Siteline | A Bunch of Park Lane’s Beloved Eucalyptus Trees Have … – Siteline Santa Barbara

May 10, 2023|by Erik Torkells

Are the eucalyptus trees that line the 600 block of Park Lane protected? emailed K. I was horrified to see that 655 Park Lane is in process of removing all of the trees that line their road frontage. Is there something that can be done to ensure other properties dont do the same? The work that has been done is irreparable, and has forever changed the beauty of one of Montecitos coveted streets. The trees are at the northern end of the iconic alle, so it couldve been worse, but still, what a pity. Im looking into whether the county has regulations regarding trees on private property (besides oaks, which are protected). To be fair, there may have been a reason we dont knowthe trees couldve been diseased, for instance, or the power company might have insisted on their removal. UPDATE: The area is not in the coastal zone or in an environmentally sensitive habit therefore no permit is required, said a rep for the county. Im not sure whether the streetwise location was taken into consideration. UPDATE 5/14: The owner of 655 Park Lane emailed an explanation: It is a beautiful part of Montecito and the tunnel of Eucalyptus on lower Park is fantastic. However, we have had three of the Eucalyptus tress that line the road come down, over the last few years and each of these had taken out a specimen Live Oak on each occasion. The last tree fall took out both an irreplaceable Oak and put holes in our roof. They are not native to the area and, unfortunately, dont have great root systems so in that particular location, with native Oaks and our home on one side, and the power lines on the other (which causes SCE to trim them such that they are weighted toward the house)its a problem. After the last tree fall, that was my limit. I value the Oaks higher than the Eucalyptus, and the danger to the home was just an overhanging worry. He included this photo:

Robert Redfields More Than Just A Party Band, a documentary about Spencer the Gardener, premieres at the New Vic Theatre on May 20: Growing up in the idyllic 1970s Santa Barbara, a surfing basketball-playing tango-dancing musician effortlessly achieves a flash of early fame but is then forced to rewrite his definition of success when faced with a harsh music industry, unrelenting personal obstacles, and cultural shifts. The result is 40 years of his own enduring and quirky brand of music and entertainment style that some say sounds like the soul of Santa Barbara.

Radius Commercial Real Estates first-quarter report included the sale of 6900 Hollister Avenue (at the northwest corner of Storke Road, and current site of the Vitamin Shoppe and Montecito Bank & Trust) to an owner-user that appears to be the Ferris Orthodontic Group.

Press release from Elings Park and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden:

The public is invited to take part in a series of eight free nature walks to explore the biodiversity of the 230-acre Elings Park as part of a new collaboration between the park and Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Each hike has a different natural history focus, such as plants, pollinators, or birds, and are led by Garden experts.

The first event, held Thursday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon, is a bioblitz of the park led by Denise Knapp, Ph.D., the Gardens director of conservation and research, and Annie Ayers, herbarium technician. After a brief tutorial, participants use the iNaturalist app on smartphones to record the pollinators, birds, bugs, plants, and more that they discover on the walk. No reservations are required. Meet at the parking lot adjacent to the park administration building. Participants should download and log in to iNaturalist before the walk.

The data gathered on this walk will be used as part of a larger collaborative effort between the two partners and the public to transform a section of the park from invasive to native plants and document the effects. Future walks are scheduled, once a month, through the end of 2023.

Santa Barbara Airport has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program: This program enables people with varied disabilities, especially non-visible disabilities, to access the support they need and travel through SBA with enhanced ease. Passengers with a disability may voluntarily choose to wear a Sunflower lanyard, or other Sunflower branded item, to discreetly indicate they need extra assistance or time. Airport staff are trained to recognize the Sunflower and are available to provide an even higher level of assistance and support as needed. Im all for it, but putting hidden disabilities on the front does reduce the discretion somewhat.

J. reports that Orient Hand Laundry on S. Fairview Avenue in Goleta has closed.

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Siteline | A Bunch of Park Lane's Beloved Eucalyptus Trees Have ... - Siteline Santa Barbara