IRVINE : Eucalyptuses Saved in Battle Over Trees

A group of Northwood residents fighting to save what little remains of a 65-acre Valencia orange grove made some progress this week after bringing their case to the City Council.

The Irvine Co. has agreed to spare a row of more than 50 eucalyptus trees that the residents originally feared would be cut down.

But Sun World, the farming firm that leases the land from the Irvine Co., still plans to remove all 6,000 trees in the orange grove and replace them with row crops.

Residents have been fighting to save the orange grove off Jeffrey Road ever since the first trees were removed nearly two weeks ago.

They said the trees serve as a shield to freeway noise and give the neighborhood a rural feel.

But Sun World officials said that the 30-year-old trees no longer bare high-quality fruit and represent a money-losing operation for the firm.

Several council members expressed sympathy for the residents’ concerns but said there was little the city could do because the farmland is under county jurisdiction.

Resident John Dinkel said he plans to continue his fight to save the remaining orange trees that are closest to homes.