New Landscaping for Mission Basilica

New trees and shrubs will line El Camino Real in the parking lot.

The palette is, for the most part, a drought-tolerant mix of olive trees and agave and aloe plants. It will have a strip of water-thirsty turf under the trees, but the Planning Commission decided Tuesday that’s OK because students from  and church-goers often use the area for congregating and sitting.

Because the beautification is on the active church side and not the touristy Mission side, funding comes straight from collection plates, said Michael Imlay, who represented the church before the Planning Commission Tuesday.

“We are planting 24-inch box trees, the smallest you can go with,” Imlay said, mostly for price. But, the varieties chosen should grow fast.

Altogether, removing the existing circular planters and installing the new landscaping will cost the church about $17,000, he said.

The church is choosing to plant one California Pepper tree to face the , as it complements the architecture, Imlay added.

The Planning Commission approved the project, 4-1, with Gene Ratcliffe opposing because she didn’t want any water-intensive turf at all.