§ 15.52.010. Intent and findings.

This chapter is enacted in recognition of the following facts and for the following reasons:

A.

Among the features that contribute to the attractiveness and livability of the city are its trees, both native and introduced, and its views of the San Francisco Bay area, obtained from the variety of elevations found throughout the city.

B.

Trees, whether growing singly, in clusters, or in woodland situations, produce a wide variety of significant psychological and tangible benefits for both residents and visitors to the city. Trees contribute to the natural environment of the city by modifying temperatures and winds, replenishing oxygen to the atmosphere and water to the soil, controlling soil erosion, and providing wildlife habitat. Trees contribute to the visual environment of the city by providing scale, color, silhouette and mass, and by creating visual screens and buffers to separate land uses, and promote individual privacy. Trees contribute to the economic environment of the city by stabilizing property values and reducing the need for surface drainage systems. Trees contribute to the cultural environment of the city by becoming living landmarks of the city's history and providing a critical element of nature in the midst of urban congestion and settlement.

C.

Views, whether of the San Francisco Bay with its vistas of the city of San Francisco, the varied bridges of the Bay Area, numerous islands and ships, or of the Oakland hills with its vistas of trees and the hills themselves, also produce a variety of significant and tangible benefits for both residents and visitors to the city. Views contribute to the economic environment of the city by substantially enhancing property values. Views contribute to the visual environment of the city by providing inspiring panoramic vistas, and creating distinctive supplements to architectural design. Views contribute to the cultural environment of the city by providing a unifying effect, allowing individuals to relate different areas of the city to each other in space and time.

D.

It is recognized that trees and views, and the benefits derived from each, may come into conflict. Tree locations and species selections may produce both intended beneficial effects on the property where they are planted or occur as a result of natural regeneration as well as unintended deleterious effects on neighboring properties of equal or higher elevation. It is therefore in the interest of the public welfare, health and safety to establish standards for the resolution of view obstruction claims so as to provide a reasonable balance between tree and view related values for both private views and protected public views corridor.

(Ord. 12752 (part), 2006; Ord. 12622 (part), 2004; prior code § 7-8.01)