Residents of Indian Hills Drive stand firm on their sycamores
Street repair plans originally called for the removal of 32 mature trees
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers LEAVES OF GREEN- Sycamore trees line the landscape of Indian Hills Drive in Simi Valley, delighting residents- and damaging sidewalks, curbs and gutters, according to the city.

A strong reaction by residents of Indian Hills Drive has led the city to reconsider a road improvement project that originally included the removal of more than 30 mature sycamore trees.

The city's public works department had intended to remove almost a third of the trees on the residential street near Simi Hills Golf Course in order to repair sidewalks, curbs and gutters damaged by the roots of the sycamores.

But after nearly a dozen homeowners registered complaints about the project, the number of trees scheduled for removal dwindled from 32 to 6.

The project will resume either next week or the following week. It's tentatively expected to be completed by mid-November.

"It has been a modified project," said Ron Fuchiwaki, assistant director of public works, on Wednesday afternoon. "It's still the goal to make sidewalks, curbs and gutters safe. Obviously, the project requires that we will be doing different methods of repair."

Fuchiwaki said the city is trying to reach agreement with residents who don't want the sycamores in front of their homes cut down. As of Wednesday, the city was trying to contact three homeowners.

"The number of trees (to be removed) is reduced almost daily," Fuchiwaki said on Monday. "We want to resolve all concerns and issues. We're trying to be responsive. . . . I would like to think we're doing our best to try to meet everybody's desires and still provide public safety."

The city hired General Pavement Management Inc. for a project covering three neighborhoods. The first area of the $400,000 contract will revamp a residential area west of Sequoia Road and north of Los Angeles Avenue. That portion of the project is nearly complete.

After progress is made on Indian Hills Drive, work will begin on neighboring streets.

The city initially identified 32 trees for removal because tree roots are the major source of damage to pavement. Still, this problem may arise on this street in the future. "I believe that some of the problems in the area will come up again in a couple of years," Fuchiwaki said.

Most of the 97 trees on Indian Hills Drive are mature and fully grown sycamores. Some residents, like Maria Burt, say they feel the trees give the street its allure. "One of the reasons I fell in love with the house was the trees," said Burt, who's lived on Indian Hills for 12 years. "The streets around us don't have significant, mature trees."

According to Fuchiwaki, the contractor first notified residents of the tree removal plan with door hangers in late August. The city delivered a second round of notices in midSeptember before attempting to make personal contact.

One of the biggest challenges for public works is trying to preserve the city's natural beauty while maintaining its streets and roads, many of which are in need of repair.

"We're trying to keep a balance," Fuchiwaki said. "Our goal is to save healthy, mature trees throughout the city. Unfortunately there are some instances, if there are issues with pedestrian safety or drainage problems, in order to fix those problems, we occasionally do lose trees."