Another measure of protection for the threatened trees on 2nd and 4th Streets was added with the official “filing” of applications for City landmark designation on Tuesday, October 16. The municipal code prohibits “any alteration…removal, relocation, or demolition, in whole or in part, of or to a proposed Landmark” once the application is “filed” and until it is determined.
When Jerry Rubin of Treesavers first presented an application for the 140 ficus trees along 2nd and 4th Streets between Colorado Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard on October 5, he reported that the City accepted his $724.84 filing fee, but told him that the application would be deemed “lodged” and not “filed” subject to a determination of whether one application could cover 140 trees.
Rubin points to the fact that all of Palisades Park was “landmarked” on one application – “and there’s a whole lot of trees in Palisades Park.” In any event…
Roxanne Tanemori of the City staff notified Rubin on Monday, October 15, that it had been determined that a single application could not cover the trees on 2nd Street and the trees on 4th Street, and Treesavers would need a second application (and a second $724.84) to cover all the trees. “At least they didn’t ask us to file 140 applications,” Rubin noted.
He presented the second application on October 16, and both applications were officially “filed” that date. Rubin said that he was notified the applications would be scheduled for hearing most likely on December 10, but possibly on November 12. Needless to say, Treesavers will be there.
