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Board conditions tree-removal permit at Nob Hill site, orders larger replacement trees if feasible
Summary
The Board of Appeals granted an appeal of a tree-removal permit for 875 California Street but conditioned approval on planting larger replacement trees (36-inch box) where feasible, citing pedestrian safety, construction staging and urban forestry advice.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on May 17 granted an appeal challenging a Public Works tree-removal permit for 875 California Street, but conditioned the permit on replacement-tree sizing to preserve street canopy character on the historic Powell/California corridor.
Appellant Valentino Fazari, owner of the small historic house at 750 Powell (the “Dollhouse”), told the board he received defective notice and that the public-notice postings and permit language misidentified which trees would be removed. Fazari argued removal would “orphan” a companion tree that frames his home, reduce privacy and shade and harm the historic character of the streetscape.
Permit-holder Grosvenor (Senior VP Steve Buster) and San Francisco Public Works urban forester Chris Buck said the permit authorized removal of five street trees that the department found structurally poor and potentially prone to failure; Public Works proposed replacing five trees with seven new trees and argued removal was necessary to ensure pedestrian safety and allow construction logistics without disrupting cable-car service.
The board and urban forester discussed the proposed replacement size and species. Public Works and the permit holder said they would prefer larger planting boxes if utilities permit; Urban Forestry recommended a 36-inch box where feasible (noting 48-inch boxes are often impractical). President Honda’s motion to grant the appeal and condition the permit to require 36-inch box replacement trees unless SF Public Works determines it is not feasible passed 4–0 (Commissioner Rick Swig recused). The condition instructs Public Works to pursue larger replacement trees for Powell Street’s high-visibility corridor and to make reasonable efforts to locate replacements near the existing tree locations where utilities allow.
What happens next: Public Works will implement the board’s condition during permit clearance and coordinate final planting size and location with the permit holder; the permit remains approved subject to that condition.
