Pepper Trees on the Chopping Block, Literally

Most of the pepper trees along El Camino Real next to the Capistrano Unified School District facilities are slated for removal because of their poor condition.

The slope, wall and trees are actually owned by the city, which has determined for safety purposes, it needs to design a new retaining wall “to prevent road failure,” according to a staff report.

“Significant erosion problems at the location have also acted to further compromise the stability of the trees, which raises the level of concern for public safety,” the staff report says.

Of the 18 California pepper trees near the Adult School and other school district facilities, all but three will be removed, the city’s Planning Commission determined last week. The city will replace with olive and arbutus trees.

One of the walls holding up the hill and street was built by the Work Projects Administration, the largest New Deal initiatives in the 1930.

The new wall will protect the WPA wall, which is also currently unstable, according to the city.

Project construction is scheduled for August, according to a city report.