Board delays decision on Saint Francis Square tree removals after contested hearing, orders refreshed briefs and re-noticing

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Sept. 6 continued a contested appeal over a Public Works order permitting the removal of 10 significant poplar trees on private property at Saint Francis Square, and one adjacent street tree (order no. 208224). The board voted 5–0 to set a new hearing date of Sept. 27, 2023, and required refreshed written briefs from the appellant, the determination holder (Saint Francis Square Cooperative) and the Bureau of Urban Forestry (BUFF) by Sept. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Appellant Donna (D.) Bowler urged the board to preserve the mature poplars lining Ellis Street, citing health, habitat and neighborhood history. "Besides their beauty ... the trees provide healthy air, they serve as a windbreak, as a refuge for many different kinds of birds," Bowler said, and asked that residents be surveyed about whether the trees should be removed. Bowler contended the trees are a longstanding feature of the square and argued for selective treatment rather than wholesale…