Alarge banner with the message, “Spare These Trees,” went up last week along a fence at the intersection of Boronda and Carmel Valley roads. The message reflects the sense of outrage many area residents feel over yet another attempt by Monterey County Public Works to pull down part of a row of historic 130-year-old Australian Blue Gums.

The banner, plus a blogspsot for further information, encourages Carmel Valley residents to get behind the growing effort to preserve the tree row. For emphasis, the designated threatened trees are banded in orange surveyor’s tape. The stately eucalyptus was planted during the time frame of 1874-1881, when Oakland Mayor Nathan Spaulding owned the acreage, which was then called Rancho los Laureles.

Since Jan. 10, 2008, the historic tree row has been listed on both the prestigious National Register of Historic Places and the State Historic Resources Index. Now, under a Monterey County Public Works-generated draft EIR, they face the same threat of removal that Public Works has been attempting since 1985. Each time, strong public outcry has turned the henchmen away.

Exasperated with the county’s ongoing efforts to remove the well-loved trees, a group of Carmel Valley residents in 2007 applied for the prestigious federal and state listing. Once this was bestowed, many felt that Public Works, finally defeated, would go away. Not to be outdone, former Public Works Director Ron Lundquist signed the order to begin a tree removal draft EIR on May 30, 2008, his last day at work before retirement. In view of his office’s repeated previous attempts at removing the trees, many questioned why he did not leave the issue for the new director to resolve.

The public comment period on the draft EIR ends on May 4. After the 45-day review period, Public Works is slated to forward all comments, along with the draft EIR documents, to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, which will vote on whether or not to save the trees.

Although the Public Works Department repeatedly claims that traffic safety issues are at the forefront of their mission, the figures are inflated. The CHP report from 2000-2008 only finds six collisions, “fender benders,” at the intersection of Boronda and Carmel Valley roads. Ten other collisions during the same period occurred on Carmel Valley Road a half-mile or so distant from Boronda Road, which was given as the nearest intersection for reporting purposes.

The department wants to put in left turn lanes at this intersection. Instead, residents have asked for an alternative, which would spare their much-loved trees. One is to move the 35 miles per hour sign on Carmel Valley Road west another 300 feet toward Laureles Grade. This would help slow down traffic approaching Boronda Road heading east. Signage for 35 miles per hour is minimal at this intersection, going both east and west. Many drivers ignore the speed limit, going in excess of 45 miles per hour. A sheriff or CHP vehicle, regularly stationed to monitor traffic speed, plus a permanently installed digital speed readout at the intersection has also been suggested. Solar-powered flashing yellow lights at either approach to the intersection would also warn drivers to slow down.

But Public Works seems to think there is only one answer – and that is to rip out part of Carmel Valley’s heritage. One official dismissively suggested he thought planting a row of cypress along Carmel Valley Road in place of the historic eucalyptuses would be an equivalent replacement.

Construction of left turn lanes at the intersection would also cause property owners at the corner to lose part of their back yard. Instead of towering trees, they would have road noise, traffic and exhaust passing by their decks, which faces Carmel Valley Road.

Added to the mix is the strong possibility that a vote to incorporate Carmel Valley may be presented to voters in November. Should it pass, Public Works would have no further say in the matter. Supporters of preserving the historic trees prefer that Monterey County Public Works and the Board of Supervisors opt to shelve this entire matter until the election has taken place, and the voters have their say on whether to incorporate Carmel Valley.

For more on the history of the trees, and Public Works’ attempts to rip them out, plus current photos, and sample letters to send to officials, readers are welcome to visit savetheborondatrees.blogspot.com.

Local writer and Carmel Valley resident ELIZABETH BARRATT is a founding member of the Carmel Valley Historical Society.