Sidewalk Landscaping Permits
In addition to our Friends of the Urban Forest tree planting, here's a way to get even more greenery into the sidewalk in front of your property...
This came up on the SFGov.org site this morning,
The Department of Public Works - Bureau of Urban Forestry is now accepting permits for sidewalk landscaping. In addition to planting trees, this permit allows property owners to convert a portion of the sidewalk in front of their property into an attractive landscaped area. It looks great, provides habitat, reduces flooding, and is good for property values!
To apply for a sidewalk landscaping permit, review the instructions and fill out the application [on the SFGov site]. DPW staff will be happy to assist you.
See photos of some example projects on the PlantSF site here.
How-To Install Permeable Landscaping [PlantSF]
New fee duns residents for railings, greenery [SFHomeBlog]
posted by Matt Lanning @ 7:42 AM
6 Comments:
Thanks for the tip. Do you know if there will be an "encroachment fee" like the one you linked to in your other blog?
I already paid over $100 for a small red blob of paint on my curb to try and prevent people from blocking my driveway (not always effective!). Now they want over $200 for possible permission to make my sidewalk pretty? How screwed up is that. The cost and hassle of the application and the plethora of rules will discourage more than encourage. Streamline and standardize the rules and reduce the fee and many more might do it. Talk about counter-intuitive...
I think it does make sense to help cover the cost of digging up the sidewalk. There are also underground services to deal with. It may not be the most effective way, but it is a step in the right direction.
Actually you made a great point - one which I didn't even think about. If an application (reduced fee in the future hopefully :>) is approved - the city should "gladly" pay for a crew to cut and remove the concrete to avoid utility issues and provide uniform size and location of the plots. Then I'd be happy to pay for plants and landscaping. That would be a great partnership and provide some uniformity in this process. And we know there are crews available (I see them around the city in their trucks all the time!).
This sounds like a great program...
If I may wax cynical for a minute though..."provide habitat"? Really? For what?
On the downside mice or rats and a place for dogs to do their business... On the plus side insects and seeds for birds to feed on... flowers for bees and butterflys :>)
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