Division 7 — OAK TREE PRESERVATION GUIDELINES

The city lies in the County of Los Angeles in the Conejo Valley, the beauty of which is greatly enhanced by the presence of large numbers of majestic oak trees. At one time, the area was almost completely covered by an oak forest; however, development of the city has resulted in the removal of a great number of these trees. Further, uncontrolled and indiscriminate destruction of oak trees would detrimentally affect the safety and welfare of the citizens of Agoura Hills.

The purpose of these sections is to protect and preserve oak trees in recognition of their historical, aesthetic and environmental value to the citizens of Agoura Hills, present and future, and to provide regulatory measures designed to accomplish this purpose.

The following sections set forth the policy of the city to require the preservation of all healthy oak trees unless compelling reasons justify the removal, cutting, pruning and/or encroachment into the protected zone of an oak tree. Such sections are subject to all other applicable ordinances, and the oak tree preservation guidelines adopted by the city council [and set out in Appendix A to this article].