Mountain View is cutting down more than two dozen large trees near the public library this week with plans to later remove more trees in nearby Pioneer Park because of their poor condition. New replacement trees are expected to be planted this fall or winter, according to a recent city news release.
For the past 18 months, city officials have been monitoring 25 sycamore trees that line Franklin Street in front of the library. The trees are in declining health, but the city hasn’t figured out the reason for the decline after ruling out several common pathogens, according to the release.
Mountain View is developing a plan to replace the trees, but it has not been finalized yet, according to city spokesperson Lenka Wright. In the meantime, the city has deemed that the tree removals should happen sooner rather than later.
“A tree in poor condition is more prone to dropping limbs and failing in storms,” Wright told the Voice in an email. “The city has determined the trees will not recover and that removal is necessary for safety and property protection.”
Mountain View has hired West Coast Arborists to investigate why the trees are in declining health, which will also help inform the city’s replanting strategy. The consulting fees are about $5,000, Wright said.
Mountain View has a “heritage tree” ordinance designed to protect large mature trees from being cut down. Removing those trees requires a permit and a public notification process, including tagging the trees slated for removal. However, the trees being cut down by the library do not need to undergo that process because they are in declining health and not expected to recover, according to Wright.
“These removals cannot be appealed due to the condition of the trees and the related safety concerns they pose,” she said.
In addition to the 25 sycamore trees, the city plans to remove another 10 trees behind the library in Pioneer Park at an unspecified date. These include three oaks, four crepe myrtles, one liquid amber, one sycamore and one strawberry tree, Wright said.
The city has placed barricades and temporary “no parking” signs along Franklin Street for the tree removal work.
