Council Meeting/Documents/Attachment 5: Consulting Arborist Report - Concrete Jungle Forestry Ltd

Appendix

Attachment 5: Consulting Arborist Report - Concrete Jungle Forestry Ltd

September 20, 2016Pages 87–973 sections

Tree assessment report for the property at 2670 Herbate Road detailing existing inventory and recommended removals for house construction.

Report date: May 12, 2016Identifies 32 Bylaw 695 protected trees.

Appendix 2. Tree Assessment Report

Page 87–97

CONCRETE JUNGLE FORESTRY LTD.

Urban & Wildland Forest Assessment & Mapping

May 12, 2016

James Davison MCIP RPP Planner Town of View Royal

Cc: Damon Langlois (owner 2670 Herbate Rd,)

Re: 2670 Herbate Road, Development Permit Application - Consulting Arborist Report.

Introduction:

The owners of an undeveloped 0.45 hectare residential lot located at 2670 Herbate Road in the Township of View Royal are in the process of applying for a Development Permit. In support of the application, Donald Skinner of Concrete Jungle Forestry Ltd. (CJF) has been asked to provide an Consulting Arborist opinion on:

The type and quality of the on-site tree resource.
The impact of residential development would have on the tree resource.
Anticipated tree removals to accommodate a May 12, 2016 preliminary development footprint.
Anticipated tree removals to accommodate Interface Fire Hazard Assessment Report recommendations.
Tree Inventory Details for 32 View Royal Bylaw 695 protected trees impacted by residential development and three (3) groups of small Bylaw protected trees.

Fieldwork for this report was completed on April 28 and May 5, 2016. On May 5, 2016 Mr. Damon Langlois took part in the site visit. During these visits tree inventory details for potentially impacted, bylaw protected trees were recorded and notes were taken about the site's general forest cover and condition.

Site Condition:

2670 Herbate Road is located just north of Thetis Lake Park amongst a small cluster of residences on or near McKenzie Lake (see Appendix - 1: Site Air Photo). From road to lake vegetation changes from an open rocky upper-slope meadow dominated by herbaceous plants and invasive shrubs to a mature mid-slope Douglas fir forest and finally a lakeside riparian area dominated by native species tall shrubs and invasive grasses (see Images 1: Meadow, 2: Mid-slope Douglas fir Forest and Building Site and 3: Lakeside Riparian Area).

Appendix -2: Site Plan Mark-Up; shows that the developable portion of the property constrained by four setbacks:

A 30 meter Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) mandated setback from McKenzie Lake.
Two 30 meter setbacks protecting wells on the subject property and neighbouring 2700 Herbate Road from septic contamination.
7.5 meter setbacks along the north and south property lines.
An easement allowing driveway access to 2600 Herbate Road.

Type and Quality of the On-site Tree Resource:

Located in the driest Coastal Douglas fir (CDFmm) biogeoclimactic subzone forest vegetation is dominated by an overstory of mature second growth Douglas fir. Under these are intermediate and overtopped Douglas fir, Arbutus, Garry oak and Bigleaf maple (see Images 1 and 2). Ground cover includes native and invasive species shrubs, herbaceous plants and bryoids (mosses and lichens) (see Images 1, 2 and 3).

Codominant mid-slope Douglas fir reach 30 meters in height and have an estimated age of 140 years and diameters at breast height (dbh) between 38 and 71 centimeters. Smaller Overtopped and Intermediate trees are scattered throughout. Some of these are captured as individuals in the Tree Inventory Table and Site Plan while others are included as 'Groups' on the Site Plan only.

With full dark green canopies CJF awarded all codominant trees a Biological Health rating of 'Good'. Structural Condition Rating was slightly more variable with three awarded a rating of 'Fair' due to a structural defect. All other codominants received a 'Good' Structural rating. Lower in the canopy, reduced light penetration often results in trees with less vigor and a more contorted form. See Appendix - 3: Tree Inventory Table for the details on each inventoried tree and Appendix - 2 for the location of each inventoried tree and three Groups in relation to a May 12, 2016 preliminary development footprint.

The Impact of Residential Development on the Tree Resource:

Mr Langlois has provided a Tree Plan with May 12, 2016 preliminary development footprint. Analysis of the development verses inventoried trees (codominant, intermediate and overtopped) determined that it would require the following tree removals:

Four (4) codominant and intermediate trees for house and driveway construction.
Two (2) trees removed due to a structural defect and location within striking distance of the proposed dwelling.
Eight (8) codominant and intermediate trees less than 10 meters from the proposed development as an Interface Fire Hazard mitigation measure.
Two (2) Potential Tree Removals located adjacent to the upper and lower driveways. Determining the fate of these large diameter codominant trees requires analysis and compromise between the existing and final driveway grades.
Group 3's 4 overtopped Douglas fir.

The Tree Inventory Table shows six Point 1 and 2 tree removals as orange filled cells in the 'Action' column and on the Site Plan as orange filled circles at the trunk location. Fire Hazard mitigation tree removals are shown as Cyan filled cells and circles. Potential Tree Removals are shown as Fuchsia filled calls and circles. Group 3 is shown as opaque orange oval near the driveway turnaround.

Please note that:

The Site Plan Mark-Up contains six (6) trees (red circles) removed under the previous owner's tenure. All were located in or close to the May 12, 2016 development footprint and would likely have been removed anyway.
The Site Plan Mark-Up contains the location of Tree Protection Fencing (TPF) to isolate the 30 meter RAR from the rest of the site. This has not yet been installed.
Additional TPF will be installed to protect other retained Bylaw 695 protected trees when the development footprint, service corridors, construction access and materials storage details have been finalized.

