Forest Ave. Promenade - Removal and Replacement of Nine Eucalyptus Trees
Summary
SCH Number
2026050114
Public Agency
City of Laguna Beach
Document Title
Forest Ave. Promenade - Removal and Replacement of Nine Eucalyptus Trees
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/5/2026
Document Description
Removal of nine Eucalyptus trees from the Forest Avenue Promenade in response to the findings of two independent arborist reports. The trees will be replaced at a one-to-one ratio.
Contact Information
Name
Anthony Viera
Agency Name
City of Laguna Beach
Job Title
Deputy Director of Community Development
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
Laguna Beach
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
South Coast Highway and Glenneyre Street
Zip
92651
State Highways
Coast Highway
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
On April 20, 2026, the City of Laguna Beach removed nine (9) trees along lower Forest Avenue between the Forest Avenue/South Coast Highway intersection and the Forest Avenue/Glenneyre Street intersection (“Trees”). This was done pursuant to the City’s Tree Removal and Planting Policy for Public Trees due to an imminent risk to public safety. Based on multiple arborist reports that inspected the Trees (the last being received by the City on April 20, 2026 at approximately 3:30 pm), the recent failure of a similarly situated tree on lower Forest Avenue in the immediate proximity of the trees to be removed, and identifiable field conditions that indicated poor and possibly diseased roots, each of the Trees to be removed created an imminent risk to public safety for which their respective immediate removal was necessary to avoid maintaining a condition in which the public and/or structures were placed in immediate danger.
This action was determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080 (b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines section 15269 (c) as an emergency project. The removal of these Trees was necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency. Ample evidence indicates that due to the poor root structure and overall health and circumstances for each Tree, there was a legitimate threat of failure, particularly as a similarly situated tree—with similar health, root structure, and surrounding circumstances (including but not limited to evidence of root cutting, root guards too close to the tree, and concrete and asphalt layering that all contributed to significant constraint of the tree’s respective growth, development, and health) to the Trees—had failed in recent weeks. The evidence available to the City indicates there was a risk that each of the Trees had the potential to fail, and that any future work in the area may increase the risk of failure, thereby endangering the public, construction workers working in the immediate vicinity of the trees, and/or neighboring structures.
This action was further determined to be exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15304 (Class 4 – Minor Alterations to Land). Section 15304 exempts “minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes.” Based on the evidence available to the City, including but not limited to the arborists’ reports, photos, observations, and the physical conditions and surrounding environments of the trees, each one of the Trees has health issues and poses an imminent risk to public safety and the public and/or nearby structures are at risk. Thus, none of these Trees met the criteria of “healthy, mature, scenic trees.” None of the exceptions listed in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applied.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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