Community Council Holding Special Meeting on Strict Foliage Proposal Monday

The Pacific Palisades Community Council will hear from David Barrett, the executive director of MySafeLA, about proposed “defensible space” plant and tree regulations at a special zoom meeting on May 5 at 5 p.m.

The regulations, which have been proposed by an advisory committee of the Board of Forestry, would ban vegetation, aside from potted plants that are 18 inches or smaller, within five feet of homes and other buildings. More details about the proposal are available here.

The PPCC Board will consider a motion to support a letter to the Board of Forestry committee advocating changes to the proposed rules.

In part the letter reads, “We also seek to preserve our beautiful urban forest, to the maximum extent possible and consistent with public safety. Many trees and other landscaping emerged intact from the Palisades Fire; based on experience, we believe much of this vegetation was critical in preventing structure destruction. Community members are very concerned that adoption of the current proposed regulations would effectively result in a barren landscape with little or no protection for homes.”

The full version of the council’s letter and the zoom link to join the May 5 meeting is available on the agenda.