Board upholds denial of tree-removal permit at 2251 Eighteenth Avenue

The San Francisco Board of Appeals upheld the Department of Public Works’ decision denying a permit to remove a mature Arbutus marina at 2251 Eighteenth Avenue, voting 5–0 to deny the appeal.

Carla Short of the Bureau of Urban Forestry told the board the tree is unusually large and healthy and that expanding the tree basin by two feet into the public right-of-way would accommodate roots while leaving the property owner seven feet for gardening. "This is a pretty straightforward case," Short said, arguing the tree adds value to the block and that replacement trees required by the department would be difficult to match the specimen’s size.

Rebecca Tong, representing the out‑of‑state owner, said neighbors and tenants complain about fruit drop and insects and raised concerns about proximity to a gas meter; she said the owner would consider replacing the tree with a smaller species. Neighbors and tenants testified that fruit and buckled pavement create slipping hazards for seniors, children and wheelchair users. Short responded that the gas line is measured from the tree center and is about 4.5 feet away — beyond the department’s concern level — and that pruning and a fruit‑reduction treatment are possible mitigations but would be limited by industry pruning standards.

Commissioners weighed public‑safety and accessibility needs against the tree’s public value. Commissioner Robert Holland moved to uphold the department’s denial. The motion carried 5–0.

The board’s action leaves the department’s decision in place; the property owner retains any administrative avenues allowed under the conditions of the denial and may pursue required maintenance or replanting options consistent with DPW rules.