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Board presses Public Works, upholds prior decisions after contested tree removals
Summary
After weeks of public outcry over tree removals, the Board of Appeals pressed Public Works and the Bureau of Urban Forestry for procedural reforms and oversight while denying a rehearing request tied to a contested removal at 1501 Quint Street; the board stopped short of issuing new penalties and urged stronger interagency checklists and tracking of replacement plantings.
President Anne Lazarus and the San Francisco Board of Appeals spent the longest portion of their July 9 meeting focused on disputes over street-tree removals and how Public Works coordinates with the Bureau of Urban Forestry.
The session opened with a recorded public comment from disability advocate Zach Karnazes, who said crews had removed trees prematurely during earlier appeals and urged the board to prevent further “illegal” removals. Public Works and Urban Forestry officials acknowledged errors in a prior permit case and described changes in process but asked the board to deny additional rehearing requests.
Why it matters: Commissioners and residents said the controversy has eroded public trust. The city’s urban canopy is finite and specialists and neighbors warned that rushed or poorly communicated removals risk long-term loss of tree cover and community outrage.
Public Works’ response and staff reforms Public Works project manager Trent Tiger and Urban Forester Chris Buck said the department has tightened internal procedures…
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