RESIDENTS SEEK RELIEF AS TREE ROOTS CAUSE HAVOC.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

Homeowners living in an unincorporated pocket of Newbury Park have begged Ventura County for months to fix sidewalks and curbs buckled and cracked by a hearty root system beneath parkway trees.

But they have found that a 1968 ordinance limits the county's responsibility, and maintenance of the parkways is basically up to homeowners.

``I can't grow grass here because the whole area is covered with roots,'' said resident Barry Gabrielson, pointing to his front yard on Henry Drive. ``It's damaged everything in its path here, lifting up the sidewalk, and (has) knocked down a wall.''

On Thursday morning, Supervisor Frank Schillo visited Henry Drive and inspected the liquid amber trees, sporting fall foliage in orange and red, even though the area is in Supervisor Kathy Long's district.

``I think they've got a really good point there with the sidewalks, curbs and street. I am going to write a letter to Kathy Long telling her I would support her in coming up with a plan to help get this resolved because it's a danger,'' Schillo said. ``I've never seen a street, curbs and sidewalks mangled as that.''

Schillo said he came out because of a similar problem with pine trees in Oak Park, part of his district, where he was able to secure $300,000 to repair the uprooted streets and sidewalks.

``It wasn't as bad as this,'' said Schillo. ``There's probably not any money allocated for this, but we must find a source of income in order to do it . . . We should be working on it.''

Long said her office is researching a solution to the problem. She also has asked county staffers for a financial analysis on what it would cost taxpayers for the county to take on the responsibility.

However, she said the 1968 ordinance is supported by case law, and at this point she has to support it until she sees other options - including changing the ordinance.

The ordinance says the county would have no right to plant, trim or cut trees except to prepare for proper and safe movement of traffic. It follows, therefore, that in this situation, the landowner is responsible for any maintenance to the trees.

Liquid amber was on the county's list of recommended trees for planting in parkways in 1964, a recommendation one neighbor said has caused a lot of grief.

Along Henry Drive, the Gabrielsons' next-door neighbor replaced her front lawn with rocks because of the liquid amber's roots, neighbors said.

And farther down the street, Harold Reed has had to re-route his sprinkler system because roots broke the pipes and left a bump in the sidewalk.

He's placed wood beams on either side of the trees in front of his house to prevent the roots from traveling, but they've lifted the beams out of the ground and broken the curb.

``I am concerned about the condition of the sidewalks being a danger to pedestrians,'' said Reed, who moved to the neighborhood in 1962 and is one of the last remaining original homeowners.

Gabrielson, a financial analyst who has lived with his family in their single-story home for 15 years, began seeking the county's help in July.

``The (1968) ordinance is in violation of the law,'' he said. He said he believes that real estate law stipulates after roads and streets are accepted for dedication as part of the public road system, the city or county has the responsibility for maintaining them.

County officials, however, said the local ordinance conforms with the law.

At the Gabrielson's house, the roots of a liquid amber tree had over time burrowed to the side of the house and knocked down a brick wall which broke the toe of Sue Gabrielson, his wife.

The couple called the county about fixing the problem, but instead was cited for having an unsafe perimeter wall. The Aug. 26 citation gave them two weeks to rebuild the wall, which they did, they said.

``The county takes our taxes and gives us nothing,'' said Gabrielson.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Ventura County Supervisor Frank Schillo, left, on a walking tour in Newbury Park with resident Harold Reed, checks neighborhood sidewalks buckled by invasive roots from the parkway trees.

(2) Newbury Park resident Barry Gabrielson, right, shows Ventura County Supervisor Frank Schillo the neighborhood's buckled walkways.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News