Council Cuts 4 Trees from Bluebird Canyon Plan

Laguna Beach is moving forward with the plan to replace some eucalyptus trees chopped down in Bluebird Canyon last year, but some residents don't have to fret anymore about new trees moving in near their homes.

At its Tuesday night meeting, the City Council voted 5-0 to remove four trees from a proposed planting plan after several residents spoke out against them. The council also approved the planting of of nine replacement trees, either California Sycamores and Coast Live Oak trees, in the Bluebird Canyon area.

Last year the City Council voted to remove 11 eucalyptus trees from Bluebird Canyon due to potential hazards, some were leaning towards homes and others were diseased, a city staff report showed. At the time, the City Council also approved replacing some of the eucalyptus trees that were chopped down with replacements. Residents started voicing their concerns when they realized some of the proposed replacement trees were in areas where trees previously did not exist.

Alex Melli, a resident who lives in the 1300 block of Bluebird Canyon, was one of the residents who was opposed to the city planting a tree near his home, because it was a new tree, not a replacement of one that was cut down.

"It’s a new tree in a new position," Melli told the City Council. “It blocks my view of the canyon and I am definitely against that one.”

In addition to impacting views, other residents voiced opposition to the proposed planting of some of the news trees including the concern for adding more fuel to the wooded Bluebird Canyon area.

The City Council removed the four trees from the proposed plan which were the biggest source of contention for residents.

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