Judge Allows Removal of Balboa’s Ficus Trees
An Orange County judge Monday gave Newport Beach the go-ahead to remove 25 mature ficus trees from Balboa’s historic Main Street, but tree lovers are considering appealing the decision.
“We need to move expeditiously,” said Stephen Miles, an attorney representing the Balboa Arborist Society. The group had sued to prevent removal of the trees.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald L. Bauer, who had earlier blocked the city from removing the trees, declined to extend that order.
The ficus trees have been there since the 1960s, but city officials say they are in the way of a $2.8-million improvement project.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
