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When Palo Alto passed an ambitious tree-protection law in 2022, its aim was to shield the city's treasured canopy from destruction. But as the council pared back the law Monday, some called for more radical measures.
Palo Alto resident Ben Lenail received a jarring reminder of the danger that trees can pose to humans when a large oak fell on him as he and his golden retriever were out in Rinconada Park on Oct. 24.
When Palo Alto adopted a law last year to shield more trees from destruction, city leaders lauded it as an overdue way to protect a treasured community asset. Now, the city is preparing to prune the law back.
I recently had a conversation with Palo Alto's urban forester, Peter Gollinger, about the need to plant trees to replace two liquidambar that were removed by the city last year. The length of time that it'll take surprised me.
Palo Alto famously loves its trees, particularly when they're not toppling onto roofs, yards and power lines. But after last winter's storms, the city is preparing to take a fresh look at its new tree-protection ordinance.