Conclusion:

While the proposed residential development at 2670 Herbate Road will require the removal of a portion of the subject property's Tree Resource much of the site is protected by setback and the proponent's desire to develop while leaving the natural character intact. Resulting in the post-development retention of numerous forest trees. Once the development requirements are finalized CJF will review against inventoried trees to ensure the listed Tree Removals remain valid.

Donald Skinner M.Sc., R.P.Bio., I.S.A. Certified Arborist. Registered Professional Biologist (#827). I.S.A. Certified Arborist (# PN5907A).

Appendix - 1: Site Air Photo.

Site Air Photo of 2670 Herbate Road showing property boundaries and surrounding area

Image 1: Meadow.

Photograph looking up a mossy, rocky slope under a canopy of Douglas fir trees

Image 2: Mid-slope Douglas fir Forest and Building Site.

Photograph showing a dense stand of tall, mature Douglas fir trees in the mid-slope area

Image 3: Lakeside Riparian Area.

Photograph looking towards McKenzie Lake through a screen of trees, showing the riparian area

Appendix -- 2: Site Plan Mark-Up.

Site Plan Mark-Up map showing tree locations, tags, setbacks, proposed dwelling and driveway

Map Legend for Site Plan Mark-Up showing symbols for tree status and protection measures

Appendix -3: Tree Inventory Table.

Page 87–97

Tree (Tag) #	Type	Consol Stem Dia (cm)	Height (m)	12:1 Protected Root Zone (m)	Symmetrical Crown Rad (m)	Crown Position	Action	Biological Health	Structural Condition	Notes
1	Douglas fir	54		6.5	4	Codominant	Retain	good	good	location placed by hand
2	Garry oak	11		1.3	1.5	Overtopped	Retain	fair	good	Township owned?, location placed by hand
3	Garry oak	49		5.9	7.5	Codominant	Retain	good	fair	Township owned, arches over shared driveway - clearance prune, recommend deadwood removal
4	Douglas fir	75		9.0	8	Codominant	Retain	good	good	recommend protect roots under gravel parking pad
5	Douglas fir	81		9.7	8	Codominant	Retain	good	good	recommend protect roots under gravel parking pad
6	Arbutus	8		1.0	1.5	Overtopped	Retain	good	good	location placed by hand
7	Douglas fir	55		6.6	6	Codominant	Retain	good	good	protect from construction damage, if parking pad enlarged protect roots to north
8	Douglas fir	26		3.1	4.5	Intermediate	Retain	good	good
9	Douglas fir	48		5.8	6	Codominant	Retain	good	good	protect from construction damage, if parking pad enlarged protect roots to north
10	Douglas fir	20		7.5	3	Overtopped	Retain	fair	good	location placed by hand
11	Arbutus	37		4.4		Intermediate	Retain	good	fair	leans over gravel parking pad, prune deadwood
12	Douglas fir	74		8.9	6.5	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good	adjacent upper driveway, assess for retention - existing grade verses final driveway grade, if retained protect from root damage
13	Douglas fir	18		2.2	4	Intermediate	Retain	good	good	2600 Herbate owned, low intermediate, location placed by hand
14	Douglas fir	14		1.7	4	Intermediate	Retain	good	good	2601 Herbate owned, low intermediate, location placed by hand
15	Douglas fir	64	30.3	7.7	6	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good	2600 Herbate owned, location placed by hand, measured ht, immediately adjacent proposed lower driveway, informal gravel parking pads either side, assess for retention - existing grade verses final driveway grade, if retained protect from root damage
16	Douglas fir	51		6.1	4.5	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good	in lower driveway
17	Douglas fir	49		5.9	4.5	Codominant	REMOVE	good	fair	in lower driveway
18	Douglas fir	41		4.9	4	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good	in proposed driveway, remove
19	Arbutus	18		2.1	3	Intermediate	REMOVE	good	good	between driveway and turnaround,
20	Douglas fir	43		5.2	4	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good	between driveway and turnaround
21	Douglas fir	65		7.8	6.5	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good	centre of lower driveway turnaround, impractical to retain
22	Bigleaf Maple	33		4.0	5	Intermediate	Retain	good	fair	basal fork, location placed by hand
23	Garry oak	9		1.1	2	Overtopped	Retain	good	good	in septic field - retain if septic field design allows
24	Douglas fir	74		8.9	7	Codominant	REMOVE	good	fair	septic field, evidence of basal stem decay - with suspect structure remove
25	Douglas fir	49		5.9	6	Codominant	REMOVE	good	fair	septic field, two stem with poor branch angle - with suspect structure remove
26	Douglas fir	72		8.6	7	Codominant	Retain	good	good	in septic field - retain if septic field design allows
27	Douglas fir	56		6.7	6	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good	house footprint - remove
28	Douglas fir	68		8.2	9	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good
29	Douglas fir	53		6.4	6	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good
30	Douglas fir	60	30.0	7.2	6	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good	measured ht /age =~140 years
31	Douglas fir	39		4.7	6	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good
32	Douglas fir	38		4.6	6	Codominant	REMOVE	good	good

Note: Table columns for Crown Rad N, S, E, W are present in original document but empty for individual trees. The 'Action' column in the document uses colored shading to indicate removal types as described in the report body.

Page 87–97