Emergency Removal of Fifty Trees (Aleppo Pines) on Various Streets in the City of Burbank
Summary
SCH Number
2025030420
Public Agency
City of Burbank
Document Title
Emergency Removal of Fifty Trees (Aleppo Pines) on Various Streets in the City of Burbank
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/11/2025
Document Description
The City is proposing the emergency removal of Fifty Aleppo Pine trees located at: 2829 Burbank Blvd.; 500 S. Buena Vista St.(five trees); 1012 N. Frederic St.(two trees); 1536 and 1539 N. Keystone St.; 926 N. Lima St.; 1400 N. Naomi St.; 118, 124, 125, 128, 129, 201, 208, 226, 233, 315, 346, 433, 435, 439, 532, 739, 806, 951, 1135 (two trees), 1208, 1348, 1513, 1550 (two trees), 1633, and 2239 Niagara St.; 2017 Monterey Ave. (three trees); 620 Palm Ave.; 1703 Pass Ave.; 1740, 2011, and 2114 N. Pass Ave.; 2360 N. Reese Pl.; 513 S. Keystone St.; 3003 W. Olive Ave.; and 4200 Woodland 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 February 25, 2025.
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
Fifty Aleppo Pine trees located at: 2829 Burbank Blvd.; 500 S. Buena Vista St.(five trees); 1012 N. Frederic St.(two trees); 1536 and 1539 N. Keystone St.; 926 N. Lima St.; 1400 N. Naomi St.; 118, 124, 125, 128, 129, 201, 208, 226, 233, 315, 346, 433, 435, 439, 532, 739, 806, 951, 1135 (two trees), 1208, 1348, 1513, 1550 (two trees), 1633, and 2239 Niagara St.; 2017 Monterey Ave. (three trees); 620 Palm Ave.; 1703 Pass Ave.; 1740, 2011, and 2114 N. Pass Ave.; 2360 N. Reese Pl.; 513 S. Keystone St.; 3003 W. Olive Ave.; and 4200 Woodland 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 subdivisions (b) and ( c ). 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 rainstorms 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 January 7, 2025, a windstorm caused one tree located at 810 N Niagara to fail, resulting in damage to property. Additionally, a tree at 435 N Niagara had to be removed after a fallen branch created a safety hazard. Furthermore, a tree at 130 N Screenland Dr was found to be lifting the sidewalk, and after inspection, the City determined that the tree was actively failing and needed to be removed on an emergency basis. All three of these trees were classified in the same "Class 2" hazard rating as 49 trees referenced in this notice. This follows similar incidents, including the Aleppo Pine tree at 1433 N Niagara, which fell onto an occupied home on March 24, 2024, causing damage. These trees share the same structural defects and pose a significant risk of failure. The probability of imminent failure in the short-term is high, with severe consequences given their proximity to homes and vehicles in parkways. Additionally, during the windstorm in January 2025, the tree at 500 S. Buena Vista (Site 4) suffered a large limb failure, splitting the tree. Although initially classified with a "Class l," the City's Arborist has determined that the subsequent damage will cause rapid decline in health, necessitating its removal as soon as possible while it remains stable to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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