Board hears updates on tree replacements at former Hastings site and UCSF Parnassus; staff to return with contracting timeline

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on May 7 heard an update from the Public Works Bureau of Urban Forestry (BUFF) on two previous appeal orders requiring tree replacement: the 198 McAllister (former Hastings College of the Law/UC Law) project and the UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus project.

BUFF Urban Forester Chris Buck told the board the replacement requirement for the Hastings/198 McAllister project has been completed. The replacement planting met the previously required 3-for-1 ratio using 36-inch-box trees along the property frontage and additional community plantings, Buck said. BUFF and the applicant acknowledged the planting timeline took longer than expected but that the obligation has been satisfied as of April 2025.

The board was told the UCSF Parnassus order remains partially open. UCSF has completed community planting work and neighborhood engagement but has not yet provided the funding for Public Works to contract installation of roughly 105 street trees required under that permit condition. Buck said the city remains within the department’s enforcement window but contracting has been slower than hoped. BUFF’s contracting team estimated 6–8 months from early May 2025 to execute the contract; once a contractor is on board the planting itself would take one to four months, Buck said. BUFF staff said some planting along the UCSF frontage will not occur until later phases of the campus project.

Why it matters: the UCSF requirement was imposed when the board granted an appeal with conditions in 2023; the mandated street-tree funding and plantings are part of city permit compliance and community expectations for replacement canopy. Commissioners pressed BUFF on where the 105 trees will be planted — particularly whether they will be allocated to historically low‑canopy neighborhoods such as Bayview — and on why contracting has lagged.

Commission discussion and next steps

Commissioners expressed frustration that contracting processes have delayed planting. Commissioner Swig characterized the problem as a systemic contracting bottleneck and asked the board to use its influence to accelerate the work. Vice President J.R. Epler asked BUFF to provide more detail on planned planting footprints; Buck said BUFF is coordinating with other city grants and community partners and is working to avoid duplicating already-funded plantings. Buck said BUFF uses GIS layers to select high-priority sites and he offered to provide the maps to the board’s executive director.

President Trezvino and other commissioners asked BUFF to return with a formal update. The board directed staff to agendize a follow-up report at the board’s next available meeting cycle (the board indicated preference for the first Wednesday meeting after Labor Day or an earlier three-month check‑in). The board requested: a written update 15 days before the return hearing, a clear timeline for obligating UCSF funds and executing a contract, the planned geographic footprint for the 105 trees (by neighborhood or map), and identification of any other city departments or commissions that must be present to resolve outstanding contracting steps. BUFF also committed to make direct contact with community member John Nolte to address the list of planting maintenance/installation issues he submitted.

What BUFF said about timing and scope

- Hastings/198 McAllister: replacement trees planted; previously required 3-to-1 ratio fulfilled with 36-inch box trees; BUFF and the applicant acknowledge timeline delays but reported completion in April 2025. - UCSF Parnassus: UCSF completed a community planting component and neighborhood coordination; the project still requires UCSF to transfer funds so the city can contract planting of approximately 105 street trees. BUFF said contracting was estimated at 6–8 months from early May 2025, with planting to follow in 1–4 months once a contract is in place; earlier briefings had estimated planting by early 2026 but BUFF now describes a realistic window of contracting into late 2025 and planting into 2026–2029 for some frontage elements depending on project sequencing.

Ending

BUFF staff said the department remains committed to completing the required plantings; commissioners asked BUFF to provide a written agenda packet for the follow‑up meeting that includes the contracting schedule, GIS footprint(s) for the 105 trees, and a simple accounting of outstanding deliverables and responsible departments.