Fact Check Green Benefit Districts, Street Trees and Sidewalk Greening
Building developers would benefit from a GBD because they are obligated to plant Street Trees with new buildings or additions.
The below is from a Q&A section of the proposed Inner Sunset GBD. https://www.innersunsetgbd.org/faqs/ There is a good chance the language may change in future proposed GBDs.
What can a GBD do for sidewalk greening that the City doesn't already provide?
The City does not install sidewalk greening except in new streetscape projects funded by voter-approved bonds.
This is probably true. Most of the funding from the city’s general fund for street trees goes to maintenance.
The City does not fund new street trees, except when replacing an existing City street tree.
The city does fund new street trees and does replace existing City street trees. The funding comes from the general funds and bonds both of which the City and residents must pay.
The City is responsible for planting street trees and sidewalk greening along commercial corridors and major traffic routes in San Francisco.
From ARTICLE 16: URBAN FORESTRY ORDINANCE:
SEC. 806. PLANTING AND REMOVAL OF STREET TREES.
(a) Planting and Removal by the Department.
and
(1) Planting. The Department may determine to plant a new climate appropriate Tree(s) in a Sidewalk or public right-of-way.
SEC. 807. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM; POWERS AND DUTIES.
(a) Departmental Planting Program. The Department shall continue its program of appropriate street tree planting along major traffic routes and commercial streets throughout the City.
(b) Neighborhood Planting Program. The Department shall continue to encourage and support neighborhood planting programs. Support may include, but need not be limited to, provision of trees and materials, sidewalk cutting and removal, planting labor, technical advice, and organizational assistance. The Department is hereby authorized to donate such funds, materials, and labor to neighborhood planting programs as are deemed by the Director to be in the public interest and in the interest of the promotion of the urban forest.
(b) Neighborhood Planting Program. The Department shall continue to encourage and support neighborhood planting programs. Support may include, but need not be limited to, provision of trees and materials, sidewalk cutting and removal, planting labor, technical advice, and organizational assistance. The Department is hereby authorized to donate such funds, materials, and labor to neighborhood planting programs as are deemed by the Director to be in the public interest and in the interest of the promotion of the urban forest.
Installation and funding of sidewalk greening in San Francisco is initiated by and the responsibility of individual property owners.
This responsibility is voluntary. There is no obligation for property owners to plant a street tree. Once you do voluntarily agree to plant a street tree, a property owner does have responsibility for three years to grow and maintain that street tree. You can get more information here: Voluntarily Plant a Street Tree. What a Property Owner Should Understand from the SF Urban Forest Ordinance, Article 16. Property owners can also plant gardens and bushes without a permit as long as there is no tree that goes over a maximum of 10 feet at maturity.
https://sfpublicworks.org/services/plant-lists-and-plant-pallets
https://www.sfpublicworks.org/services/recommended-street-tree-and-plant-list
The above sentence should say “Installation and funding of sidewalk greening in San Francisco residential areas are initiated by and the responsibility of individual property owners.”
Established street trees are pruned by the City only every 3 to 5 years.
True and a good rate for street tree pruning. The City is responsible for established street tree maintenance. It would be irresponsible of the City not to prune street trees at an adequate rate.
San Francisco Public Works and the Public Utilities Commission does incentivize privately-led sidewalk greening efforts by providing some technical assistance and limited financial support. Non-profit organizations and individual property owners can secure discounted permits and grants to help fund the installation of new sidewalk gardens and street trees, with property owner consent. However, maintenance, watering, and general care of these sidewalk gardens is the responsibility of the fronting property owner.
Specifically, a GBD can provide the following services not provided by the City:
Specifically, a GBD can provide the following services not provided by the City:
• Coordinate with property owners to partially or fully fund the installation of new street trees, sidewalk greening, and associated materials on a district-wide scale
• Fund sidewalk greening permit costs (typically $205 to $276 per application, pending number of participating properties)
• Water new street trees until they become established and accepted by the City for maintenance (3+ years)
• Organize volunteers, provide informational resources, species selection, and design guidance
• Secure additional grants and donations to leverage local resources
• Identify and fund new neighborhood greening on existing City projects that lacked funding or foresight to install new greening opportunities
• Fund sidewalk greening permit costs (typically $205 to $276 per application, pending number of participating properties)
• Water new street trees until they become established and accepted by the City for maintenance (3+ years)
• Organize volunteers, provide informational resources, species selection, and design guidance
• Secure additional grants and donations to leverage local resources
• Identify and fund new neighborhood greening on existing City projects that lacked funding or foresight to install new greening opportunities
Except for the last 2 items, much of this can already be done with Friends of the Urban Forest or individuals and information can be found on the Department of Public Works website. A permit to voluntarily plant a street tree can be done online with the Department of Public Works.