Activists vying for Santa Cruz tree protection

By Jessica A. York

jyork@santacruzsentinel.com @ReporterJess on Twitter

Santa Cruz >> A local tree activist is working to shed light on the pending removal of what she says is the oldest of only three red horse chestnut trees in the city.

Gillian Greensite of Save Our Big Trees is disputing a city Planning Commission ruling that the tree give way for the development of a four-story Hyatt Place Hotel at 407 Broadway.

The 110-year-old tree is one of many battles Greensite has taken the city to task over.

In response, City Planning and Community Development Director Juliana Rebagliati said the city was advised by qualified experienced licensed arborists who assessed the Broadway tree in preparing for city decisions, and that their information was accurately presented.

"When the project was considered it was determined that it could not be reasonably redesigned or altered to accommodate the tree," Rebagliati said by email.

For Pat Starr, joining the second day of the small Save Our Trees "vigil" on Broadway this week was close to her heart. She and her brother were born at what was her family's property for nearly the first half of the last century.

"To me, that tree was like the sentinel, it made me feel safe," Starr said of her childhood during World War II. "It's always been a sacred tree it's got a soul of its own."

Starr said she has regularly visited the "old homestead" and the tree in the years since the property was sold in 1956 and went on to become home to two churches. She also spoke out against plans to remove the tree in 2011, when hotel developer Tejal Sood sought project approvals from the Santa Cruz Planning Commission.

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Activists vying for Santa Cruz tree protection