It’s Avenida Lost Palmas

The residents of Capistrano Beach fear that a deadly tree disease will turn their Avenida Las Palmas into an avenue without palms.

The tall Canary Island date palms that line the streets of the enclave in southeastern Dana Point were planted in the 1920s by pioneer Edward Doheny.

“It’s a historical resource. It’s just like the mission in San Juan Capistrano,” said Ann Romano, president of the Capistrano Beach Community Assn.

But many of the trees are dying of fusarium wilt, a virus that constricts the flow of water to the crown. It’s normal for the fronds at the bottom of a tree to turn brown as it grows, said Phil Cotton, Dana Point’s parks superintendent. But this disease first turns the middle fronds brown, then all of them, eventually killing the tree.

When a tree is hit, “it’s pretty fried-looking,” Cotton said. “It’s just a big, brown palm. It’s an eyesore.”

Residents say they suspect that the city’s own tree-trimming contractor spread the disease three years ago, carrying it from tree to tree in contaminated chain saws. But Cotton said that was never proved, and the city decided not to take action against the landscaper, Golden Bear Arborists of Monrovia.

A year ago the City Council budgeted $203,000 for palm replacement this year and next year, said Susan Cannan, acting assistant city manager. But November’s election changed the makeup of the council, and the new panel voted in February to put the planned replacement on hold.

Since then, scores of Capistrano Beach residents have spoken at City Council meetings, lobbying officials to proceed with the palm replacement. Mayor Bill Ossenmacher said the council will review the situation when it looks over the city’s capital-improvement budget July 8.

Chris Tarman-Major, a 16-year Capistrano Beach resident, said, “We don’t really know what’s going to happen at this point. I don’t think anyone wants special treatment.”

Residents have asked the city to begin the tree replacement on streets that serve as entryways to the city, such as Las Palmas.

Romano and other residents say the trees are beneficial not just for Capistrano Beach but for all of Dana Point.

“It’s not like I just want one in front of my house. These are public trees,” Romano said. “It’s part of the ambience and character. If you’re not going to care about your historic trees, I question how much you care about your community.”