Board allows removal of Deodar cedar at Congo Street, requires 24‑inch replacement

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on May 5 authorized removal of a significant Deodar cedar at 603–607 Congo Street after reviewing testimony from the property owner and the Bureau of Urban Forestry. The board required the owner to plant a 24‑inch‑box replacement tree within six months, with species to be determined by the bureau in consultation with the appellant.

Appellant Renee Yates told commissioners the tree was old, had caused sidewalk and pathway damage and presented a growing maintenance burden. She and other residents presented photos and an arborist's assessment stating the tree had many dead trunks and a concerning structure.

Chris Buck of San Francisco Public Works, Bureau of Urban Forestry, said the bureau had determined the tree remains "sustainable" and did not present an immediate public‑safety hazard, noting some dead sections and previous topping but concluding the tree was recovering. "The bureau believes the tree is still sustainable and not a not a failure potential right now," Buck said.

Commissioners weighed the bureau's conservation goal against property damage and potential limb‑failure risk. Citing the appellant's descriptions of ongoing property damage and the potential for dangerous limb failure, President Darrell Honda moved to grant the appeal allowing removal, conditioned on replanting a 24‑inch‑box tree selected in consultation with the bureau. The motion carried 4–0.

Per the board order, the Bureau of Urban Forestry will work with the property owner and appellant on species selection and require replanting within the prescribed timeframe.