BREA : New Palms Will Spruce Up Birch

Birch Street will soon be getting a face lift, including more than $82,000 worth of new palm trees.

Over Councilman Glenn G. Parker’s objections, the City Council last week agreed to spend more than $220,000 improving the thoroughfare as part of the rehabilitation of the downtown area.

“The money for 55 palm trees, $82,500, is an excessive amount,” Parker said. “As a result, I will have to vote no.” However, he was unable to persuade his fellow council members to disapprove the project.

In addition to the 55 queen palms, which cost $1,500 each, 57 Platanus trees will also be planted, along with ornamental fencing on both Orange Avenue and Birch Street.

The allocation approved last week was part of the city’s longstanding efforts to spruce up downtown. According to staff reports, the project will “provide a visual connection between the new downtown area and the Civic Center/Brea Mall area.”