By Eliza Ridgeway

Jones

The Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously approved the introduction of a eucalyptus policy, mandating their gradual removal, in the town’s landscaping ordinance. The ordinance requires homeowners doing construction or remodeling totaling 1,200 feet or more to remove all eucalyptus trees on their property within 150 feet of roadways or structures.

The ordinance targets six species of eucalyptus known to present a particular risk from fire and dropped limbs. The 150-foot distance was set on the basis of the average 150-foot maximum-height of the trees.

Councilman Craig Jones said that the instigating factors behind the ordinance were the trees’ status as a fire hazard and propensity to absorb water during heavy rainfalls, causing them to uproot or lose branches.

The council cited the fire risk as the most significant and unique threat eucalyptuses pose to residents. The ban on the trees was set in motion by the death of a cyclist struck by a branch in January. However, the arborist’s report identified many species of trees that drop dangerous limbs and are common to Los Altos Hills.

The staff report estimated that removal of an average eucalyptus tree would cost a homeowner approximately $2,000. Some Los Altos Hills properties include as many as 10 or 20 such trees.

The council set the minimum remodel size to trigger the ordinance at 1,200 feet in order to continue to encourage some affordable housing in town, Jones said, allowing for the “granny unit” cottages built on town parcels.

Maria Caffey wrote to the council that the amendment would unfairly affect only some residents of town. “New larger homes will be allowed to keep ‘unsafe’ trees. We have lived in our older home for over 25 years. We hope to remodel. Why should we be forced to spend the estimated $15,000 to take down our lovely trees, while most

of the rest of the town keeps theirs?”

“I don’t know any way around it. If we want to get rid of the trees eventually, we need to start somewhere,” Councilman Jean Mordo said.

The town and homeowners have begun to remove hazardous eucalyptus along roadways.