LAGUNA BEACH : City Moves to Buy Land, Save 2 Trees

City officials last week voted unanimously to initiate eminent domain proceedings to purchase the Cortese parcel at the north corner of Laguna Canyon and El Toro roads and place two eucalyptus trees on that property on the Heritage Tree list.

Eminent domain is a process whereby public agencies may buy private property at fair market value for the public good, without the owner’s consent. Placement on the Heritage Tree list means the trees may not be altered or removed without a public hearing.

The Cortese property, zoned for residential development, is one of three parcels for which the city has initiated eminent domain proceedings to purchase for preservation of open space.

The move to protect the trees came after property owner Rossmoor Liquidating Trust of Laguna Hills in January brought a bulldozer onto the 9.2-acre parcel, removing vegetation and filling in a portion of creek bed. The city issued a stop-work order after the grading was discovered by Laguna Beach activist Marielle Leeds.

Fearing for the future of the trees, the City Council last month voted to initiate Heritage Tree proceedings by directing staff members to conduct a field review. Based on that review, the trees were deemed to exceed the 55-inch trunk circumference that is one of the criteria for the historical designation. Other criteria are historical significance and uniqueness of form or shape.

Established in 1975, the Heritage Tree ordinance was adopted to preserve stands of eucalyptus, sycamore, pine, cypress palm and other trees planted in the city.

Heritage Tree owners are given certificates and have their names placed on an honor roll in City Hall.

Most of the 36 trees on the city’s list were placed there with permission of owners, said City Clerk Verna Rollinger. Others were placed on the list at the request of another party.

Rossmoor Liquidating Trust was notified of the city’s intent to place the trees on the list by letter but did not respond, city officials said.

The landowner last week declined to comment on either the tree issue or the eminent domain proceedings.