City Has No Plans to Remove Eucalyptus Trees Despite Possible Dangers

Newport Beach has done it; so have Irvine and Costa Mesa.

These cities recently opted to remove the large number of blue gum eucalyptus trees planted along many of their main streets because of the potential civil liability due to the propensity to just fall down without warning. But don't look to Laguna Niguel to follow suit any time soon.

City manager Tim Casey confirms that the city has some blue gum eucalyptus trees in the Crown Valley Parkway and Niguel Road medians, but there they will remain—for now.

He added that the trees are pruned/trimmed/thinned annually by the city’s tree maintenance contractor. The trees are also inspected during the trimming process by the contractor and periodically by the city’s parks and landscape maintenance supervisor.

Also, limbs and/or trees are "removed when there is evidence of disease, signs of structural deficiency or if the tree is causing extensive damage to public streets/curbs/gutters."

Trees are also removed when they have grown to such a size or height that proper maintenance becomes difficult or unsafe.

"When a eucalyptus tree is removed, it is replaced with a different tree species," Casey said.

Casey said his staff estimates that between one and three trees have been removed each year over the past several years, and another one to three will probably be removed this year.

However, there will be, "No changes in our routine annual maintenance and inspection practices are being considered at this time."

But in Corona Del Mar the massive blue gum eucalyptus trees that tower above Fourth Avenue proved to be extremely dangerous to the community and were recently chopped down.

Mark Harmon, the city's municipal operations director, delivered the news to about 50 CDM residents—many of whom are passionate about the trees in their neighborhood—at a town hall meeting in October.

"I understand that these trees define the neighborhood but they are a public safety issue and they need to be removed immediately," Harmon said.

In Newport Beach, the inspection into the eucalyptus trees began after the death of in September. She was killed when a eucalyptus fell onto her car as she drove along a Costa Mesa Street. The city immediately removed more than 100 Eucalyptus from the Irvine Avenue median between Westcliff/17th Street and Dover Drive. 

In the meantime, Laguna Niguel residents can enjoy the many eucalyptus trees that are located throughout the city.