HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 - Request to Waive City Council Policy G-6 for Alternate Palm and Tree Species at the Sherman Library and Gardens (2647 East Coast Highway)Q �EwPpRT
CITY OF
s NEWPORT BEACH
`q44:09 City Council Staff Report
September 9, 2025
Agenda Item No. 13
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: David A. Webb, Public Works Director - 949-644-3311,
dawebb@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Kevin Pekar, Parks & Trees Superintendent - 949-644-3069,
kpekar@newportbeachca.gov
TITLE: Request to Waive City Council Policy G-6 for Alternate Palm and
Tree Species at the Sherman Library and Gardens (2647 East Coast
Highway)
ABSTRACT:
Sherman Library and Gardens (Sherman Gardens) in Corona del Mar approached the
City of Newport Beach with a landscape beautification plan that included the City rights -
of -way surrounding the property at 2647 East Coast Highway. The plan includes removal
and replacement of City street trees on East Coast Highway, of which the specific
replacement tree species required are identified in City Council Policy G-6 - Maintenance
and Planting of Parkway Trees (Policy G-6). Staff recommends the City Council approve
a waiver to Policy G-6 for alternate palm and tree species as part of the Sherman Gardens
renovation plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because
this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
and
b) Approve a waiver of City Council Policy G-6 — Maintenance and Planting of Parkway
Trees for alternate palm and tree species in the City rights -of -way at
Sherman Gardens (2647 East Coast Highway).
DISCUSSION:
Sherman Gardens has begun planning renovations to its property. Part of the renovations
involve altering and beautifying the surrounding property, including the City rights -of -way
on East Coast Highway and Fernleaf Avenue. On the East Coast Highway frontage, plans
call for the removal of 13 City street trees, comprised of seven king palms
(Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) and six orchid trees (Bauhinia variegate). The
planned replacement tree species are 11 strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo) and two
Mexican blue palms (Brahea armata), positioned on either side of the bell tower. On the
Fernleaf Avenue frontage there are currently no City street trees, and the plan proposes
three new catalina ironwood trees (Lyonothamnus floribundus).
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Waiver Request of Council Policy G-6 for alternate palm and tree species at 2647 East
Coast Highway (Sherman Gardens)
September 9, 2025
Page 2
City staff reviewed the plans and found that a stipulation in Policy G-6 designated the tree
species on the East Coast Highway frontage as king palm and purple orchid. There are
no designated tree species on Fernleaf Avenue. Staff is comfortable with the proposed
alternate species on East Coast Highway as they are reliable tree species in other areas
of the city. However, staff called out that the new trees on East Coast Highway need to
be of sufficient size, namely single trunk Mexican blue palms of at least 10-foot brown
trunk height (BTH) and strawberry trees at a minimum of 36-inch box size, to provide for
necessary pedestrian clearances. Sherman Gardens agreed with staff's specifications,
but asked if the Mexican blue palms were unavailable, they could use similarly sized
Cuban royal (Roystonea regia), Kentia (Howea forsteriana), or king palms. These
alternatives too were acceptable to staff. Thus, staff recommends City Council approval
of a waiver to Policy G-6 for requested alternate palm and tree species as part of the
Sherman Gardens renovation plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not
result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment)
and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA
Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no
potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
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