Last-Minute Tree Negotiation With South Lake Avenue Property Owner Fails to Bear Fruit

With the threat of a new lawsuit looming, and the City holding firm in its position that the final legal settlement with a property owner which dictates the removal of three healthy Ficus trees on South Lake Avenue cannot be revisited, Councilmember Andy Wilson sought out the property owner for a last-minute discussion and possible renegotiation over the fate of the trees.

In an email to constituents, Wilson revealed that a letter — along with a petition with 1,000 community signatures — was hand-delivered to Bruce Meyer, owner of the property at 437 South Lake Avenue, last week.

Meyer responded Wednesday afternoon.

Wrote Wilson in his constituent e-mail, “You will see that the landlord shares not just his POV/rationale but also the narrative from the two judges who were clearly signaling that the City was at risk if this matter were to go forward in a courtroom (not just losing the trees but possible financial damages and unfavorable judicial precedent)…”

“Mr. Meyer’s general narrative parallels that which was shared with the Council when we assessed our options in our closed sessions with the City Attorney,” Wilson continued. “I was hoping Mr Meyer would consider alternative courses (i.e. saving the trees with mitigation measures) but at least we now have more insight into his thought process.”

Meyer reiterated his position on the trees to Wilson.

Wrote Meyer, in part, “Our decision to remove these trees was not an easy decision and was not based on simple economics, as has been suggested.”

Meyer added that the trees had grown so large, and their roots had become so invasive, that they presented a constant danger to pedestrians, and children on skateboards, who would launch jumps off the cracks.

Meyer also said that droppings from the trees were a constant weight on the building.

“When it rains, the water buildup on the roof adds so much weight that the roof is in danger of collapsing on shoppers below,” Meyer said, and that branches from the trees are constantly hitting parking trucks and pose the risk of a traffic accident, he said.

Meyer added that the “extreme pruning” that would be necessary would “leave very ugly remnants of the trees,” and would also “likely kill the trees anyway.”

Said Meyer of the settlement decision, “It gives greater benefit to the city than us, since we are replacing the trees at our cost, not the city’s, and we are repairing the sidewalks and improving public safety, also at our expense.”

‘We strongly believe that this is the best solution in this particular situation,” Meyer continued. “Our ongoing efforts at this property and at others we own in the City, have been and will continue to be, with the goal of enhancing the City. “

“I am sorry that we cannot accommodate your request on this,” Meyer concluded. “I also hope that you will help your constituents see this situation more fairly, and with more understanding of the facts that led us here (and perhaps to stop sending us threatening, hateful messages and letters.”

Representatives of an activist group called Save Pasadena Trees told Pasadena Now that unless the City immediately agrees to convene a new public hearing about the trees, they will file a formal motion Thursday for a temporary restraining order to prevent the City from cutting down and removing the trees.

The group’s attorney, Mitchell Tsai, sent city officials a letter this week alleging the City has not properly followed its own rules and must immediate conduct a public hearing into the trees’ fates.

“If the City does not agree to conduct regular public hearings on the Lake Avenue Tree Removal, my office will pursue all available legal remedies,” Tsai wrote.

Pasadena Public Information Officer William Boyer confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that the City had received the letter “and it is under review by the City.”