City axes Palms that threatened the concrete
APPIAN WAY — Men with chain saws and a bulldozer removed six wild palm trees here Friday morning at the request of City Hall, after roots from the trees — some as high as a three-story apartment complex — began to damage concrete at a city-owned parking lot.
The palms, either planted illegally or spawned by Mother Nature, were also encroaching on two, adjacent apartment buildings,according to the city’s arborist, Walt Warriner.
“The trees look cool, but they are doing damage,” Warriner said.
The trees will be replaced in the coming months by a more friendly species of palm, known as the windmill fan palm, or Trachycarpus fortunei, said Warriner. City Hall is looking to plant eight replacement palms.
The cost to remove the old trees is estimated at $1,500, Warriner said. West Coast Arborists Inc., one of the largest tree removal companies in the state, performed the work.
The price for the replacement trees is in the neighborhood of $65 per trunk-foot. The exact heights of the replacement trees has not yet been determined, but Warriner said they will be taller than the average person, so as not leave any of the canopies at eye level.
Some residents expressed their displeasure with City Hall for cutting down the wild palms, which provided some shade and helped beautify the concrete parking lot.
“They could have at least left those that were growing on the sides of the parking lot. They don’t bother anyone,” said resident Dennis Schuler. “What they should be doing is getting a handle on the trash dumpsters … There’s rubbish everywhere. It seems like they’re spending an awful lot of time on something which really isn’t an issue for us.”
Warriner said he is aware of the sensitivity that surrounds tree removal, and assured residents the new trees will look much better than those removed.
“These new trees will be planned, as opposed to being planted by accident,” Warriner said. “We are going to make sure that we are not blocking anyone’s views with the trees’ canopies.”
City Hall has recently come under fire for its removal of 77 aging Eucalyptus trees throughout the city. Warriner said the trees are being removed as a safety precaution because some have started to decay, creating the possibility that branches could crack and fall on pedestrians or passing cars.
The new palms will be strategically placed throughout the parking lot beginning in July. Residents will have an opportunity to offer suggestions on where they would like to see the trees planted. Residents should receive mailers alerting them about a public hearing, which Warriner said will most likely be held in late July.
For more information on the tree removal process, Warriner 458-8974, or via e-mail at
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 17, 2006. Read the original PDF.