The matter of mature tree removal in the public right-of-way has become a more sensitive topic in our community within the past ten years.    As a result, the Public Works Department makes significant efforts to preserve mature trees whenever practical.  The Engineering Division  hired a landscape architect to prepare a template for the conversion of the medians from turf to drought tolerant plants and to unify the landscaping for Magnolia Street from the southerly to the northerly city limit.

Two segments of the Magnolia Street median have been re-landscaped in accordance with the template from Westminster Avenue to Trask Avenue, and from Lampson Avenue to Chapman Avenue.  The two tree types included in the design are magnolia and pine trees.  The trees are arranged in groupings of varying numbers to maintain a visual interest with street parkway trees left intact. Other elements of median landscaping include shrubs and groundcover.  

The Engineering Division is in preparation for a proposed reconstruction project on Magnolia Street, from Trask Avenue to Garden Grove Boulevard, primarily due to the deterioration of the roadway, but also due to the need to bank lanes through the curves.  As a result of reconstruction, mature median trees will require removal for reasons such as changing grades of the median, unfavorable tree configurations, invasive roots that are damaging the street, different tree type, or tree patterns are interrupted with mature trees. Currently, there are 29 existing median trees in this half-mile segment of Magnolia Street.  After the reconstruction, there will be 47, and of the 14 trees that will be removed, seven are melaleuca trees and seven are pine trees.  The melaleuca trees have invasive roots and are unsuited as median trees, and six of the pine trees have a deformity or structural issues that are a safety concern.

The proposed reconstruction project will have no financial impact to the General Fund, and will be funded by Measure M2 Local Fairshare, CalRecycle state grant, gas tax and drainage fee funding.

This report is for City Council information only, and no action is required.

By: Mark Uphus, Sr. Civil Engineer