Despite Complaint, Pair May Keep Palms

Daniel and Mary Callahan will be able to keep their eight queen palm trees, as far as the City Council is concerned.

The council rejected a request by the Callahans’ homeowners association to remove the couple’s 30-foot-high queen palms from their Donegal Lane home because they violated association height restrictions and obstructed ocean views.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday to uphold an earlier decision by the city’s tree inspector to deny a tree removal permit, which is required by city ordinance.

The Connemara Property Owners Assn., which had directed the Callahans in 1988 to install the palms instead of pepper trees, told the couple last fall to remove the palms.

Dan Callahan, who wanted to keep the $3,000 trees, said he applied for a tree removal permit only under pressure from the property owners group. He said removal would be costly and damaging to his property.

“We actually want them to remain,” Callahan told the council. “We went to four neighbors near us. . . . They said the trees were not impacting them.”

After making its decision, the council suggested the two sides meet to work toward a compromise that would accommodate the needs of both the Callahans and the association.