San Francisco Board of Appeals denies rehearing request to stop planned Main Library ficus removals

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Dec. 8 denied a rehearing request from Casey Asbury that sought to reverse the board's Nov. 10 decision authorizing removal and replacement of ficus trees at the Main Library, 100 Larkin Street.

Asbury, who identified herself as a longtime Tenderloin resident and environmental and cultural worker, urged the board to pause all removals so the Library Grove Management Plan and a community-driven conservation plan could be reconsidered. She said the management plan and prior decisions had not been given full consideration at the earlier hearing and pointed to state legislation on climate resilience to argue the city should reassess tree removals.

Chris Buck, urban forester for San Francisco Public Works, told commissioners the bureau reviewed the rehearing request and recommended denial. Buck said the public-works order (205,288, issued Aug. 9, 2021) responded to an on-site root-crown failure and that the draft management plan referenced by appellants had been in the hearing record at the Nov. 10 session. "No new information has been provided in the rehearing request," Buck said, adding the bureau believed the prior hearing provided ample public comment and staff questioning.

Scores of community members spoken during public comment urged a rehearing, characterizing the removals as a loss for the Tenderloin and calling for more robust maintenance and a community-led restoration plan. Speakers described long volunteer efforts to produce a greening plan and said the neighborhood has a low urban-canopy share.

Commissioners discussed the narrow legal standard for rehearing'new information or manifest injustice'and concluded the appellant had not met it. Commissioner Anne Lazarus moved to deny the rehearing request; the motion carried 4-0. President Daryl Honda noted the decision did not preclude additional community engagement, but said the record before the board did not contain the threshold showing required for a rehearing.

The bureau's order and related documents remain on the public record; Public Works said removals and replacements will proceed in accordance with the board's earlier direction and applicable safety findings.