1 of 3 Replacement Trees in Commercial District a "Preferred Tree"

Location: North side 6th Av. between Dolores St. & Lincoln St.
Olea europaea – “Olive”
Lower Canopy Tree, Evergreen.
A medium sized evergreen tree (25-30 feet). willow like foliage is a soft gray green that combines well with most colors. With time, these trees develop into a round dome shape and have interesting gnarled trunks. Needs full sun and are tolerant of most soils. Plant fruitless variety to avoid messy litter. (Lower canopy tree).
(Source: Forest Management Plan, Appendix G, CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA RECOMMENDED TREE SPECIES LIST)


Location: North side 8th Av. between Mission St. & San Carlos St.
Robinia pseudoacacia – “Black Locust”
Lower Canopy Tree, Deciduous
Fast growth to 40-70 feet with rather open, sparse-branching habit. Thorny branchlets and showy flowers form grape-like clusters. A very aggressive tree which tolerates the most adverse conditions. (Lower canopy tree).
(Source: Forest Management Plan, Appendix G, CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA RECOMMENDED TREE SPECIES LIST)


Location: East side San Carlos St. between Ocean Av. & 7th Av.
Pinus radita – “Monterey Pine”
Upper Canopy Tree, Evergreen
An attractive pine that creates the forested character of our village. A fast growing native species, which naturally occurs along the coast of central California, and can rapidly attain 70-100 feet. It is best suited to coastal landscapes where it becomes drought tolerant. Monterey pine has the form of a pyramid, but at maturity develops a rounded or flattish crown. Accepts lots of water, but can get overgrown and die at early ages, therefore, watering should be limited to the first few years after planting. (Native, evergreen, upper canopy tree).
(Source: Forest Management Plan, Appendix G, CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA RECOMMENDED TREE SPECIES LIST)

COMMENTS:
The three trees photographed above are the most recently planted trees in the commercial district. In the case of the Olive tree, the original tree species is unknown. The Locust tree replaced a damaged, broken trunk Locust tree. And the Monterey Pine tree replaced a pest infested, dead Japanese Black Pine tree.

Even though the City’s Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program, including Appendix G, Forest Management Plan, state unequivocally that the planting of native Monterey Pine, Coast Live Oaks and Monterey Cypress are the preferred trees, as in the example above, only 1 of 3 replacement trees is a preferred tree.

The Municipal Code recognizes the “dominant Monterey Pine forest.” Moreover, for tree removal and replacement, “particular emphasis shall be placed on maintaining a significant population of native Monterey Pine, coast live oaks and Monterey Cypress on a City-wide basis.”

The Forest Management Plan recognizes that “Monterey pines (Pinus radiata) and cypresses (Cypressus macrocarpa) are the primary upper canopy trees of the forest and the planting of these species shall receive the greatest priority in appropriate situations. Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) is the preferred lower canopy tree.”

Furthermore, elements of the Land Use Plan state, as follows:

G5-4 Preserve and enhance the City's legacy of an urbanized forest of
predominantly Monterey pine, coast live oak and Monterey Cypress. (LUP)

P5-58 Maintain, restore and enhance a predominantly indigenous forest of native Monterey pines and coast live oaks. (LUP)

P5-63 Manage the tree-planting program to achieve an uneven-aged, healthy forest with particular emphasis on native Monterey pines and coast live oaks. (LUP)

And while it is understood that “a healthy forest requires a variety of tree species to preclude a single disease from causing irreversible damage,” the City and Acting City Forester could emphasis the planting of the three preferred trees, namely Monterey Pine, Coast Live Oak and Monterey Cypress. As this example illustrates, it appears that the City is not implementing the City’s Land Use Plan and Municipal Code with respect to tree replacement species; rather the City appears to have a poorly understood and haphazard method of planting trees in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

REFERENCES:
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Municipal Code
Chapter 17.48
TREES AND SHRUBS

17.48.010 Purpose.
The City Council finds that in order to preserve windbreaks, reduce soil erosion, and preserve the natural beauty of the City’s urbanized forest, it is necessary to maintain the extent and health of the dominant Monterey Pine forest, along with other native tree species and adopts this chapter in the interest of public health and safety. (Ord. 2004-02 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2004-01 § 1, 2004).

