Construction Impact Assessment & Tree Management Plan

PREPARED FOR: Parsi Development Ltd. 934 Kentwood Terrace Victoria, BC V8Y 1A4

PREPARED BY: Talmack Urban Forestry Consultants Ltd. Noah Talbot – Consulting Arborist ISA Certified # PN-6822A Tree Risk Assessment Qualified

DATE OF ORIGINAL REPORT ISSUANCE: October 29, 2021 LAST UPDATED: June 7, 2023

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION
2. TREE INVENTORY METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. TREE INVENTORY DEFINITIONS
5. SITE INFORMATION & PROJECT UNDERSTANDING
6. FIELD OBSERVATIONS
7. CONSTRUCTION IMPACT ASSESSMENT 7.1. Retention and Removal of Municipal Trees 7.2. Retention and removal of onsite trees 7.3. Retention and removal of private offsite trees 7.4. Tree replacement
8. IMPACT MITIGATION
9. DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
10. IN CLOSING
11. REFERENCES

TABLES Table 1. Tree Inventory

APPENDICES Appendix A Tree Management Plan (T1) Appendix B Hard Surface Above Tree Roots Detail Appendix C Site Photographs Appendix D Landscape concept plan and viewing platform detail (typical section)

REVISION RECORD

1. INTRODUCTION

Talmack Urban Forestry Consultants Ltd. was asked to complete a tree inventory, subdivision impact assessment and management plan for the trees at the following proposed project:

Site: 10 Erskine Lane Municipality: View Royal Client Name: Parsi Development Ltd. Dates of Site Visit: October 21, 2021 Site Conditions: 1 urban lot interfacing with the Galloping Goose trail. 2 existing residences on the lot, no ongoing construction activity

The purpose of this report is to address the tree inventory and arborist report requirements of the Town of View Royal Bylaw No. 695. The construction impact assessment section of this report (section 8), is based on plans reviewed to date, including the architectural site, floor and elevation plans (prepared by Parsi Development Ltd.), preliminary servicing plan (by Westbrook Consulting Ltd.) and Landscape Concept Plan (By Forsite Landscape Architecture). At this time we have not reviewed a grading plan.

2. TREE INVENTORY METHODOLOGY

Numerated metal tags were used to identify bylaw protected onsite trees. Trees located on the neighbouring property to the West or municipal frontage were not tagged. Each tree was visually examined on a limited visual assessment basis (level 1), in accordance with Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) methods (Dunster et al. 2017) and ISA Best Management Practices.

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Based on review of the Architectural plans provided, it is anticipated that 32 bylaw protected onsite trees and 2 municipal trees will require removal to facilitate construction of the proposed underground parkade. 1 offsite tree on CRD property is proposed for removal due to impacts from the proposed storm outfall (it is unknown if replacement trees are required). 12 onsite trees, 4 municipal trees, 9 private offsite trees and 1 offsite hedge are located where they can be retained provided that their critical root zones can be adequately protected during construction. It is understood that a replanting plan will be prepared by others.

4. TREE INVENTORY DEFINITIONS

Tag: Tree identification number on a metal tag attached to tree with nail or wire, generally at eye level. Trees on municipal or neighboring properties are not tagged.

DBH: Diameter at breast height – diameter of trunk, measured in centimetres at 1.4m above ground level. For trees on a slope, it is taken at the average point between the high and low side of the slope.

• Measured over ivy ~ Approximate due to inaccessibility or on neighbouring property

Dripline: Indicates the radius of the crown spread measured in metres to the dripline of the longest limbs.

Relative Tolerance Rating: Relative tolerance of the tree species to construction related impacts such as root pruning, crown pruning, soil compaction, hydrology changes, grade changes, and other soil disturbance. This rating does not take into account individual tree characteristics, such as health and vigour. Three ratings are assigned based on our knowledge and experience with the tree species: Poor (P), Moderate (M) or Good (G).

Critical Root Zone: A calculated radial measurement in metres from the trunk of the tree. It is the optimal size of tree protection zone and is calculated by multiplying the DBH of the tree by 10, 12 or 15 depending on the tree’s Relative Tolerance Rating. This methodology is based on the methodology used by Nelda Matheny and James R. Clark in their book “Trees and Development: A Technical Guide to Preservation of Trees During Land Development.”

• 15 x DBH = Poor Tolerance of Construction
• 12 x DBH = Moderate Tolerance of Construction
• 10 x DBH = Good Tolerance of Construction

To calculate the critical root zone, the DBH of multiple stems is considered the sum of 100% of the diameter of the largest stem and 60% of the diameter of the next two largest stems. It should be noted that these measures are solely mathematical calculations that do not consider factors such as restricted root growth, limited soil volumes, age, crown spread, health, or structure (such as lean).

