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Board sides with Urban Forestry, denies request to remove three street trees at 640 Turk St.
Summary
After disputed testimony about sewer damage and repair costs, the Board of Appeals upheld the Department of Public Works’ denial of a permit to remove three Ficus street trees at 640 Turk Street, voting 5–0 to deny the appeal.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on June 13 denied an appeal by Gonya Properties seeking removal of three street trees at 640 Turk Street, agreeing with Department of Public Works urban forestry staff that the trees can be retained and sewer/sidewalk repair should be prioritized.
Carla Short of the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Urban Forestry testified the cypress/ficus trees were healthy and that root pruning and basin expansion could address sidewalk and sewer issues; she warned that removing the trees without repairing the sewer could be temporary because replacement trees could invade any damaged sewer conduit.
Daniel Piccinini, representing Gonya Properties, said tree roots are “encroaching into the sewer line and causing substantial problems,” and estimated frequent sewer snaking over recent years (he cited about 30 instances). He told the board the owner’s estimate to replace the sewer and sidewalk could be as high as $40,000, while other written estimates referenced in briefs put the cost much lower (about $15,500), a discrepancy commissioners noted.
Chief Building Inspector Lawrence Cornfield explained that the private sewer line connecting a building to the city main is the property owner’s responsibility, and that the city would not ordinarily pay for private sewer repairs unless there was a documented public-health violation.
After hearing testimony, the board voted 5–0 to uphold the Department of Public Works’ denial of the tree-removal permit and deny the appeal. Commissioners said DPW should reassess if the sidewalk is opened and the roots are exposed during sewer work, and urged cooperation between property owners and the department on a repair plan.
