By Cathy Locke - Bee Staff Writer, Photo by Jay Mather
Palm
trees may be picturesque in Orange County and Las Vegas, but they're out of
place in Placerville, say city officials, who refused to make an exception for a
popular fast-food restaurant chain.
The City Council on a 3-2 vote Tuesday denied an appeal by In-N-Out Burger to keep the two palm trees a new local manager planted a few months ago, unaware that they did not comply with the city-approved landscaping plan for the business.
Council members said the issue was not the palm trees, but community standards.
"I've been somewhat profoundly embarrassed," said Councilwoman Marian Washburn, noting that the city's objection to the restaurant's trademark crossed palm trees has generated media coverage and plenty of community debate.
"We have a lot to do besides talk about palm trees."
The real question, Washburn said, is whether the city wants to have a community standard.
"Does a large corporation have the muscle to come in and break a deal they have made with a small city?" she asked.
In-N-Out Burger officials say their issue is corporate identity.
Ron Volle, Northern California real estate manager for the Baldwin Park-based chain, said the company's founder got the idea for the palm trees from the 1963 movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," in which hidden treasure was found beneath crossed palm trees. Touting In-N-Out Burger's food and service as the hidden treasure, the chain has been installing two palm trees in crisscross fashion at its restaurants since 1970, he said.
"This being Hangtown, I want you to know I'm not the guilty party," Volle said, adding that he was aware the trees were not permitted at the Placerville site.
"We did err. We did make a mistake."
But he urged the council to allow the trees to remain, saying they exist at about 95 percent of the chain's 202 restaurants.
The company would be willing to make amends by contributing money to beautification projects in the city, Volle said.
Steve Calfee, community development director, said the commission denied the restaurant's request to incorporate the trees seven years ago because they were out of character with the landscaping in the center, as well as the character of the foothill community.
Planning Commission member Les Russell urged the council to grant In-N-Out Burger's appeal.
Russell said many plants that are accepted as native species are native to Northern California but not to the Placerville area.
But Planning Commission Chairman Michael Frenn argued that the sign with the big yellow arrow, not palm trees, is the symbol most people associate with In-N-Out Burger.
Mayor Pierre Rivas proposed allowing In-N-Out Burger to keep the palm trees but requiring the restaurant to plant several native trees to upgrade its landscaping and provide more of a foothill ambience.
Councilman Carl Hagen supported the recommendation, but the motion failed.
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Corporate Identity? What Identity?