ADELAIDE APARTMENTS TOWER EXTENSION Tree Conservation Report

Transcription

1 ADELAIDE APARTMENTS TOWER EXTENSION Tree Conservation Report by IBI Group August 11, 2016

2 Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND METHODOLOGY EXISTING CONDITIONS IMPACT ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS SCHEDULE OF PROPOSED WORKS CONCLUSION APPENDIX A REPRESENTATIVE PHOTOS... 6 August 11, 2016 i

3 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND The site for proposed development is bounded by Preston Street, Aberdeen Street, Rochester Street, and a Highway 417 off-ramp in the Centretown neighbourhood of Ottawa. The site is currently occupied by four buildings, along with associated underground parking and greenspace. The neighbourhood is currently in transition, with a recently updated Secondary Plan and a planning direction to develop with a mix of uses, including low to high profile residential. The site is designated as Mixed-Use Centre in The City of Ottawa s Official Plan. There are no natural areas, as identified in the Region of Ottawa-Carleton s Natural Environment System Strategy, on or within an adjacency of the site. There are no Significant Woodlands, as identified on the City s Natural Heritage System. There are no Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). Sakto Corporation proposes a new 24-storey north addition to the existing Adelaide apartment complex at 17 Aberdeen Avenue. Along with this tower proposal, revised vehicular circulation within the site, expanded on-site parking off Preston Street entry, and adjacent landscape treatments are proposed. 2 METHODOLOGY This Tree Conservation Report was prepared in accordance with Section of the City of Ottawa Official Plan, requiring such a report for all plans of subdivision, plans of condominiums, and site plans, where there are trees of 10 centimetres in diameter or above on the subject site. This report and its enclosed drawings will accompany and support Sakto Corporation s application for site plan approval. The field work, assessment, and report preparation were completed by Todd Smith ISA, a current and active member certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ON- 1608A). The purpose of any Tree Conservation Report is to identify trees and/or tree stands that can be preserved and protected, and that conservation of this vegetation is an important factor in the design thinking of the proposed development. I can confirm that this was the case during the design process and that Sakto Corporation has wished to retain and protect as many trees as possible, and/or transplant trees, in order to maintain the scale of greenspace and vegetation cover as was possible for the design. Inventory a. The trees and surrounding sites were assessed on one site visit on May 26, b. Tree locations were referenced on to a Topographic Survey prepared by Andrew Broxham of Annis O Sullivan Vollebekk Ltd. c. Photos were taken of the trees during the site visit. A representative selection is included in this report as Appendix A. d. Trunk diameter was measured using a calibrated diameter tape, for all trees on subject property and adjacencies. The measurement was taken at the standard August 11,

4 Assessment 1.4m above ground or grade crown level, generally referred to as diameter at breast height (DBH). e. Drawings LT-1 [Current Vegetation] and LT-2 [Proposed Development & Conserved Vegetation] accompany this report, dated August 11, They must be read in conjunction with this report. a. Tree health at time of analysis including, but not limited to: i. Obvious defects (leaf discoloration, abnormal leaf size, shortened nodes) ii. Decay iii. Dieback iv. Disfigured stem v. Broken roots vi. Fungal conks vii. Disease (biotic/abiotic/non-infectious) viii. Chemical damage (pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers); b. Structural integrity i. Root conditions and stability ii. Trunk soundness iii. Decay/cavities iv. Co-dominant stems v. Dead limbs; c. Species response to proposed construction; d. Projected tree age and longevity; and e. Status as safety hazard in its adjacency to rail corridor and/or other existing and proposed utilities (e.g., existing transmission towers along west side of corridor). f. Tree species response to the proposed construction were evaluated. 3 EXISTING CONDITIONS All of the vegetation on the subject site is planted and maintained as an urban greenspace and garden area, shared by existing buildings occupants. Cultural plantings of trees, shrubs, groundcovers and turfgrass comprise all of the soft parts of the site s landscape. North of the northern aspect of the subject site is a combination of planted highway buffer trees and shrubs and voluntary naturalization of shrub thickets and weed tree species, including Manitoba maple and Siberian elm. At the time of the inventory, most planted trees were in good condition and the average diameter at breast height (DBH) 16cm. The species mix is dominated by Honey locust, Blue spruce, Norway maple. August 11,