Health Condition:

• Poor - significant signs of visible stress and/or decline that threaten the long-term survival of the specimen
• Fair - signs of stress
• Good - no visible signs of significant stress and/or only minor aesthetic issues

Structural Condition:

• Poor - Structural defects that have been in place for a long period of time to the point that mitigation measures are limited
• Fair - Structural concerns that are possible to mitigate through pruning
• Good - No visible or only minor structural flaws that require no to very little pruning

Suitability ratings are described as follows:

Rating: Suitable.

• A tree with no visible or minor health or structural defects, is tolerant to changes to the growing environment and is a possible candidate for retention provided that the critical root zone can be adequately protected.

Rating: Conditional.

• A tree with good health but is a species with a poor tolerance to changes to its growing environment or has a structural defect(s) that would require that certain measures be implemented, in order to consider it suitable for retention (ie. retain with other codominant tree(s), structural pruning, mulching, supplementary watering, etc.)

Rating: Unsuitable.

• A tree with poor health, a major structural defect (that cannot be mitigated using ANSI A300 standards), or a species with a poor tolerance to construction impacts, and unlikely to survive long term (in the context of the proposed land use changes).

Retention Status:

• Remove - Not possible to retain given proposed construction plans
• Retain - It is possible to retain this tree in the long-term given the proposed plans and information available. This is assuming our recommended mitigation measures are followed
• Retain* - See report for more information regarding potential impacts

Table 1. Tree Inventory

5. SITE INFORMATION & PROJECT UNDERSTANDING

The site is a single lot in View Royal, BC, which interfaces with the Galloping Goose Trail to the South. It is our understanding that the proposal is to remove the existing residences and construct a 5-story residential building with underground parking.

Below is a general observation of the tree resource, as it appeared at the time of our site visit:

6. FIELD OBSERVATIONS

The onsite tree resource consists of a mixture of native and nonnative species growing around the perimeter of the property. The site slopes down gradually from North to South.

figure 1: Site context air photo: The approximate boundary of the subject site is outlined in Yellow.

7. CONSTRUCTION IMPACT ASSESSMENT

7.1. RETENTION AND REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL TREES

The following municipal trees (indicated by ID #) are located where they are possible for retention providing that the critical root zone can be adequately protected during construction. The project arborist must be onsite to supervise all excavation or fill placement required within the critical root zone (shown on the tree management plan (T1) in appendix A):

Retain and protect 4 municipal trees

• M1, M2, M3, M4.

The following municipal tree (indicated by ID #) is located where it is anticipated that it will be impacted by excavation required for the construction of the proposed entrance/exit ramp and will require removal.

Remove 2 municipal trees

• M5, M6

Note that the municipality will need to provide consent, prior the removal of any trees that are located on Municipal property.

7.2. RETENTION AND REMOVAL OF ONSITE TREES

The following bylaw protected onsite trees (indicated by tag #) are located where they are possible for retention providing that their critical root zones are adequately protected during construction. The project arborist must be onsite to supervise all excavation or fill placement required within its critical root zone (shown on the tree management plan (T1) in appendix A):

Retain and protect 12 onsite trees

• 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 82, 3556, 3557, 3558, 3559, 3561.

The following bylaw protected size onsite trees (indicated by tag #) are located where they will be heavily impacted by excavation required to construct the proposed underground and above parking and are proposed for removal.

Remove 32 onsite trees

• 3546, 3547, 3548, 3549, 3550, 3551, 3552, 68, 69, 70, 71, 78, 84, 88, 89, 90, 3553, 93, 3554, 91(shared), 3555, 94, 95, 96, 97, 100, 99, 98, 83, 85, 86, 87.

Note that trees with shared ownership will require written consent from the other owner prior to removal.

7.3. RETENTION AND REMOVAL OF PRIVATE OFFSITE TREES

The following bylaw protected private offsite trees (indicated by ID #) are located where they are possible for retention providing that their critical root zones are adequately protected during construction. The project arborist must be onsite to supervise all excavation or fill placement required within its critical root zone (shown on the tree management plan (T1) in appendix A):

Retain 10 private offsite trees and 1 offsite hedge

• OS1(hedge), OS2, 3560, 79, 80, 81, 3562, 66, 3564, 3565.

The following bylaw protected offsite trees (indicated by tag #) are located where they will be heavily impacted by excavation required to instlall the proposed storm outfall and is proposed for removal.

Remove 1 offsite tree

7.4. TREE REPLACEMENT

Pursuant to District of Town of View Royal bylaw No. 695, the tree replacement calculations are as follows:

Based on bylaw criteria, 24 trees are required to be planted in compensation for the proposed removal of 12 bylaw protected trees (outside of the building envelope). 1 offsite tree on CRD property is proposed for removal due to impacts from the proposed storm outfall (it is unknown if replacement trees are required). It is understood that a replanting plan will be prepared by others. If the site cannot accommodate the required quantity of replacement trees, the deficit will be provided via a cash in lieu payment by the owner.