View Preservation – Record of View
February 3, 2020
March 17, 2026
Laguna Beach
Downtown
Specific Plan
Discussion of Trees, Public Tree Maintenance Practices
July 22, 2025
• "Topping disfigures the tree, severely depletes the tree's food making ability, and renders the tree vulnerable to pests and diseases.
'.fhe LSHRD also speaks to tree species along both Coast Highway and Broadway/SR-133.Recommended Street Trees wit.run the LSHRD include (the below is a selected list), but are not limited to:
• For the Downtown highway sections ()3roadway, Coast Highway), Silver Dollar Gum, Desert Gum, NZ Christmas Tree, Brisbane Box, Red Flowering Gum, Coral Gum, and LemonScented Gum. • For Legion to Cress (PCH): Silver Dollar Gum, NZChristmas Tree, Brisbane Box, Torrey Pine • For Cress to Cardinal (PCH):Silver Dollar Gum, NZChristmas Tree, Brisbane Box, Torrey Pine. • For Cardinal to Lang Park: Sugar Gum, Red-Flowering Gum, Torrey Pine The Landscape andScenic Highways Element (to the General Plan) also suggests:
Policy 1.4 Ensure that the Laguna Beach landscape will continue to include large mature trees, including eucalyptus, cypress, pines, cedars, palms, and others. Foster preservation of existing large trees.
Action 1.4.1 Update design guidelines to provide forlarge trees to remain and be planted at select locations pursuant to Land Use Element Policy 2.6. (Implementation: Short-term) Action 1.4.2 Because large mature trees are important to community character, discourage the trade�off of approving new building development that block<; views. (Implementation: Short-term) Policy 2.2 Promote improved long-term pruning techniques to enhance neighborhood views, promote tree health, and produce safe and natural tree form.
Action 2.2.1 Develop and disseminate a pruning guide for the public, utilities, and tree pruners. (Implementation: Mid-term)
Action 2.2.2 Consider development guidelines and regulations that promote appropriate pruning and discourage severe pruningpractices. See action 8.18.1. (Implementation: Mid-term) The Public Works & Utilities Department prunes public trees for the purpose of encouraging healthy growth, tree preservation, and hazard/risk mitigation; runin ublic trees for the sole se of view enhancement is not recommend�Pruning performed O crea e or r ore views pica y causes S C and physiological harm to trees.\iblic complaints or requests for view-based pruning are evaluated by the City Arborist, and taken into consideration when providing pruning specifications to the City's tree maintenance contractor. However, pruning for the sole purpose of enhancing a·scenic view is not a justification for topping a shade tree or perfonning crown reduction, unless one of the outlinerl conditions applies. Combined with long-term consistent maintenance, view equity in these cases is often improved through normal maintenance operations, including crown thinning and crown raising.
Issuesfor the Council's discussion include, but are notlimited to:
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