Ordinance 251211 San Francisco is advancing legislation (Board File 251211)  that will severely damage our urban forest. Quick summary:
Allow developers to pay a $2,590 fee instead of planting a street tree. This is a clear gift to the real estate industry. Developers will take the path of least resistance and simply write a check, leaving new development sidewalks bare.
The City claims these fees will fund tree planting in "low-canopy areas." The actual text of the legislation contains no such requirement. The money goes into a general fund. We know Public Works fails to manage these funds. In 2023, they collected $242,000 from UCSF to plant 105 replacement trees. Three years later, those trees remain unplanted.
The legislation also creates massive loopholes for tree removals. It limits your ability to appeal tree removals, and eliminates entirely your right to appeal the removal of "hazardous" trees. Actual hazards should be removed, of course, but without a strict definition of "hazard", Public Works can label any tree that inconveniences a developer as a hazard and fast-track its destruction with zero public oversight.
We need your help to stop this. You have two ways to take action today:
Option 1: Send an email to the Planning Commission, the Land Use Committee, and the Urban Forestry Council. Please send add your own voice, mention your neighborhood, or share why trees matter to you. Authentic messages from have the biggest impact.
Option 2: Attend the Planning Commission Meeting Show up in person to deliver public comment and demand accountability. Date: Thursday, March 12 Location: City Hall, Room 400 Agenda: We are Item 9.

 Note:  Land Use Committee will update you for that meeting.
Thank you for holding the City accountable.  More in the works, as always, for a greener, fairer, more beautiful SF