Pulling up roots
Paul Clinton
CORONA DEL MAR -- Growing up, Mary Porter’s children decorated the
family eucalyptus trees outside their home.
As she stood on her front lawn Thursday morning watching city workers
remove one of two behemoth trees with a chain saw and crane, Porter
fought back tears.
“There are so many memories here,” Porter said. “It’s killing me.”
The tree had to go, said Dave Niederhaus, the city’s general services
director, because it was a risk to the people and homes in the
neighborhood near the corner of Larkspur Avenue and 4th Street.
In high winds, the blue gum eucalyptus, which is at least 70 years
old, could topple, he said.
The tree was recently diagnosed with “root rot” by a city arborist who
recommended that it be uprooted because of its size. In addition, a city
consultant, Alden Kelley, determined that the tree could not be saved,
Niederhaus said.
The city’s decision to remove the trees was clinched by a
recommendation from its insurer, ICW Group.
Niederhaus said that in a report, ICW Group singled out 10 trees in
Porter’s neighborhood as hazardous. He declined to release a copy of the
report but read portions of the multi-page document in a telephone
interview.
“If these trees were to fall, there is a high possibility of serious
property damage and possibly injury or death for a person located in the
fall zone,” he said the report stated.
Although the tree appears to be on Porter’s private property,
Niederhaus said the city is liable for any damage that could be created
by it falling.
Porter also said she was not notified before city workers showed up
and began cutting down the tree. Niederhaus refuted that, saying he
placed several phone calls to her at about 7:30 a.m. but was unable to
reach her.
As the crews yanked the tree from the ground early Thursday, Porter
mounted a protest campaign, stalling the removal of a second eucalyptus.
Her efforts drew the attention of Councilman Dennis O’Neil, who
arranged a meeting, set for Tuesday, between the resident, Niederhaus and
City Manager Homer Bludau. O’Neil could not be reached for comment
Thursday.
At the meeting, Porter will plead her case to save the remaining tree.
In the meantime, Porter frantically attached signs -- which were
removed by Thursday afternoon -- to the two trees that read “Alive! Need
Help!” along with other slogans.
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