Board denies jurisdiction request over 730 Pine Street tree removal, finds notifications proper

The San Francisco Board of Appeals denied a jurisdiction request regarding tree removal at 730 Pine Street on Sept. 28, 2022, voting 4–0 that the city did not cause a late filing and that Department of Public Works followed its procedures.

Staff introduced Jurisdiction Request 22-6 (Public Works Order No. 206780). Board staff reported the requester Ryan Carroll declined to attend after the tree had already been removed and the requester judged the matter moot. The permit holder and owner, William (Bill) Gerhardt, addressed the board and said he followed the process, paid required fees, observed hearing notices posted, and had the removed tree replaced and a new tree planted.

Chris Buck of San Francisco Public Works, Bureau of Urban Forestry, told the board staff found no error in notification and that the department posts notices on trees and on all four corners of the block. “We reviewed the request for jurisdiction very closely, and we don't believe that it meets the rather high threshold that the commission has set,” Buck said. He described the staff review and said only one of two trees in the original application was approved for removal after arborist evaluation and utility constraints prevented replanting of the other.

Buck also described replacement-tree care and responsibilities: in this case the property owner committed to water the new street tree for three years, an establishment period Public Works said is often necessary for young trees to survive and provide canopy benefits in the long term.

Commissioner Transvenia moved to deny the jurisdiction request on the basis that the city or department did not intentionally or inadvertently cause a late filing; the board voted 4–0 to deny the request and the item concluded.