Meeting set to develop a tree replacement plan

The city of Encinitas is inviting residents and representatives from local businesses to a Sept. 6 community meeting about trees on Second and Third streets in downtown Encinitas.

Scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m., the meeting will be in the Poinsettia Room at Encinitas City Hall, 505 Vulcan St.

The city says it needs to remove two large Ficus trees on Second Street and two large Ficus trees on Third Street in the near future as they pose safety concerns, the potential for property damage and potential city liability.

“Trees are an important part of the fabric of Encinitas and the city values its trees immensely,” Encinitas City Manager Karen Brust said in a news release. “However, from time to time and for a variety of reasons, city street trees must be removed. It is never a decision we take lightly.”

Because trees are an important part of the Encinitas community, the city is beginning to develop a tree replacement plan and is requesting community input to develop a vision for future street trees including types of trees to be planted, appropriate sizes and best time for planting. Eventually, this plan will cover the entire Downtown area and other parts of Encinitas.

However, the focus of the Sept. 6 community meeting will be to develop a plan for Second Street from K to B streets and a similar plan for Third Street from K to B Streets. Results of this meeting will be used to formulate recommendations for tree species, size of planted trees and planting schedules.

For more information on trees in Encinitas, the city’s Tree Tracker map-based app displays where thousands of city-maintained trees are located, what types of trees they are and when they will be pruned. Find Tree Tracker at www.encinitasca.gov/treetracker.

— Submitted press release