Sierra Madre : Tree Ordinance Rejected

Heated resident opposition to a proposed tree ordinance prompted the Sierra Madre City Council to send the idea back to the drawing boards.

More than 100 people turned out for Tuesday’s hearing on the ordinance, most of them opposed. The proposal would have regulated tree trimming and removal of all of the city’s large trees, including those on private property.

But residents said the ordinance would create too much paper work and deprive homeowners of personal property rights.

“People were very much offended by this ordinance, more so than I expected,” said Councilwoman Lisa Fowler. But she added that she hopes the Citizen’s Tree Preservation Committee will be able to preserve parts of the ordinance and apply it to developers of new construction and to city tree-trimming crews.