Ocean Drive Trees: 15 Targeted for Removal Despite City Promise—14 Saved After Residents Intervened

Fifteen trees on Ocean Drive, along Ballona Creek and within the Tri-School Study area, were slated for removal as part of a City sidewalk project to create a new student drop-off and pickup zone.

The project documents are clear: the construction scope includes the removal of fifteen trees.

At the same time, the City had already assured residents—both verbally and in writing—that no trees in the study area would be harmed as part of any proposed changes.

The arborist reports tell a very different story than the removal plan. Only twelve trees were evaluated, and of those, five were identified as damaged due to fire. Those five were damaged by fire linked to individuals living in the nearby brush, not by natural decline. The remaining trees were found to be in good condition and providing important benefits, including erosion protection along Ballona Creek.

Despite that, trees identified for preservation were still included in the removal scope, and three additional trees were added without any arborist evaluation.

The project appeared on the April 13, 2026 City Council consent calendar, positioned for approval without discussion. The staff report also states that the project is intended to reduce congestion on Elenda Street, directly linking it to the same study area where the City said trees would not be impacted.

After residents identified the issue and raised concerns, the City revised the plan and agreed to preserve fourteen of the fifteen trees.

That outcome matters, but it does not resolve the central issue. A project within the study area moved forward with planned tree removal despite clear assurances to the contrary. The arborist’s findings did not align with the removal scope, and the project itself was tied to the broader traffic changes affecting Elenda.

The result is a clear conflict between what was promised and what was planned.

And in this case, the only reason that conflict became visible is because residents found it in time. 🌳