TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: MAY 7, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
REQUEST FOR TREE REMOVAL - 616 CHARLESTON DRIVE
Body
SUMMARY
The property owner of 616 Charleston Drive 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 economic and personal safety, stating that the tree’s height and size could lead to it being blown over in a wind event. Furthermore, falling pinecones pose a danger and have damaged his property during previous wind events. The resident’s request is included as Attachment A.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Community and Human Services Commission deny the request for the removal of the Canary Island pine tree at 616 Charleston Drive.
Body
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there are the following alternatives:
A. Approve the request for the removal of the tree at 616 Charleston Drive 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 $2,065.
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 DBH. The tree measures approximately twenty-five inches DBH, for an approximate removal cost of $1,225. 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 $2,065.
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $2,100 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The property owner at 616 Charleston Drive is requesting the removal of one Canary Island pine tree adjacent to his property. There are two viable planting sites at this property, one of which is currently vacant. The pine tree is located in the center of the parkway, within the City right-of-way. The owner is requesting that the tree be removed due to the potential for future failure and for nuisance pinecones. Photos of the tree in question are included as Attachment B.
The property owner states, “The need for its removal is a matter of economic and personal safety, not the health of the tree.” He states that the tree is very tall and has a high probability of falling during a wind event, causing significant damage to his property and threatening the safety of his family. Additionally, the property owner states that during the past two wind events, several trees in and around his neighborhood have fallen, causing property damage and possibly risking the lives of the residents in the area. While the City cannot predict the next wind event, the owner feels that strong winds should be considered inevitable and not rare. He believes that whenever the next event should occur, the tree puts his house in danger and his family’s safety at risk. He also feels that the height of the tree will also contribute to its potential failure during another wind event, and falling pine cones have previously caused damage to the vehicles at the property.
The Canary Island pine trees along Charleston Drive and 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 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 Charleston 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 616 Charleston Drive and noted the following:
Tree F2 has a diameter at breast height (DBH) of approximately 25” and a height of 45-60’. The tree is in good health with no observable structural defects and with species-appropriate form. The tree was pruned in January 2022 and May 2023. The tree was trimmed in January 2022 to correct damage caused by the windstorm, and in May 2023 as part of routine 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. The concern regarding pinecone drop is a seasonal issue, most prevalent during the summer months. For these reasons, staff recommends denying the request for removal. However, Claremont Municipal Code Section 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 April 30, 2025, the Tree Committee recommended that the Community and Human Services Commission approve the request for the removal of the tree at 616 Charleston Drive 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 $2,065. An excerpt from the draft April 30, 2025 Tree Committee Special Meeting minutes is included as Attachment C.
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 paper 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 - 616 Charleston Drive
B - Photos of Canary Island Pine Tree - 616 Charleston Drive
C - Excerpt from the Draft 4-30-25 Tree Committee Special Meeting Minutes