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Board sides with neighborhood arborists, permits replacement of two median trees on Miramar Avenue
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Appeals overruled DPW Urban Forestry and granted Westwood Park Association a permit to remove two Italian stone pines in Miramar Avenue medians, concluding the trees have reached maturity and present heightened risk; DPW must work with the neighborhood on replacement species and 24-inch‑box replantings.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Sept. 10 overruled the Department of Public Works’ denial of a tree removal permit and granted the Westwood Park Association permission to remove two Italian stone pines in the medians of Miramar Avenue, citing expert testimony and neighborhood safety concerns.
Appellant Anita Theoharis told the board the association has privately maintained the median trees for years and presented two arborists’ opinions that the trees’ codominant stems and heavy end-weight make them high‑risk for catastrophic limb or whole‑tree failure. Neighborhood arborist Nicholas Crawford described the trees as mature, with foliage concentrated at the tips and codominant stems that create included bark and unstable attachment points. Crawford said routine pruning and cabling have been exhausted and that replacement is now the prudent choice.
Chris Buck of DPW’s Bureau of Urban Forestry told the board staff had denied removal because the trees lacked the internal decay or canopy defects that typically justify approval. Buck acknowledged the species is prone to large limb failure and said DPW favors retention when vigor is good, noting the long time it can take for a canopy to recover after removal.
Several adjacent residents testified they have observed prior limb failures and said the trees endanger houses, cars and utility poles. Board members asked about tree ages, typical lifespans and replacement options; witnesses said the subject pines are roughly 60–70 years old and that Westwood Park has successfully replanted other medians with 24‑inch‑box trees and, in some cases, 36‑inch boxes.
After deliberation the board voted to overrule DPW’s denial and grant the permit with conditions: two 1‑for‑1 replacements in 24‑inch boxes, species to be determined by DPW in consultation with the neighborhood. The motion cited that the trees had reached normal lifespan and that replacement was warranted on safety grounds. The vote was unanimous among the four sitting commissioners.
The permit includes the condition that DPW and the neighborhood coordinate on species selection and planting details; the board noted that removal of mature trees will take decades to restore canopy continuity.
The Board of Appeals’ decision is final for the hearing; any further administrative appeals or permit details will be processed by DPW.
