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Updated August 2nd, 2007
50-Foot Tree Moved in Town Center
By MARTA BELCHER
The Outlook
A 230,000-pound deodar cedar
tree was moved approximately 200
yards on the La Cañada Flintridge
Town Center site Saturday.
Utilizing two cranes and a large
truck, Senna Tree Company moved
the 50-by-40-foot tree, which is
estimated to be approximately 80
years old, from the future location
of the north road to the site of
Olberz Park.
Several months ago, Senna Tree
Company prepared for the move by
pruning the tree, applying a preventative
pesticide, wiring the tree into
place, excavating the root ball and
placing the cedar in a box, according
to John Mote, the company’s
president.
“The tree is completely stabilized
and has been doing very well,”
Mote said. “Deodar cedars are very
predictable trees; they are proven to
be excellent candidates to move.
This tree is expected to do wonderfully
during the move.”
On Saturday, about 10 company
personnel were involved in placing that size costs between $35,000
and $40,000.
“We had other options with this
giant tree, but I think it was the
right thing to do,” said Darren Mattix, the Town Center’s developer.
“Number one, it is a beautiful
tree and to put it in the center of
Olberz Park is a real tribute to the
Olberz family and their lengthy
ownership of the Town Center’s
land.
“And from an environmental
standpoint, it’s important to preserve
these types of majestic trees.
They help give the Town Center the
appearance of what we desire.”
At least four other trees on the
site have been moved, and two or
three are ready to be transplanted,
Mote added.
The La Cañada Flintridge City
Council was adamant that as many
trees as possible be saved on the
Town Center site as a condition of
issuing a building permit, said Lucas
Cobb of Pancow Builders, which is
contracted to work on the project.
Senna Tree Company holds the
world record for transplanting the
largest tree ever moved, an oak
weighing 916,000 pounds, and is
featured in the 2006 “Guinness Book
of World Records.”
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