Fact Page

On Monday, February 10, 2025, the City of Glendale received reports of tree trimming and removal at the Glendale Garden Home Apartments. Apologies for the scrivener’s error in my earlier message stating January. Upon inspection, City staff determined that work was being conducted without the required permits. Code Enforcement responded promptly, issuing an administrative citation and a stop work order. At that time, all landscape work was halted. It was confirmed that five trees had already been removed.

 

The case was referred to the City Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, and an investigation was initiated to evaluate the scope of the activity and verify compliance with local regulations. The work was deemed legal, and in the following weeks an interdepartmental team comprised of Fire, City Arborist and Planning/Historic Preservation reviewed a proposal to remove or trim numerous trees due to potential life safety issues in what CalFire now considers to be a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Working from a certified arborist report, the City team agreed to the removal and trimming of trees on the following basis, and to specifically target:

• Trees within five feet of buildings/rooflines where pruning is not viable

• Overgrown vegetation contributing to elevated fire risk

 

Staff’s considerations:

• From a fire safety perspective, the Glendale Fire Department has confirmed that many of the trees within 5 feet of a structure and surrounding vegetation had been significantly neglected, with several limbs resting on or impacting building rooflines. The tree removals now proceeding are aligned with fire prevention best practices.

• From a historic preservation standpoint, the City’s preservation staff note that while the site is of historic interest, its significance lies in the interrelationship between the buildings and their landscape setting—not necessarily in the specific trees or plants present today. As such, the loss of several trees and smaller vegetation does not compromise the site's overall historic value.

• As reviewed by the City’s Forestry Section team, a number of trees initially marked for removal may only require pruning to achieve safety clearances. These decisions are being left to the judgment of the certified arborist working with the property owner, in accordance with City guidelines.

 

We know that trees are very important to members of our community. We understand the concerns of the tenants and the neighborhood regarding the trimming and removals taking place, and acknowledge the loss the neighborhood is feeling with respect to the removal of those trees. To that end, we want to provide some additional information:

 

• The work is being carried out by a professional service company to address fire safety and site maintenance concerns.

• While the property owner proposes a new housing development for the site, and the City Council has recently directed preparation of an Environmental Impact Report prior to further consideration of the project, and the removal/trimming of trees will not impact the environmental reviews and analysis, which are still required by the City of Glendale for this property.

• The City Council’s determination to require an environmental analysis and review before taking any further action on the future of the property, and the assumption that this meant that the property would be frozen in the meantime. The requirement for environmental documents and analysis and further discussion before City Council for the future of property did not extend to or limit the landlord’s ability to trim/remove trees and vegetation on site.

 

There’s also been question about the relationship of the trees/vegetation and the historical significance of the property, and the environmental analysis that was discussed with City Council a few weeks ago. With regard to the City’s finding that the property is a historic resource under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the tree trimming/removal is supported. Meeting fire code requirements and protecting life and safety are paramount goals for all properties. It’s also important to remember that landscapes always change over time; one of the key historic aspects of the Glendale Garden Homes is the interrelationship of the buildings and the planted areas, not necessarily the specific plants and trees in place recently. We understand the loss of certain trees and vegetation is a big change for many people. We are confident that it will not affect the site’s overall historic significance, and the opportunity will remain to infill these areas with new complementary and fire-safe landscaping in the future.

 

The City of Glendale remains committed to balancing environmental preservation, historic sensitivity, and public safety. We thank our residents for their engagement and vigilance. Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.