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Public Works reports tree-replacement progress for UC Hastings, UCSF Parnassus; 105 Parnassus street trees still pending contract
Summary
San Francisco Public Works reported to the Board of Appeals on May 7 that UC College of the Law (formerly Hastings) completed its required tree replacements, while UCSF Parnassus still must fund and contract for roughly 105 street trees promised under a prior board condition.
San Francisco Public Works’ Bureau of Urban Forestry told the Board of Appeals on May 7 that two previously appealed tree orders are substantially complete but that one outstanding payment and contracting step remains.
Chris Buck, urban forester for Public Works, said UC College of the Law (formerly Hastings College of the Law) completed the required replacement plantings at 198 McAllister — including 36‑inch‑box street trees — and that inspectors have closed that matter. “All those replacement trees were 36 inches box size trees,” Buck said. He added the applicant acknowledged the planting took longer than originally expected but worked with Urban Forestry to finish the work in April.
Buck also reported on the board’s earlier 2023 decision involving UCSF Parnassus. He said UCSF completed a community planting and neighborhood coordination about a year and a half ago and has been engaged with city agencies on a replacement plan that calls for about 105 street trees in the Parnassus frontage. Buck said the outstanding step is that UCSF has not yet provided funds so Public Works can solicit and execute a contract to plant approximately 105 street trees.
Asked for a timeline, Buck said his contracting group estimated “6 to 8 months from today to be in contract,” with planting thereafter likely to take one to four months. Buck said that realistic scheduling now puts full planting closer to early 2026; in questioning he clarified the department had earlier hoped for planting in spring 2026 but was advised by contracting it expected six to eight months to get a contract issued.
Commissioners and public commenters urged faster progress and clearer site selection. Vice President J. R. Epler pressed for detail on where the 105 trees will be planted; Buck said the trees will target “communities of greatest need” identified in the city’s urban forest plan and that staff are coordinating with other grants to avoid duplicating sites (for example Mission, Tenderloin, Bayview). Josh Klipp, who appealed a different UCSF matter previously, told the board he had pushed for UCSF to fund the trees and asked for more specificity and documentation on site selection and contracting steps.
Several commissioners asked the department to return with a firm status update. Buck said he will press the contracting team to prioritize the work and report back; Commissioner Singh requested an update in roughly three months and President Trezvino said the board would agendize another update so related agencies can appear if needed.
Ending: Public Works said UC College of the Law’s required plantings are complete and closed for the board’s purposes; UCSF’s community planting is done but the city awaits UCSF funding and a contracting step to install approximately 105 street trees, with staff estimating six to eight months to get a contract in place from the May 7 meeting date.
