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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArborist Report463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Prepared for Peter Suen 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arcadia, CA 91107 Prepared by James Kamen BCMA WE -9909B RCA #555 Class One Arboriculture 3763 Ramsdell Ave Glendale, CA 91214 818-495-5344 classonearboriculture@gmail.com Page 1 of 30 Table of Contents Background 3 Project Description 3 Subject Tree Findings 4 Matrix of All Trees on Site 10 Protected Tree Matrix 10 Protected Trees to be Removed 10 Protected Trees to Remain on Site 10 Recommendations and Construction Impact Guidelines I I Replacement Trees 14 Limitations 15 Site Photos 16 Site Map Attached Separately James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 2 of 30 Background Peter Suen contacted me in July of 2020. He asked me to prepare an inventory of the protected trees that may be impacted by a proposed construction project to comply with the City of Arcadia tree protection ordinance. I visited the subject property on July 13, 2020 at 12:30pm to collect the data for this report. On September 13, 2021, I was contacted by Fang of Fifth Arch. Fang told me that Assistant Planner Edwin Arreola requested some updates to the report. He asked for the report to discuss the replacement tree plan. I added two replacement deodar cedar trees to compensate for the removal of the one deodar cedar growing within the footprint of the proposed driveway widening. I did not visit the subject property as part of this project update. All of the tree measurement data contained in this report is the same data I collected on July 13, 2020, more than one year ago. Project Description An existing single family residence structure will be demolished, and a new one will be built in its place. The driveway will be widened. An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and a pool will be built in the backyard. I recorded data on 11 trees on and around the subject property that could potentially be impacted by the proposed construction activity. 2 of these trees are protected per the Arcadia Municipal Code Section 9701.02.020 (I)(4). One of these protected trees is growing within the footprint of the proposed driveway expansion, and it will be removed. No other protected trees will be impacted by the proposed construction project. No protected trees on neighboring properties will be affected by the proposed construction project. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 3 of 30 Subject Trees Tree 1 Fraxinus vedutina — Arizona Ash This tree is protected by ordinance because it is larger than 12 inches in diameter. It has symptoms of drought stress, and there is a substantial accumulation of deadwood in the canopy. I recommend pruning off the dead branches and applying supplemental irrigation. Irrigation should moisten the soil to a depth of 6-12 inches twice per month from May through September. There is a cavity about 6 feet up the eastern side of the trunk. It appears that a former trunk had failed at that height, and now the tree is rolling callous wood around the wound site. The adventitious shoots growing around the perimeter of the cavity should be retained because they help speed the deposition of new tissue. After a significant rainfall, any accumulated water in the cavity should be cleared out. This tree will be retained in place. The proposed driveway ffi.E�4 expansion will encroach upon the critical root zone of this tree. All excavation within the drip line of this tree should be directly supervised by a Certified Arborist. If root larger than 2 inches in diameter are encountered, then the project arborist should evaluate whether they can be preserved or severed. If the roots are severed, the project arborist should cut them cleanly with a sharp cutting tool. If significant roots for the surface may be preserved, then they should be wrapped in a 2 -inch layer of foam before the new driveway is laid. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 I recommend considering using pavers or another permeable paving material for the driveway surface. A permeable driveway surface will be less impactful to the tree because it will allow infiltration of water and oxygen into the soil. If the recommendations in this report are followed, this tree has a good chance of surviving the proposed construction Page 4 of 30 James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 1S, 2021 Tree 2 Cedrus deodara — Deodar Cedar This tree is protected by ordinance because it is larger than 12 inches in diameter. It has symptoms of drought stress, and there is an accumulation of deadwood in the canopy. Most notably, I observed evidence of many root cuts on the eastern side of the tree. There used to be surface roots stretching out into the lawn area that were severed within the past few years. I suspect that the tree's suppressed condition is due to a combination of the past root cutting and insufficient irrigation. This tree is proposed for removal because it is growing within the footprint of the proposed driveway expansion. Tree 3 Citrus sp. — Citrus This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is a fruit tree. It has symptoms of heat and drought stress. This tree will be retained in place. I recommend pruning off the dead branches