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Board approves Mercy Housing tree removal with replacement and irrigation conditions
Summary
The Board of Appeals approved Mercy Housing California's request to remove four red maples at 833 Bryant Street for modular construction of a 145‑unit affordable supportive housing project, contingent on planting seven 36‑inch box Little Gem magnolias, installation of irrigation and a three‑year establishment period, and an exploration of transplanting the existing trees.
Mercy Housing California won board approval on May 13 to remove four red maple street trees on Bryant Street to accommodate modular setting, staging and permitted building overhangs for a 145‑unit permanently supportive housing project — but the board approved the removal only after the agency and Bureau of Urban Forestry (BUF) negotiated conditions.
Fiona Ruddy, project manager for Mercy Housing, told commissioners the modular construction and crane/staging plan would place the crane and module setting area on Bryant Street, and that the trees would not survive the necessary staging and canopy/canopy‑clearance requirements even with pruning and protection. Mercy Housing proposed a streetscape concession: removal of the four red maples in exchange for seven 36‑inch‑box Little Gem magnolias, additional planting along side streets, and irrigation for establishment.
Chris Buck of the Bureau of Urban Forestry acknowledged the trees are in fair to good condition and said BUF prefers to retain street trees. But he described structural and right‑of‑way constraints created by the building's approved bay windows and by the modular construction staging that make retaining mature large‑stature maples impractical at the Bryant frontage. After negotiation BUF supported a settlement requiring larger‑box replacement planting (36" boxes), installation of irrigation for a minimum three‑year establishment period and additional planting on side streets. BUF also agreed to investigate whether relocating the four existing trees would be feasible and — if feasible — to require the applicant to perform the transplanting.
Vice President Honda moved to grant the appeal conditioned on the replacement and irrigation requirements and on BUF exploring relocation feasibility; the motion carried by voice vote and commissioners recorded their approval.
What happens next: Mercy Housing will be required to install the seven 36" box Little Gem magnolias with irrigation and maintain them for at least three years; BUF will explore transplant feasibility and, if feasible, Mercy Housing will be responsible for the transplant. Staff noted in‑lieu fees and additional tree planting on adjacent frontages as part of project mitigation.
