Never before has a tree sparked such a lengthy conflict between locals and the Santa Cruz City Council, but the 60-year-old flamboyant tree standing tall in the communal garden of block 10 on Arona Street, in the La Salud Alto neighbourhood, is now at the centre of attention.
Last week, the Urban Planning Department of the council informed residents that the tree must be felled by them “as a matter of urgency” before today, based on a report by the Public Services department. The report highlighted “a significant risk of the tree collapsing” due to fungal infection. If the residents do not act, the Parks and Gardens department will step in to remove the tree.
However, the private garden owners stated yesterday that they had not yet received any notification from the Urban Planning Department. Instead, they plan to take “legal action against the council” to seek protective measures from the Justice Department to preserve the flamboyant tree.
On the other hand, Carlos Tarife, the Public Services Councillor, mentioned that “a certified letter was sent stating the need for the tree to be felled due to the high risk of collapse. This decision is based on technical analysis and a report shared with the owners 6 months ago. The deadline for removal is the 9th.”
The councillor also added that if the residents do not take action, Public Services will intervene, but the “responsibility ultimately lies with the owners.” He further noted that since the garden is privately owned, “individual water meters will be installed, ensuring that residents bear the cost of irrigation water instead of the council.”