and applying supplemental irrigation. Irrigation should moisten the soil to a depth of 6-12 inches once per week. Apply a layer of coarse bark mulch over the soil to protect the roots from high summer temperatures. Page 5 of 30 Tree 4 Citrus sp. — Citrus This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is a fruit tree. It has symptoms of heat and drought stress. This tree will be removed because it is growing too close to the footprint of the proposed pool for it to survive the necessary root cutting. Tree 5 Beaucarnea recurvata — Ponytail Palm This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is not growing within the required front, side, or rear setback. It is healthy, but its trunk has a mechanical injury on the northern side. The base of the tree has completely impounded a hose spigot. This tree will be removed because it is growing within the ` footprint of the proposed pool deck. Although this tree is not protected by ordinance, it does have value as a specimen. I suggest considering the tree for relocation on the property. Ponytail palms are more tolerant of transplanting than other species, so this tree may be a good candidate for relocation. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 6 of 30 James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 7 of 30 Tree 6 Fraxinus uhdei — Shamel Ash This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is an unprotected species. It appears to have volunteered next to the western property line fence. The canopy is healthy. The tree has two co -dominant stems. This tree will be retained in place. Tree 7 Citrus sp. — Citrus This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is a fruit tree. It has symptoms of heat and drought stress. This tree will be retained in place. I recommend pruning off the dead branches and applying supplemental irrigation. Irrigation should moisten the soil to a depth of 6-12 inches once per week. Apply a layer of coarse bark mulch over the soil to protect the roots from high summer temperatures. Tree 8 Prunus armeniaca — Apricot This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is a fruit tree. It is severely stressed. The trunk has a substantial cavity, and most of its scaffold branches were long ago pruned off. One lone living scaffold branch is still alive, but it has drought -stressed foliage. This tree will be removed. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 7 of 30 Tree 9 Fraxinus uhdei — Shamel Ash e� This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is an unprotected species. It appears to have volunteered next to ry the western property line fence. The canopy is healthy. This tree will be retained in place. Tree 10 Ficus carica — Edible Fig James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is a fruit tree. It is supremely healthy, and it is growing in excellent natural form. This tree will be retained in place. The proposed ADU will encroach within the critical root zone of this tree. The branches on the eastern side of the canopy will be pruned to allow clearance for the proposed building. Although this tree is not protected, I recommend considering taking precautionary measures to preserve it through construction. During the excavation phase for the footing of the ADU, perform all digging within 20 feet of the trunk with hand tools only. If roots are encountered, the project arborist should evaluate which once may be severed and which can be retained. Before pouring the footing, wrap significant roots in 2 inches of foam. Allow the natural leaf drop from this tree to accumulate around the base of the tree. Supply supplemental irrigation no more than once per month from May through September to moisten the soil to a depth of 6-12 inches. The soil must dry out completely before applying additional irrigation to this tree. Page 8 of 30 James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Tree 11 Ailanthus altissima — Tree of Heaven This tree is not protected by ordinance because it is an unprotected species. This species is known for being weedy and undesirable. Its roots produce allelopathic chemicals that suppress the growth of neighboring plants. The roots also tend to produce suckers that sprout new rapidly - growing trunks and become a management nuisance. This tree will be removed because it is growing within the footprint of the proposed ADU. Page 9 of 30 Matrix of All Trees on Site Tree# Species Common Name DBH Height Spread Condition Treatment Rate Remove? Protect? Natural? 2 Cedrus deodara Deodar Cedar 20" 48' 40' drought stress, deadwood, irrigate, prune C- Yes Yes No 1 Fraxinus velutina Arizona Ash 27" 39' 50' trunk cavity deadwood C+ No Yes No drought stress, deadwood, 2 Cedrus deodara Deodar Cedar 20" 48' 40' declining, old root cuts remove C- Yes Yes No heat/drought stress, irrigate, prune 3 Citrus sp. Citrus 16" 18' 30' deadwood deadwood C+ No No No 11"'10- ' 1",10", heat/drought stress, 4 Citrus sp. Citrus 91., 8" 21' 33' deadwood remove C+ iYes No lNo impounded water line, 5 Beaucarnea recurvata Ponytail Palm 20" 15' 12' healthy remove B Yes No No growing close to fence, co - 6 Fraxinus uhdei Shamel Ash 8", 5" 33' 24' dom stems prune clearance B No No Yes heat/drought stress, 7 Citrus sp. Citrus 81., 5" 15' 18' deadwood irrigate B- No No No severe dieback, central 8 Prunus armeniaca Apricot Tree 22" 12' 15' cavity, deadwood remove D Yes No No growing close to fence, 9 Fraxinus uhdei Shamel Ash 6.5" 30' 21' healthy none A- No No Yes prune clearance, 30 Ficus carica Edible Fig 11..'8.. 