Trees Topped Due to Safety Concerns to Be Replaced

Several months from now, drivers and pedestrians traveling through the intersection of Artesia Boulevard and Studebaker Road, may find a much more scenic and lush setting with the planned addition of 128 new trees to the Avanti Business Center’s property.

During the Cerritos Planning Commission’s meeting earlier this month, the body voted unanimously to grant Avanti’s request for a tree disposition and replacement plan.

Current Planning Manager Robert A. Lopez said Cerritos Code Enforcement found the property to be non-compliant with the city’s tree maintenance ordinance in April of this year.

“This item is a result of code enforcement action, and is a response to improper trimming and pruning,” he said.

Lopez said the subject property located at 17215 Studebaker Rd., directly across from , was cited for “topping” its trees, which includes cutting branches and/or trunks, therefore leaving stubs and smaller branches remaining.

The treetop removal created an “unsightly appearance,” said Lopez. He added that the subject property had a history of “improper tree maintenance.”

Lopez said the property was found to have several severely topped trees in 2006, which led to the City Council adopting an updated ordinance in 2008 requiring businesses to acquire a permit from the Parks Division prior to any tree trimming.

Since Avanti was cited in April, Lopez said city staff and the property’s ownership worked together to craft the request, and that a landscape architect was hired by the business center to install 128 new trees.

Commissioner Alon Barlevy asked Avanti representative Magi Martinez: “Why did ownership decide to top the trees?”

She said the property was having “lighting issues,” which led to “security issues” among other reasons.

Martinez added that after cars on the property were burglarized, she called the and asked about possible safety precautions.

After being told to encourage visitors to park in well-lit areas, closer to building entrances, Martinez said the trees were topped because “we were trying to help increase the light onto the walkways.”

Martinez said Eucalyptus trees on the property grew so large, light posts were obscured, leading to less visibility in the parking lot.

The Cerritos Planning Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.