Fight for Ancient Tree Ends in Failure for Poway Resident

Poway City Council votes to remove ‘heritage tree’ from resident’s property

A Poway neighbor failed to save one of the world’s largest California sycamore trees from removal Tuesday, after the City Council deemed it too dangerous to remain.

Deemed a “Heritage Tree” just 10 years ago, the aged sycamore was beginning to rot, and presented a safety hazard for children nearby, according to our media partner, the North County Times.

The estimated 50-foot-tall tree borders on the property of Poway resident Fred Zuill and the City of Poway. When Poway’s city council brought the tree’s safety into question at a recent meeting, Zuill chimed in.

"Talk to me about it, neighbor," he said, at Tuesday’s meeting. He urged councilmembers to at least save as much as the tree as possible.

The tree is 150 to 300 years-old, an arborist estimated, and can be seen in some of San Diego’s oldest known pictures.

However Arborist Jim Thompson determined that the tree was beginning to rot in October and recommended its removal. Other neighbors expressed their concerns to the council as well.

On Tuesday, despite Zuill’s attempts, the council voted to remove it. They will consider ways to preserve its memory, such as using its wood for city projects.

For more on this story, check out the North County Times' website.
 

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