Small, urban-tree recommendations

Hello all,

I'm writing to ask for comments on tree choices for a small community 30 miles south of San Francisco, about two miles from the southern edge of San Francisco Bay. This is Sunset Zone 17 (USDA 9) although due to the Bay's influence, we are more frost protected than many neighborhoods even a mile more inland than us. 

The setting is comprised of 45 single- and two-story homes built 22 years ago on fairly small lots, with winding private (narrow) streets.  Trees were planted as part of front-yard landscaping, and regulations state that trees are not to be removed, although they may be replaced with those on an approved list. Some of trees need replacing now due to overplanting, aging, or poor pruning.  We want to update the approved list, taking into account that we likely need to include those that are somewhat easily found in the trade. FYI, residents can ask for exceptions and we handle on a case-by-case basis. For example, I have a Leptospermum 'Dark Shadows' in my yard that is not on the list.

Most, but not all, trees are planted in lawn areas. The remainder are in landscaped beds that require less irrigation.  We want to encourage the use of trees that are slow growing or small in size due to closeness of the homes, small front yards, and narrow streets.  Every home has at least one tree, many have two, and corner houses have more.

Here are trees we are considering keeping or adding:
-- Japanese maples
-- Lagerstroemia (crape myrtle)
-- Pistacia chinensis (Chinese Pistachio)
-- Red-leaved flowering plum. We currently grow Prunus cerasifera 'Krauter Vesuvius.' People like it but it gets quite large here and we'd like to offer a smaller form (that has little to no fruit.) Would you recommend Prunus x cistena or another?
-- Geijera parviflora (Australian Willow)
-- Pyrus calleryana (Flowering pear) but replace 'Aristocrat' with 'Chanticleer' to get a narrower growth pattern
-- Pyrus kawakamii (Evergreen flowering pear)
Your opinions?

Two trees  on the original architectural drawing but never planted (likely due to availability and contractor substitution at the time) we'd like to consider are:
-- Cupaniopaia anacardioides (Carrotwood tree)
-- Tristaniopsis laurina (Water gum)
What are your experiences with these trees in the setting I'm describing?

We also have widely planted Sapium sebiferum (Chinese Tallow tree) that is now on many invasive lists. Given that we are in the middle of a dense urban area and nowhere near a riparian corridor, do you think we are OK to keep it on our approved list? (Sunset makes such a recommendation.)

We originally had Pittosporum undulatum (Victorian box) planted, but the 1990 severe frost killed all the young trees. Was that a one-time fluke or should we keep them off the list? As mentioned above, we are more protected from frost than other neighborhoods in zone 17.

Another question.  Some residents have asked for exceptions to grow small fruit trees. We want to encourage this and wonder if there are general guidelines we should add that will steer people to the most appropriate for our situation. Can you point me to any sources for positive guidelines as to growing fruit trees in front yards?

I would be most appreciative of any suggestions you may have either for substitutions or additions to our list. 

Best regards,
Carol Moholt
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