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San Francisco staff detail how landmark-tree nominations and protections work
Summary
The commission heard an Urban Forestry Council presentation explaining how trees are nominated, evaluated and temporarily protected while moving toward Board of Supervisors ordinance, and a Landmark Tree Committee chair offered procedural collaboration. Commissioners asked about notification, coordination and expertise on species identification.
The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission received an informational briefing Aug. 19 on the city's Landmark Tree Program from Urban Forestry Council coordinator Mei Ling Hui.
"I'm here today to talk to you about the city's Landmark Tree Program," Hui said, and outlined a case-by-case system that, she said, "seeks to preserve and protect trees that have a significant value or impact for the city." She described five criteria used to evaluate nominations, including rarity, physical attributes, environmental benefits, historic associations and neighborhood appreciation.
Under the process Hui described, nominations may come from property owners, department heads or by resolution from the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission or this commission. Nominations initiated by a city department director or by a supervisor trigger protections during the evaluation; if a council supports a nomination, staff forward a packet and resolution to the Board of Supervisors, which enacts landmark status through an ordinance.
Rose Hilson, who identified herself as owner of a rare manzanita and chair of the Landmark Tree Committee, told commissioners that the Urban Forestry Council and its committee operate under DPW code and cited "section 8 10" as the code provision that codified the Landmark Tree process. Hilson said the Landmark Tree Committee is already reviewing procedural issues and offered to share recommendations with the Historic Preservation Commission.
Commissioners focused questions on practical coordination: how notification is sent to public works and planning, whether this commission could be added to the notice list, and how nomination forms should treat species identification. Hui and department staff said the Urban Forestry Council performs species verification as part of the evaluation and that nomination forms may be incomplete when submitted by members of the public.
Hui also said the Council holds public hearings at both a Landmark Tree Committee level and at the full Urban Forestry Council before forwarding supportive recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. She directed those interested in nominating trees to the department's online resources: sfenvironment.org/landmarktree.
The presentation ended with a public comment from Hilson and commissioners asking staff to improve coordination and return with options for notification and collaboration. A commissioner indicated they plan to submit a nomination in the near term.
