Emergency Removal of Thirty-Eight Trees (Aleppo Pines) on various streets in the City of Burbank.
Summary
SCH Number
2024031011
Public Agency
City of Burbank
Document Title
Emergency Removal of Thirty-Eight Trees (Aleppo Pines) on various streets in the City of Burbank.
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/27/2024
Document Description
The City is proposing the emergency removal of thirty-eight Aleppo Pine trees located at: 500 S. Buena Vista St. (four trees in the rear of the property); 2027 N. Fairview St.; 540 S. Keystone St.; 129, 200, 204, 210, 211, 218, 219, 226, 236, 237, 242, 310, 324, 332, 716, 731, 1130, 1133 (two trees), 1210, 1226, 1600, and 1604 N. Niagara St.; 3003 W. Olive Ave.; 209 S. Orchard Dr.; 1706, 1707, 1750 and 2100 N. Pass Ave.; 519 E. Santa Anita Ave.; 700 S. Sixth St.; and 2920 W. Verdugo Ave in the City of Burbank, California, and their replacement per existing City policy.
These trees have been inspected by International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborists, which recommended their removal before the next severe weather season, and the City has determined them to have a significant potential for imminent failure in the short-term due to defects affecting their stability and ability to withstand forecasted storms. The tree removal is proposed as an emergency project to prevent significant and imminent risk to life and property caused by the trees falling over. The emergency work is anticipated to begin on March 25, 2024.
Contact Information
Name
Fred Ramirez
Agency Name
City of Burbank
Job Title
Assistant Community Development Director - Planning
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Burbank
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
Thirty-eight Aleppo Pine trees located at: 500 S. Buena Vista St. (four trees in the rear of the property); 2027 N. Fairview St.; 540 S. Keystone St.; 129, 200, 204, 210, 211, 218, 219, 226, 236, 237, 242, 310, 324, 332, 716, 731, 1130, 1133 (two trees), 1210, 1226, 1600, and 1604 N. Niagara St.; 3003 W. Olive Ave.; 209 S. Orchard Dr.; 1706, 1707, 1750 and 2100 N. Pass Ave.; 519 E. Santa Anita Ave.; 700 S. Sixth St.; and 2920 W. Verdugo Ave in the City of Burbank, California 91501, 91505 and 91506.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed tree removals qualify under the “Emergency Exemption” of CEQA, found in Public Resources Code section 21080, subdivision (b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines section 15269 subdivision (b). The trees all have known and documented defects, prior root pruning, are leaning, and have limited root space, which combined produce significant load on the roots and render the trees likely unable to withstand wind and rain storms without complete failure, i.e., falling over. Complete failure of these trees -- which would result in 60 and 75 feet tall trees toppling over onto houses, cars, and/or pedestrians -- creates a severe risk to public health, safety, and welfare. On March 24, 2024, an Aleppo Pine tree located at 1433 N. Niagara fell onto an occupied home causing damage. The tree at 1433 N. Niagara was one of 47 trees found by ISA certified arborists to be in the same “tier 3” hazard rating as the 38 trees that are the subject of this notice, and all trees in that category share the same defects and likelihood of failure. The probability of imminent failure of the trees in the short-term is significant, the severity of damage from failure is high because of their location in parkways directly next to homes and cars, and continued failures are likely to occur before the City could conduct and complete environmental review. The City has already experienced numerous tree losses during unprecedented winter storms in 2023 and in January and February 2024, and these removals must therefore occur immediately.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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