Resident Losing His Fight to Save Trees

A North Hollywood resident has suffered a setback in his effort to reverse a city decision to remove three large carob trees from his cul-de-sac off of Lankershim Boulevard.

The Department of Public Works voted Wednesday to replace the 55-foot trees--deemed termite-infested and too big for the sidewalk--with saplings.

Randy Cox, who lives a few houses from the trees, had been fighting the city for months. He said flora in his corner of North Hollywood, an area just west of Toluca Lake and a short walk from Universal City, has been under attack.

“More and more trees have been taken out, which is ruining the integrity of the whole street,” he said, adding that he plans to study the tree-removal laws in hopes of saving the carob trees.

A public works official said the decision to remove the full-grown trees was made after serious consideration.

The vote was made by “professional people who do not take this lightly,” said department spokesman Chuck Ellis. “They study these matters, and their decision is based on science.”

But Cox said that the city’s termite assessment was wrong and that neighbors are behind his effort to save the trees. And he added that it will take decades for the new trees to match the grandeur of the present giants.

“These little saplings have no character at all,” he said.