"Change is happening too quickly," said Keith Murphy, 44, who lives just behind the shopping center and grew up in the neighborhood.

"The planning commission is out of touch [with its residents]," said Boris Abramzon, who has lived in the city since 1989. In addition to the removal of the palm trees, Abramzon said he and his neighbors have also been bothered by constant cooking odors from the Elephant Bar restaurant.

However, Steve Piasecki, the city's director of community development and a longtime city employee, said the city is making a number of efforts to improve communications with its residents.

"We've taken to heart that we need to do a better job of getting the word out," he said, mentioning a new notification plan that will alert all city residents by mail of development projects.

Currently, the city sends notices to residents living within 500 feet of development projects, posts information on the city website and holds public hearings.

But this is no consolation for Murphy and his neighbors.

"I am sad and disappointed," said Alan Roth, a 23-year resident of Portal Plaza, of the palm tree removal.

"There wasn't enough public discussion," said Murphy.

For him, the palm trees—though unrecognized by the city historical society or its list of heritage trees—are a significant Cupertino landmark, a connection between the city's rural past and its suburban present. Some of the trees will be relocated and some will simply be removed, but none will remain. The original palm trees had been in place since the 1950s and, according to city records, were removed due to their deteriorating condition from drought and age. The city replaced them, but the loss of the trees is just one more sign of the city's haste to develop, Murphy said, without care for the past.

Piasecki disagrees, pointing to the long row of historic palm trees lining Palm Avenue as one example of the city's preservation of its past.

"We've done a fairly good job of recognizing the past," he said.