ATTACHMENT 6: Letter of Assurance - 14/14A Helmcken Road & 6 Camden Avenue

14/14A HELMCKEN ROAD & 6 CAMDEN AVENUE—VIEW ROYAL, BC

LETTER OF ASSURANCE

PREPARED FOR: Merdyn Group of Companies 4038 Prospect Lake Road Victoria, BC V9E 1H7

PREPARED BY: Talmack Urban Forestry Consultants Ltd. Robert McRae – Consulting Arborist ISA Certified # PN-7125A Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Tree Appraisal Qualified

DATE OF ISSUANCE: December 1, 2023

1. LETTER OF ASSURANCE

Talmack Urban Forestry Consultants Ltd. was asked to provide a letter of assurance for works within and adjacent to critical root zones at the following development:

Pursuant to the Town of View Royal Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1069 requirements, the client has retained Talmack Urban Forestry Consultants Ltd. as project arborist. The client must ensure our attendance prior to and during construction works to: review the scope of work, determine potential tree impacts, delineate the tree protection zones, designate truck loading areas and provide onsite direction to ensure that tree and root protection can be achieved to municipal and project arborist satisfaction. Project arborist attendance on site is required for the following construction-related events within the critical root zones (CRZs) of bylaw-protected trees (as identified in the September 15 (2023) construction impact assessment and tree management plan report:

• All excavations or addition of fill within the CRZs of trees to be retained. This is of particular importance concerning Garry Oaks M2 & M4, as the intent is to preserve these trees, if possible, using alternative construction techniques. See Section 8.1.1. of our September 15 (2023) CIA/TMP report for impact mitigation recommendations.
• To delineate machine access corridors (during demolition & construction).
• To document any tree impacts.
• To perform or direct any tree pruning.
• Inspection of replacement trees, if required.
• Any other requirements as per the September 15, 2023 construction impact assessment and tree management report.

A post construction report is required after completion of all construction (distributed to the City and owner/applicant). By signing below, the general contractor and owner(s) agree that they:

• Have read and understand the standard Talmack Urban Forestry Consultants Ltd. Tree Protection Guidelines (see below).
• Will ensure that Talmack Urban Forestry Consultants Ltd. is contacted with a minimum of 24 hours advanced notice to arrange onsite attendance by the project arborist.
• Will comply with the project arborist directed and supervised work in accordance with arboricultural best management practices and using low impact methods as directed.

2. SIGNATURES

Robert McRae Consulting Arborist Phone: 778-966-8733 Email: Robbie@Talmack.ca Signed on this 1st day of December, 2023:

HFT Ventures Ltd. Wayne Hopkins, Director Phone: 250-812-0554 Email: wayne@merdyngroup.com Signed on this 1st day of Dec, 2023:

3. TREE PROTECTION GUIDELINES

Arborist supervision: All excavation occurring within the critical root zones of protected trees should be completed under supervision by the project arborist. Any severed or severely damaged roots must be pruned back to sound tissue to reduce wound surface area and encourage rapid compartmentalization of the wound.

Material storage: Areas must be designated for material storage and staging during the construction process. Ideally these areas will be located outside of the tree protection areas that will be isolated by barrier fencing. Should it be necessary to store material temporarily within any of the tree protection areas, the project arborist must be consulted.

Mulch layer or plywood over heavy traffic areas: Should it be necessary to access tree protection areas during the construction phase of the project, and heavy foot traffic or vehicular encroachment is required, we recommend that a layer of wood chip horticultural much or plywood be installed to reduce compaction. The project arborist must be consulted prior to removing or moving the protection barrier for this purpose.

Pruning: We recommend that any pruning of bylaw-protected trees to be retained be conducted to ANSI A300 Standards and ISA Best Management Practices.

Stump removal: We recommend that, if stumps require removal, they are removed under arborist supervision or ground using a stump grinder to avoid disturbing root systems of trees in close proximity to retained trees in plan.

Demolition of the Existing Buildings: The demolition of the existing houses, driveways, and any services that must be removed or abandoned, must take the critical root zone of the trees to be retained into account. If any excavation or machine access is required within the critical root zones of trees to be retained, it must be completed under the supervision and direction of the project arborist. If temporarily removed for demolition, barrier fencing must be erected immediately after the supervised demolition.

Washout area: It may be necessary to designate any area on the property for washing out cement and masonry tools and equipment. This area should be located away from the critical root zones of any trees to be retained.

Paved areas over critical root zones of trees to be retained: Where paved areas cannot avoid encroachment within critical root zones of trees to be retained, construction techniques, such as floating permeable paving, may be required. (specifications can be provided by the project arborist, in consultation with the design consultant).

Tree Protection Barrier: The areas, surrounding the trees to be retained, should be isolated from the construction activity by erecting protective barrier fencing. Where possible, the fencing should be erected at the perimeter of the critical root zones. The barrier fencing to be erected must be a minimum of 4 feet in height, of solid frame construction that is attached to wooden or metal posts. A solid board or rail must run between the posts at the top and the bottom of the fencing. This solid frame can then be covered with flexible snow fencing. The fencing must be erected prior to the start of any construction activity on site (i.e. demolition, excavation, construction), and remain in place through completion of the project. Signs should be posted around the protection zone to declare it off limits to all construction related activity. The project arborist must be consulted before this fencing is removed or moved for any purpose.

Landscaping: Any proposed landscaping within the critical root zones of trees to be retained must be reviewed with the project arborist.