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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRDA SELECT ST. TREE 07-06-82JU 982 Inter-Corn FROM: SUBJECT: WILLIAM HUSTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TUSTIN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY DALE WICK, ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER SELECTION OF STREET TREE FOR NORTH AND SOUTH ENDS OF EL CAMINO REAL RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Tustin Community Redevelopment Agency, at their meeting of July 6, 1982, direct staff as to what variety of trees are desired at subject locations. BACKGROUND: The Redevelopment Agency, at their meeting of June 7, 1982, approved the plans and specifications for the E1Camino Real/Main Street improvements with the stipulation that they review the type of trees to be planted at the north and south ends of the project on E1 Camino Real. DISCUSSION: The attached staff report dated June 11, 1982 from Alan Warren, Senior Planner, outlines seven different varieties of trees, giving their features and faults. Also attached is a rating sheet of various trees and comment sheet from Berryman & Stephenson, Inc. which rates the Western Redbud at the top of the list and recommends retaining the Western Redbud. This project is presently being advertised for bids and the plans and specifications now call for the Western Redbud. If the Agency desires a different variety of tree, the change can be accomplished by a Contract Change Order which can be negotiated after the contract has been awarded. This may result in an adjustment up or down in the comtract price, depending on the unit cost of the tree selected. DALE A. WICK ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER db Attachments cc: City Clerk Street Maintenance Supt. DATE: June 11, 1982 Inter -Corn FROM: SUBJECT: Bob Ledendecker, City Engineer Alan Warren, Senior Planner Street Trees for E1Camino Real Following is an analysis of the good and bad points of certain trees which may lend themselves to use on E1 Camino Real: Features Faults 1. Western Redbud Cercis occidentalis a. colorful flowers b. picturesque branching c. small tree (to 30') d. drought tolerant a. deciduous b. multi-trunk Reconmnendation: Acceptable only when planted in single-trunk "standard" variety. 2. Maiden Hair Tree* Ginkgo biloba a. interesting foliage, can give shi,,m~m~ring effect b. interesting branching c. fall color a. deciduous Recommendation: Acceptable only in male variety, female variety has odors. 3. Golden Rain Tree* Koel reuteri a pani cul ara a. fall color a. deciduous b. colorful flowers b. needs some c. small to medium size pruning 4. Jacaranda* Jacaranda acutifolia a. colorful flowers b. "lacy" foliage a. deciduous, but not too much litter problem Location: Centennial Way E1Camino Real Street Trees June 11, 1982 Page 2 5. Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica Features a. colorful flowers b. interesting trunk c. small tree Recommendation: Needs to be "standard" variety 6. Purple Orchid Tree Bauhinia variegata a. colorful flowers b. interesting foliage c. medium height Location: City Hall courtyard 7. Cockspur Coral Tree Erythrtsa crista-galli a. colorful flowers b. unique branching (not picturesque) c. small Location: City Hall parking lot * on City"s street tree list. Faults a. deciduous b. mildew, .aphid problem a. deciduous b. slow growth c. messy fruit a. deciduous b. needs some pruning for street tree AGW:jh 6-11-82 ~N 9~ Lq_R2 TUSTINsv r~USL,~KS DEPT. Each factor ia rated on a scale of I to 10. Species .f'F~UH Rating Factors FLOWERING STREET TREE COMPARISON DEALING WITH TREES AS LIVING THINGS--A Perspective on Street Trees The choice of a supplemental street tree as an element in the E1 Camino Real streetscape has.raised the issue of litter from flowering trees. The tree species in question is Western Redbud [Cercis occidentalis). Chosen as an accent tree to supplement the existing ~vergreen Fig, Western Redbud grows to a nominal height of 18 feet, with a lush cover of two-inch-long heart- shaped leaves. Something interesting is always happening with the Redbud: in early spring every twig is crowded with tiny magenta blossoms; these are replaced by the leaves in summer, which in turn give a flash of autumn colors; followed by the winter tracery of shimmering grey branches and purplish seed pods--a four-season show. Nature's splendors are the product of biological dynamics--birth, growth, dying back, resprouting. An entirely normal product of the process is vegetative litter, which in nature is a vital part of habitat maintenance and nutrient recycling. In the eyes of urban man, however, this normal dynamic appears only as something to clean up. People typically see fallen leaves as clutter, and nuts o~ fruits as something to slip on or wash away. The problem is really psychological. If we bring trees into our pavement-plagued urban environment for the aesthetic relief they bring,, we must accommodate the litter they likewise bring. Such adjustment on our part must come in two ways: first, we must be willing to appreciate the fallen leaves and flowers as part of nature, and, indeed, as part of the show {fallen leaves have their charm). Then, we must make intelli- genl choices of trees at the outset, so that the litter we do have does not become a safety problem or an unduly high maintenance expense. There is a bugaboo about this whole matter, and the sooner it is laid to rest the better. We are speaking of the "clean tree". "Clean trees"--there just aren't any. ~ny tree drops things. True, there are varying degrees of leaf~-~ower/fruit drop among the many species and we can select for minimal volume and small scale of litter, but even trees described as "clean" do produce litter, and even some of those are at a nuisance level at times. Even the existling Figs and the proposed Redbuds, both of which are relatively "clean", require attention to litter. But, as veteran landscape architect Morgan Evans says, "We don't have our teeth, pulled out just because we have to brush them everyday." The Western Redbud, then, is as minimal a litter producer as could be found to fill the role of supplemental street tree for E1 Camino Real. The fbliage is of medium size and rapidly decomposes. Seed pods, while abundant, persist on the tree and do not cause sudden rubbish piles. Flowers are about one-fourth- inch in diameter, and thus leave a most transitory and small-scale litter, with no staining problem. Redbud is certainly no more of a litter problem than other trees habitually used in Tustin, including the Evergreen Fig presently on E1 Camino Real. In view of its outstanding, ornamental features, we continue to recommend Western Redbud for the E1 Camino Real project.