HomeMy WebLinkAbout2908 S TIMBERLINE RD MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS - PDP210011 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 3 - TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN
244 North College Ave, #130 I Fort Collins, CO 80524
www.norris-design.com
June 2, 2021
REV: October 6, 2021
City of Fort Collins, Forestry Department
Ms. Molly T. Roche, Senior Forestry Coordinator
413 South Bryan Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Re: Timberline Housing
Dear Ms. Roche:
This letter accompanies our PDP submittal for the Timberline Housing project and responds to comments from the
Concept Review from March 21, 2021. Our team met on site with you April 29, 2021 to review existing on-site trees.
Information from that meeting, including tree mitigation requirements are included in our submitted drawings.
The site has a total of 69 existing trees. Many existing on-site trees are in fair to poor condition and/or are
undesirable species such Autumn Purple Ash and Green Ash. The site plan layout has been designed to retain
existing significant trees where possible and build on other tree groups and the natural character of the existing
detention ponds enhance overall aesthetic, environmental and wildlife value. A total of 42 trees will be removed,
requiring 50 mitigation trees. Mitigation trees are accounted for and noted in the Landscape Plan. Of the trees
planned for removal, 6 are already dead, 1 is invasive, and 10 are of FAIR- and lower in quality. The trees that are
being removed are due to conflicts with proposed buildings, grading, utilities or parking and range in condition from
POOR to FAIR +. Except for tree numbers 15 through 19, and 54, trees are planned for removal outside of the
natural habitat buffer.
Existing trees to be removed and noted as “transplantable” are all in Fair or Fair + condition and will be mitigated for
two reasons. The first reason is that the cost of transplanting a tree is significantly higher than the cost of a new tree.
As stated in the narrative, this is an attainable housing project, and minimizing costs is necessary wherever possible.
In addition to the cost factor, these trees are in areas that have not received irrigation or care for a long period of time
and while they are listed as Fair or Fair+, several of them are in rough shape. It is our desire to provide new and
healthy plant material rather than to transplant these trees and hope that they look better over time. There is also
concern that money would be spent on transplanting trees that may not survive the transplant given their current
condition.
We will reconsider transplanting a few of the nicer evergreens if budget allows as the design progresses. We feel that
our team has taken reasonable measures to preserve and protect existing trees on the site, while also factoring in
other site constraints and requirements. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there are further questions.
Sincerely,
Norris Design
Cara Scohy, PLA
Senior Associate