West Menlo Park: Vulnerable streetscape trees to be protected with barriers West Menlo Park: Vulnerable streetscape trees to be protected with barriers (August 17, 2005)

When a recently planted London plane tree on Alameda de las Pulgas falls, the San Mateo County Department of Public Works pays close attention, unlike, perhaps, the drivers whose vehicles have scraped 11 of the young trees and run over six, including three more than twice.

Public works director Neil Cullen recently sent letters to commercial property owners advising them of the county's intention to put up barriers to protect vulnerable trees along the Alameda near Avy and Gordon avenues.

The county will temporarily pick up the cost of erecting the barriers and will be reimbursed with funds from area property owners who are participating in the street-tree maintenance district, said Mr. Cullen.

The targeted trees are in front of Robinson & Company Realtors on the corner of Avy Avenue, in front of Country Club Dry Cleaners on the corner of Gordon Avenue, and in front of Avanti Pizza next door, according to a map that accompanied Mr. Cullen's letter.

Property owners will have a choice between tight 6-foot-tall iron fences around the trunks or an alternative, including planters or bollards -- vertical metal pipes -- erected on the edge of the sidewalk, the letter said.

The fences, called tree guards, run about $250, and the bollards between $150 and $200, said Diana Shu, an engineer with the public works department.

Vehicles backing into one of these barriers will sustain more damage than they would backing over a 1- or 2-inch diameter tree. Therein lies a balancing act, said Ms. Shu.

Vehicle owners could sue for damages, she said, recalling that a limousine owner has already complained about scratches after scraping against a tree. If the trees keep being run over, the department would be justified in not replacing them, she said.

The tiny stump in front of Alchemy Hair Design across the street from Avanti may be a case in point, as it is covered by an orange traffic cone that has been flattened almost beyond recognition.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.