Eucalyptus removal in motion

Approved by councilmembers in October, the project to clear the trees was set in motion after months of discussion about the safety risks they posed, their historical significance and the cost of maintaining them. Though officials previously discussed removal of some 12 trees between Cordilleras Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas alongside street and walkway improvements, an incident in January of 2017 in which a eucalyptus fell near Arundel Elementary School prompted a fall discussion about a larger stretch of the street, including some 44 eucalyptus between Sycamore Street and Dartmouth Avenue.

Because some of the trees are believed to have been planted in the late 1800s by Timothy Guy Phelps, one of San Carlos’ first landowners who was also a state politician, several residents urged officials to keep in place a protection aimed at preserving trees planted before San Carlos’ 1925 incorporation. They ultimately decided to remove the protection with concerns for the safety of children and parents making trips to the elementary school as well as commuters traveling through the corridor, and supported a plan to replace each tree removed with a new one.

Public Works Director Steven Machida said the removal to take place in the next six weeks will focus on trees in the public right of way, and officials would likely begin working with property owners to remove trees posing potential risks on private property next year.

He said the project would be completed block by block with several detour options — including alternate routes on stretches of Beverly Drive, Carmelita Drive, Alameda de las Pulgas, Brittan Avenue, Cordilleras Avenue and Cedar Street. He added PG&E would be removing two trees between Charlton Street and Plymouth Avenue and may remove another near Cordilleras Avenue because they are near the utility’s facilities.

Machida said the street closures would apply to bicyclists and pedestrians as well as drivers, and encouraged all traveling through the corridor to use posted alternate routes to ensure their safety. West Coast Arborists, an Anaheim-based company, was awarded a contract to complete the work for $324,500 at the City Council’s May 14 meeting.

Machida said he received an inquiry about whether a bird survey would be conducted and confirmed a biologist has been hired to determine whether they are nesting in the trees. If they are, workers will reschedule their work to avoid the days birds are nesting, he said.

Officials are also expected to take another look at conceptual plans to install raised sidewalks, accessible curb ramps, road markings to indicate where bicyclists can travel as well as additional stoplights and signs on a stretch of San Carlos between Beverly Drive and Prospect Street this summer. City Manager Jeff Maltbie said several public meetings would be held to discuss specific road and sidewalk improvements with residents when the street improvements were approved in January.

Removal of 19 eucalyptus trees will begin June 26 at Charlton Street and San Carlos Avenue and will move east in sections until it reaches Sycamore Street. The work is expected to be finished by Aug. 3.

Visit cityofsancarlos.org for updated information.

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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