Thanks! The slow growth of the Podocarpus has me a bit concerned, I'm semi-retired, an empty nester, and home a lot and don't want to wait for the long term screening affect ;). Here is our existing front landscape in context.

Here is the skinny trunked, 9ft. tall Arbutus. Can I work with it? Would rather not take it out if I didn't have to...

definitely, the arbutus is workable .
About 5 years ago I planted 4 in a row to create a screen between two ocean side homes and they have performed very satisfactory.

It is one of my favorite trees for California. They make a beautiful screen.

Do you remember about how far apart those Arbutus are planted?
They look like the multi trunk type, perhaps I would need the single trunk type for a more slender, upright, and not so sprawling look?

Arbutus are great - they can grow very tall eventually - 3 stories is the largest i've seen. You might also want to check out Myrica Californica (super fast growing native - it grows like a weed in my yard - i keep it untrimmed in my yard but you can make a hedge out of it). My neighbors have a Myrica hedge that's about 2 stories tall and it's angular/flat because they trim it. How about European Hornbeam, columnar - will grow straight and tall and you can make a hedge out of them by bunching them together. There are other Hornbeam varieties that aren't so column-like...And finally, this is a totally crazy idea, not sure where in California you are but how about a redwood hedge? Nothing grows faster but it would require maintenance (topping trees, cutting or otherwise containing roots) - but my neighbor installed one and so far so good...it would eventually (probably quickly) block your neighbor's view out of their 2nd story windows...there's a you tube video describing how to create and maintain one.

Thanks modern for the additional ideas. The fast growing aspect of the Myrica is tempting, I will look into them. The Hornbeam however, is not suitable for my beach location according to the Sunset guide. I really don't want to block the neighbors view of the ocean above our house, which I'm sure is a main reason for them building so tall! I would like to stay neighborly, and just screen or soften the new wall, which if 6ft. on their property, will appear 8ft. tall from our side. I will wait until all the wall/fence is complete before making a final decision, so quick growing is a plus...

I suggest the tallest Nandina you can buy. In my experience they are fast growers even though sites call them "slow growing"

That Nandina looks interesting too, but maybe a bit bushy? I guess I should nave added that my planting strip is a little less than three feet wide, so I need to keep whatever I end up with from bulging too far into our driveway for clearance from our cars...

What did you end up planting? I’m interested in planting some Australian willows too, but they don’t seem to be used very often.