5 The site topography is generally flat with some constructed berms and drainage areas along the off-ramp portion of the adjacent Highway 417. There are no visible watercourse on site nor was any vernal pooling observed. High-quality, semi-mature specimen trees include: Tree 26 [Honey locust] at DBH 26cm and in Good condition; Tree 40 [Honey locust] at DBH 27cm and in Good condition; Trees [Copse of Red oaks] at DBH 11cm and in Good condition; Tree 71 [Honey locust] at DBH 28cm and in Good condition; Tree 73 [Honey locust] at DBH 29cm and in Good condition; Tree 81 [Honey locust] at DBH 23cm and in Good condition; Moderate-quality, established tree/shrub groupings include: Trees and adjacent vegetation Trees along Aberdeen Street Trees adaptable to transplanting: Tree group 30 [Columnar English oak x 2] at DBH 6cm and in Excellent condition Tree 28 [Japanese tree lilac] at DBH 5cm and in Good condition 4 IMPACT ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The proposed development would require the removal of twenty (20) trees above DBH 10cm: Tree 2 [Ash] DEAD Tree 3 [Crab-apple] at DBH 16cm and in Good condition; Tree 8 [Norway maple] at DBH 30cm and in Fair condition; Tree 11 [Norway maple] at DBH 23cm and in Good condition; Tree 15 [Norway maple] at DBH 31cm and in Fair condition; Tree 18 [Norway maple] at DBH 29cm and in Fair condition; Tree 47 [Blue spruce] at DBH 14cm and in Good condition; Tree Group 48 [Amur maple x 3] at DBH 15cm and in Good condition; Tree 49 [Columnar Norway maple] at DBH 14cm and in Good condition; Tree 50 [Columnar Norway maple] at DBH 14cm and in Good condition; Tree Group 51 [Amur maple x 3] at DBH 15cm and in Good condition; Tree 52 [Blue spruce] at DBH 14cm and in Good condition; Tree Group 53 [Mountbatten juniper] at DBH 12cm and in Fair condition; Tree 54 [Crab-apple] at DBH 13cm and in Good condition; Tree 55 [Crab-apple] at DBH 13cm and in Good condition. August 11,

6 The proposed development would require the transplanting of three (3) trees considered viable transplant candidates as they are below DBH 10cm and desired species: Tree 28 [Japanese tree lilac] at DBH 5cm and in Good condition; Tree Group 30 [Columnar English oaks x 2] at DBH 6cm and in Excellent condition. The proposed development would preserve and protect eighty-eight (88) trees. The majority of these trees to be preserved and protected are desired and native species with higher habitat value and animal food sources than the exotics to be removed. Please refer to Drawing LT-2 showing vegetation to be removed, transplanted, and preserved. Shadow studies of proposed tower development were produced for June, September, and December. The greatest new effects of new shade will be: June 21 st 10am: western aspect of site (Trees 31 to 40) in full shade; June 21 st 6pm: eastern aspect (Trees Red oaks) in full shade; September 21 st 2pm: northern aspect of site (Trees 21,22, 26) more shade; September 21 st 6pm: eastern aspect (Trees Red oaks) in full shade; December 21 st 2pm: northern aspect of site (Trees 21, 22, 26) more shade. It is the opinion of this arborist that this increased shade from tower will not have a net negative effect on the species involved, as they are all shade-tolerant and not reliant on full sunlight. There will be a period of adjustment over a few seasons to new light regimes but the shadows will not kill the trees. The following mitigation measures are recommended: 1. Sturdy protective fencing, at least 1.2m in height, is recommended and layout shown on LT-2. This fencing is to be erected at the critical root zone (CRZ) of the trees (established as DBH x 10cm); do not place any material or equipment within the CRZ of the tree(s); do not attach any signs, notices, or posters to any tree; do not raise or lower the existing grade within the CRZ without approval; only tunnel or bore when digging within the CRZ of a tree; do not damage the root system, trunk, or branches of any tree; ensure that exhaust fumes from all equipment are directed AWAY from preserved tree and tree groups. 2. For the protection of breeding birds, no shrub or tree removal is to occur between April 15 th and July 31 st, unless a survey identifies no nesting activity and the woody vegetation is removed within five days of conducting the survey. The following native species are recommended, where space allows, to be included in new planting plans for the site: Quercus rubra Carya cordiformis Acer freemanii Ostrya virginiana Celtis occidentalis August 11,

7 5 SCHEDULE OF PROPOSED WORKS There is no projected schedule of works at this time. 6 CONCLUSION There are no natural heritage or significant environmental features on the site. The proposed development will require removal of mainly exotic species which are not generally desired for new plantings and are not contributing to non-human benefit. As removed trees are contributing to water management and shade canopy, new canopy should be introduced wherever possible, and an opportunity may be along the highway off-ramp buffer area. On balance, it is the professional opinion of this author that the proposed development has sought to preserve and transplant as many trees as possible for their design, and that the loss of trees and soft area will not seriously impact the overall environment. Respectfully Submitted, ISA-ON1608A Todd Smith BSc MLA ISA OALA CSLA todd.smith@ibigroup.com web IBI Group 7th Floor - 55 St. Clair Avenue West Toronto ON M4V 2Y7 Canada tel ext fax August 11,

8 7 APPENDIX A REPRESENTATIVE PHOTOS From L to R: Trees 5, 11, Tree 27 August 11,

9 From L to R: Tree group 29, Tree group 30 From L to R in background: Tree group 52, 51, Trees 49-50; Tree group August 11,

10 Tree group 53 August 11,