17.48.080 Tree Removal and Replacement.
3. Tree Species. Replacement trees shall be the same species as the removed tree or another species listed on the Tree Species List and as approved by the City Forester except that particular emphasis shall be placed on maintaining a significant population of native Monterey Pine, coast live oaks and Monterey Cypress on a City-wide basis. Replacement Monterey Pine trees shall be of local genetic stock.

4. Tree Quality. Replacement trees shall be of substantial size, caliper, and height to produce an immediate visual impact and reduce the incidence of unauthorized removal. Replacement trees shall be a minimum 24-inch box size except for Monterey Pines which shall be a minimum 15-gallon size. Larger sizes may be required by the Forest and Beach Commission, the Planning Commission or the Design Review Board based in specific design considerations applicable to the project. The City Forester may authorize the use of smaller sizes when trees meeting these standards, or meeting specific conditions of approval, are unavailable.

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA RECOMMENDED TREE SPECIES LIST

Selected excerpts, as follows:

The goal of the Forest and Beach Commission is to manage that operation for the improvement of the urban forest and the quality of life of the City’s residents.

Our forest is based on the concept of a two-story canopy consisting of native and indigenous trees and is one that the Commission feels is essential for the continuation of Carmel’s forest. Monterey pines (Pinus radiata) and cypresses (Cypressus macrocarpa) are the primary upper canopy trees of the forest and the planting of these species shall receive the greatest priority in appropriate situations. Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) is the preferred lower canopy tree. In general, the native indigenous trees (pine, cypress, and oaks) will do well planted at any location throughout the City.

General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Coastal Resource Management Element
Carmel-by-the-Sea Page 5-23
Urban Forests, Parks and Open Spaces

Selected excerpts, as follows:

G5-4 Preserve and enhance the City's legacy of an urbanized forest of
predominantly Monterey pine, coast live oak and Monterey Cypress. (LUP)

P5-52 Commit resources necessary to support the forest, parks and beach programs. (LUP)

O5-10 Maintain a Citywide map and database of trees and landscaped areas to support tree planting and maintenance programs. (LUP)

P5-53 Complete a Citywide survey and database update every four years. Compile the data by size of tree and species in an electronic format. Also survey replacement trees required by permit conditions of approval. Report survey information and the status of replacement trees to the Forest and Beach Commission and Planning Commission at the conclusion of each yearly survey. Continue to monitor replacement trees for at least one survey cycle (i.e., 4
years). (LUP)

O5-11 Maintain, restore and enhance the upper and lower tree canopy of Carmel's urbanized forest. (LUP)

P5-56 Establish and implement tree canopy policies for the commercial district. (LUP)

P5-57 Maintain a list of tree species that could qualify as indigenous upper and lower canopy trees, for the purposes of meeting tree density and replacement policies. (LUP)

P5-58 Maintain, restore and enhance a predominantly indigenous forest of native Monterey pines and coast live oaks. (LUP)

P5-62 Use tree species and sizes well adapted for each planting site.
(LUP)

P5-63 Manage the tree-planting program to achieve an uneven-aged, healthy forest with particular emphasis on native Monterey pines and coast live oaks. (LUP)

O5-13 Perform all tree work and landscaping within the City in accordance with City codes and policies and uniform planting practices that reflect the best current knowledge of tree and plant care. (LUP)

P5-73 Require that all City departments, utility companies, tree service companies, arborists, landscapers and gardeners adhere to the adopted Tree Maintenance Standards policies and guidelines. (LUP)

O5-14 Maintain a healthy forest.

P5-80 Plant native Monterey pine seedlings of different genotypes to maximize resistance to diseases and make these seedlings available to the public. (LUP)

G5-5 Maintain and enhance the informality of streetscapes. (LUP)

O5-17 Use mini-parks and islands for planting trees, with an emphasis on native Monterey Pines, oaks, and other native vegetation. (LUP)