Tree ordinance protects oak threatened by development of adjacent lot-house altered rather than tree removed; La Cañada Flintridge, CA

La Cañada Valley Sun: La Cañada Flintridge, California:
An oak tree once again took center stage at La Cañada City Hall Tuesday as members of the planning commission debated whether to approve the construction of a two story house that could threaten a large Quercus agrifolia. This time the tree won, minus a few branches.

The original development proposal detailed plans for a new 3,040-square-feet house to be built on a 8,450-square-feet lot located at 307 San Juan Way. A wide drainage channel runs along the west property line, and rooted in the channel is a 35-foot oak tree. Several large branches stretch east over the subject property. The proposal as presented would have required the removal of these branches. An arborist’s report commissioned by the city, however, found that pruning to the extent proposed could fatally damage the tree. The oak tree is one of five species of trees protected by the La Cañada Flintridge tree ordinance.