I don't know of a maple that is not deciduous and would fulfill your narrowness/height requirements. Liquidambar has maple-like leaves and has many cultivars, some of which are quite narrow and one of which is quite short ("Gumball") but wide. But they are dedicuous. You might want to do a little research on this species.

RB

Maples are mostly deciduous trees. Japanese Maples are gorgeous small trees and would do well for you in foggy 17. The leaf drop in fall is worth the beauty the rest of the year, and they are beautiful bare as well. Also an ever green tree is going to make a dark spot in winter in a gloomy winter climate. Deciduous trees let the light through in winter.

If you really want an evergreen maple, look at Acer oblongum.

Here is a link that might be useful: A. oblongum

I have narrowed it down to some I found on a site. I am also posting this in the maple forum. I have heard fall colors are rare in mild climates. Any experience on that? Are these authentic names, or varieties created by this specific grower? Do the uprights I have listed spread wide, prunable?

Any experience with these in California?

ACER japonicum Vitifolium
ACER palmatum Beni kawa; is this tree upright?
ACER palmatum Katsura; looks a bit bushy in pictures. Easy to prune?
ACER palmatum Ki hachijo; is it a canopy tree?
ACER palmatum Osakazuki
ACER palmatum Sango kaku
ACER palmatum Seiryu
Acer palmatum Summer Gold
ACER shirasawanum Autumn Moon
Acer Shirasawanum Moonrise

I have Acer palmatum 'hogyoku' and Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg' growing in a pretty brutal environment with full sun, south exposure, and directly adjacent to a concrete patio, which heats up tremendously on hot days and has a huge amount of reflected heat.

I wouldn't say they're completely unscathed (a little leaf burn), but it's not enough to slow their vigorous new growth or give them ill health.

(Japanese maples vary immensely in their sun tolerance).

Must you have a Japanese maple or are others welcome? I live and grow in the same zone and have been very pleased with the show put on by my Acer rubrum. It is colorful when leafing out in the Spring and puts on a real show of tequila sunrise type colors in Fall. In fact, the Fall color often starts on one part of the tree while it is still leafing out. It is not in leaf for as long as the Japanese maples, though.

I might also suggest some of the lesser known (apparently, but I sure know them!) maples such as the vine maple, Amur maple, and paperbark maple. These are of smaller stature than the Red Maple if size is an issue for you.

I got a Acer Palmatum Ozakazuki from Mendocino maples. It has been in the ground for a few weeks now and is very hearty. Just three leaves dropped. I did everything I have learned by reading, organic soil, regular watering at dusk, mulching, shallow but wide hole. I am very happy with my choice and feel like it will do great.

Thanks for the other suggestions