AGOURA HILLS : Council Votes to Ban ‘Topping’ of Oaks
Moving to protect oak trees from potentially deadly pruning, the Agoura Hills City Council this week gave preliminary approval to a ban on the removal of any branch that alters the natural shape of the stately trees.
By a unanimous vote, the council moved to outlaw the “topping” of oaks--the practice of shaving the tops or sides of the trees. The current law allows residents to cut any branch that is less than two inches in diameter, a provision designed to allow the clearing of dead or diseased wood from the trees.
“We found that some property owners have taken advantage of the law to cut across whole angles of the trees, to enhance the visibility of their structures, including billboards,” Agoura Hills Assistant Planner Doug Hooper said.
Cutting oaks in that way can expose them to disease or kill the trees if the pruning is severe enough, Hooper said.
The council is expected to give final approval to the ordinance at its July 14 meeting. The measure would become law 30 days later.
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