenous native plant species to support sustainability and habitat value.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION/COUNCIL REVIEW
On September 28, 2016, the Tree Committee reviewed a request for the removal of eight trees to accommodate construction of the Claremont Colleges East Campus Project. The Tree Committee voted to recommend that the Community and Human Services Commission approve the removal of eight trees and require replacement with sixteen trees. An excerpt from the meeting minutes is included as Attachment B.
On October 5, 2016, the Community and Human Services Commission reviewed the same request for tree removals and voted to recommend that the City Council approve the removal of the eight trees and require replacement with sixteen trees. An excerpt from the meeting minutes is included as Attachment C.
On December 13, 2016, the City Council approved the Claremont Colleges East Campus Project, including a full Environmental Impact Report, Parcel Map 70243 and a Development Agreement for the completion of public improvements. The City Council approval required CUC to complete public improvements along the east side of Claremont Boulevard between Arrow Route and Foothill Boulevard.
On May 27, 2021, the Traffic and Transportation Commission initially reviewed the Claremont Boulevard Complete Streets improvements associated with the project. An update at the September 25, 2025 meeting primarily focused on the upcoming construction, proposed street closure, and associated traffic impacts. While the Commission supported the complete streets improvements, Commissioners shared concerns with existing trees affecting the safety of pedestrians and cyclists and compromising ADA access. An excerpt from the May 27, 2021 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 City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Jasmin Hurtado, P.E.
Community Services Director Associate Engineer
Reviewed by:
Maria B. Tipping, P.E.
City Engineer
Christopher Veirs
City Planner
Attachments:
A - Consulting Arborist Report - Amended 10-23-25
B - Excerpt from the 09-28-16 Tree Committee Meeting Minutes
C - Excerpt from the 10-05-16 CHS Commission Meeting Minutes
D - Excerpt from the 05-27-21 TTC Meeting Minutes