The owner of StoneRidge has contracted with a tree company to dig up, remove and sell trees located on the former golf course. The GVCA has discussed the situation with City representatives and have been told that the owner is permitted to remove trees without a permit as long as they are not listed as a City of Poway "Heritage Tree" or native trees such as Canyon Live Oak, Coast Live Oak, Englemann Oak, and California Sycamore. The City is monitoring the situation and if any trees require a permit the City's approval will be required. We also have been told by council members that there is no movement at this time to revise the municipal code on trees in direct response to current activity at this specific property.
FROM THE CITY MANAGER
The City has received several inquiries regarding the planned removal of trees at Stoneridge Country Club, as well as requests for the City to take action to address the removal. The Poway Municipal Code Chapter 12.32 addresses tree removal on private property. Since Stoneridge Country Club is private property, the owner is permitted to remove trees without a permit so long as they are not native trees or heritage trees. Essentially, native trees are oaks and sycamores. To the City’s knowledge, the trees in question are eucalyptus and pine. City staff has made the property owner and the nursery aware of the restrictions around native trees.
If the trees were located in a public right-of-way, then a tree removal permit would be required. Again, it is the City’s understanding that the trees in question are not in the public right-of-way.
The property is zoned OS-R (not commercial) and the property is vacant, without an active operation of any kind. Therefore, a tree removal permit is not required under section 12.32.150.
Following the November 2017 election, the property owner terminated water service to the property. Therefore, the trees are not being watered and the City cannot compel the property owner to irrigate the property.