21' 30' healthy irrigate A No No No 4", 3", healthy volunteer, multi - 11 Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven 30" 25' 21' stem remove B Yes No Yes Protected Tree Matrix Tree# Species Common Name DBH Height Spread Condition Treatment Rate Remove? Protect? Natural? 2 Cedrus deodara Deodar Cedar 20" 48' 40' drought stress, deadwood, irrigate, prune C- Yes Yes No 1 Fraxinus velutina Arizona Ash 27" 39' 50' trunk cavity deadwood IC- C+ No Yes No drought stress, deadwood, 2 Cedrus deodara Deodar Cedar 20" 48' 40' declining, old root cuts remove Yes Yes No Protected Trees to be Removed Tree# I Species lCommon Name JDBH Height I Spread Condition ITreatment Rate Remove? Protect? Natural? 2 Cedrus deodara Deodar Cedar 20" 48' 40' drought stress, deadwood, declining, old root cuts remove C- Yes Yes No Protected Trees to Remain on Site Tree # Species Common Name I DBH I Height I Spread Condition ITreatment Rate Remove? I Protect? I Natural? 1 I Fraxinus velutina I Arizona Ash 1 27" 39' 50' drought stress, deadwood, trunk cavity I irrigate, prune deadwood C+ No Yes No James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 10 of 30 Recommendations and Construction Impact Guidelines Pre -Construction These recommendations should be implemented prior to the start of construction: Erect tree protection zone fencing as shown in this report. No construction activity, heavy equipment access, or materials storage should take place within the tree protection zone during construction without the direct supervision and approval of a certified arborist. Fencing should be in ground, at least 4 feet in height, and brightly colored. Tree trunks should not be wrapped in fencing material, and they should not be used as support posts for the tree protection fencing. When pruning becomes necessary, hire a crew directly supervised by a certified arborist on site to ensure the pruning cuts are made to branch unions and do not remove an excessive amount of foliage. Only prune when deemed necessary by the project arborist; as much live foliage as possible should be preserved through the construction process to give the trees the best opportunity to thrive after construction is complete. o Prune the deadwood out of Trees 1 and 3. o Prune Tree 6 for head -height clearance over the yard. o Prune Tree 10 for clearance with the work area for construction of the ADU. Irrigation: o Apply supplemental irrigation to the soil within the drip line of each of the following trees: • Irrigate Tree 1 twice per month from May through September. • Irrigate Trees 3 and 7 once per week throughout the year. ■ Irrigate Tree 10 once per month from May through September. Make sure to allow the soil to completely dry out between irrigating. o The irrigation should have a slow application rate to avoid runoff. o Water should be applied to a depth of 6-12 inches, which could take anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on site conditions, application rate, and soil infiltration rate. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 12 of 30 During Construction This is the stage where mechanical injury is the most likely to occur. By following these recommendations, the likelihood of accidental damage will be reduced: - General Guidelines o Inform all construction personnel of the intention to preserve the trees. Many times damage occurs because workers are not aware of the importance of preserving the trees on site. This includes contractors and their respective subcontractors as well. o If any changes are made to the plans resulting in any new excavation or equipment access within the dripline of any tree, the project arborist should be informed. Additional protection measures may need to be discussed. o Throughout the construction period, a certified arborist should make periodic site visits to ensure the tree protection plan is being followed. o No construction activity should take place within the tree protection zone of any tree. This includes construction worker access, materials storage, and equipment access. o If any injury should occur to a tree during construction, the project arborist should be informed within 24 hours so it may be evaluated and treated as soon as possible. Demolition and Excavation Phase o The project arborist should directly supervise all excavation within the drip lines of any protected tree. If roots are encountered, the arborist will be able to determine whether to preserve or sever them. If the roots will be cut, the arborist should make appropriate severing cuts to root junctions with a sharp cutting tool. o If roots larger than 2 inches in diameter are encountered during excavation, the project arborist should be consulted to determine the least - damaging method of proceeding with construction. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 12 of 30 Construction Phase o If significant roots that pass across the proposed driveway or ADU footing are marked for preservation, they should be wrapped in 2 inches of foam. The foam should hold its shape while the footing or driveway is poured. The foam should be flexible enough to allow room for the roots to expand over time without causing displacement to the hardscape. o No construction materials should cross the tree protection fencing and lean against any protected tree. o If during any part of the construction phase there is a significant amount of particulates in the air (from cutting materials or any other activity), a shop vacuum or equivalent should be used during the cutting or other activity to reduce the amount of particulates that are deposited on the foliage of any protected tree. If despite a good faith effort to reduce particulates, a layer is still deposited on the foliage, wash it off with a jet of water at the end of each construction day where particulates are deposited. Clean -Up and Landscaping Phase o Retain the tree protection zone fencing until construction activity has been completed or until the landscape installation phase begins. Even when landscapers are permitted near the trees, make sure they are aware of the intention to preserve the trees and the roots if any digging is performed for irrigation lines or plant installation. o All irrigation line trenches within the dripline of any protected tree should be hand -dug. If significant roots measuring one inch in diameter or larger are encountered, the project arborist should be consulted. If practical, tunnel underneath the roots to preserve them. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 13 of 30 Post -Construction Care The most stressful time of year for the subject trees will be the summer immediately following construction. The following management practices are recommended: - Retain the leaf drop around the root zone of the subject trees where practical. The best ground cover for a tree is its own leaf mulch. Leaf mulch will reduce soil evaporation and mitigate soil temperature changes. If leaf drop is not practical for use, apply a layer of coarse mulch 2-4 inches thick around the bases of the trees. - The subject trees should be monitored annually by a Certified Arborist for development of disease, decay, or other symptoms of stress due to construction activity. Deadwood may be removed as it appears, and as much live wood as possible should be retained on the trees, provided that it doesn't come into conflict with the infrastructure. Continue to provide supplemental irrigation to Trees 1, 3, 7, and 10 as described above. Replacement Trees One tree protected per Arcadia Municipal Code Section 9701.02.020 (I)(4) will be removed. Two replacement trees will be planted. Replacement trees will be 24" box size Chinese elms (Ulmus parvifolia). Suggested planting locations of the replacement trees are shown on the site map. The locations or species of these trees may be modified subject to consultation with the project landscape designer, project arborist, and city planner. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 24 of 30 Limitations My observations are based on a visual inspection of the property, and some hidden or buried symptoms and signs may not have been observed. I did not conduct excavation, coring, or climbing inspection to make observations. I relied upon the information provided to me regarding the history of the site and the proposed construction. If any part of this information is found to be incorrect, the conclusions in this report may be invalidated. My analysis is only based on the observations I gathered at the time of inspection. I do not guarantee the safety of the subject trees. There is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, that problems or deficiencies may not arise in the future. Arborists are tree specialists who use their knowledge, education, training, and experience to examine trees, recommend measures to enhance the beauty and health of trees, and attempt to reduce the risk of living trees. Clients may choose to accept or disregard the recommendations of the arborist, or to seek additional advice. Arborists cannot detect every condition that could possibly lead to structural failure of a tree. Trees are living organisms that fail in ways not fully understood. Conditions are often hidden within trees and below ground. Arborists cannot guarantee that a tree will be healthy or safe under all circumstances, or for a specified period of time. Likewise, remedial treatments, like any medicine, cannot be guaranteed. Treatment, pruning, and removal of trees may involve considerations beyond the scope of the arborist's services such as property boundaries, property ownership, site lines, disputes between neighbors, and other issues. Arborists cannot take such considerations into account unless complete and accurate information is disclosed to the arborist. An arborist should then be expected to reasonably rely upon the completeness and accuracy of the information provided. Trees can be managed, but they cannot be controlled. To live near trees is to accept some degree of risk. The only way to eliminate all risk associated with trees is to eliminate all trees. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 15 of 30 Figure 4: There is a history of root cutting on the south and east sides of the root crown of Tree 2. James Komen, Class One Arboriculture Inc. 463 Las Tunas Dr. Arborist Report September 15, 2021 Page 19 of 30 W*kl'-v ALW . _ • •zkw ,yJ ry• ' f•• �. • I WJV It v so �4FPA" I Aw i f1 .yr 4i. 36 1�. ,A lwAF f - r r �f Figure 8: Tree 5 has impounded a hose spigot in its trunk. 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