HomeMy WebLinkAboutBLOCK 23 MORNINGSTAR - FDP200027 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - TREE MANAGEMENT PLANTO: City of Fort Collins Forestry Department
DATE: September 29, 2020
RE: Tree Removal Feasibility Letter for Block 23, Fort Collins CO
The following trees are proposed to be removed and mitigated at the Block 23 property located on the
west side of College Avenue at the intersection of Cherry Street, extending south to Maple Street. An
intensive design effort was made to save as many trees on the site as possible. Through creative
design and grading many of the trees were able to be preserved. Eight of the trees that are proposed
for removal are (6) Siberian Elm, volunteer trees that most likely germinated naturally on the property.
These trees are in fair to fair minus condition. Two of the trees are a Juniper and Linden tree that are
also in fair minus condition. An additional two trees along Maple Street are being removed per the
City’s direction due to the poor condition of the trees.
Two Honey Locust trees identified as trees #4 and #6 on the attached Tree Inventory Exhibit, are
situated within the middle of the proposed pedestrian walk along Cherry Street. Additionally, these
trees are affected by existing soils that are required to be excavated for the building foundation. The
over-excavation of the soil for the building encroaches into the critical root zone of both trees.
Therefore, the impact to these trees will result in the trees mortality. Additionally, if the building were to
be moved to accommodate the trees, it would have to move approximately 10.5’ to the south, away
from the critical root zone. A total of 29 total units over 4 floors (10% of total units) would be affected.
This will have an extremely negative economic impact on the project. Effectively resulting in the
project being economically unfeasible. The trees will be mitigated with 4.5 as required by the City
Forester and Fort Collins Municipal Code.
Please refer to attached tree exhibits that correspond to this list. Exhibit A - Tree Inventory Exhibit
and Exhibit B - illustrates the conditions affecting trees #4 and #6.
1. Siberian Elm – Remove, Mitigation Required: 0, fair condition (#1 per tree inventory plan) (8.5”)
This tree is in poor conflicts with the proposed building, as well as grading and
construction activities.
2. Volunteer Elm - Remove, Mitigation Required: 0, fair minus condition (#2 per tree inventory
plan) (3-stem) This tree conflicts with the proposed building, as well as grading and construction
activities.
3. Siberian Elm – Remove, Mitigation Required: 0, fair condition (#3 per tree inventory plan) (6”)
This tree conflicts with the proposed building, as well as grading and construction activities.
4. Honey locust – Remove, Mitigation Required: 2.5 Trees, fair minus condition (#4 per tree
inventory plan) (17”) (2.5)
• Due to poor soils located on the property, an over-excavation of soils is required and will
impact the critical root zone of the tree. Please refer to Exhibit B attached.
• Excessive pruning will also be required to prune branches that are encroaching into the
pedestrian walk and the building resulting in further impacts to the tree.
5. Honey locust – Remove, Mitigation Required: 2.5 Trees, fair condition (#5 per tree inventory
plan) (17”) This tree conflicts with the proposed building and will be removed.
6. Honey locust - Remove, Mitigation Required: 2 Trees, fair condition (#6 per tree inventory plan)
(13”)
• Due to poor soils located on the property, an over-excavation of soils is required and will
impact the critical root zone of the tree. Please refer to Exhibit B attached.
• Excessive pruning will also be required to prune branches that are encroaching into the
pedestrian walk and the building resulting in further impacts to the tree.
7. Honey Locust - Retain, good condition (#7 per tree inventory plan) (12”)
The tree/lawn has been widened and the sidewalk adjusted to preserve this tree.
8. Linden - Remove, Mitigation Required: 1 Tree, fair minus condition (#8 per tree inventory plan)
(9”) This tree conflicts with the proposed building, as well as grading and construction activities.
9. Honey Locust - Retain, fair condition (#9 per tree inventory plan) (9.5”)
The tree/lawn has been widened and the sidewalk adjusted to preserve this tree.
10. Siberian Elm - Remove, Mitigation Required: 0, fair minus condition (#10 per tree inventory
plan) (6”) This tree conflicts with the proposed building, as well as grading and construction
activities.
11. Honey Locust - Retain, good condition (#11 per tree inventory plan) (9.5”)
The tree/lawn has been widened and the sidewalk adjusted to preserve this tree.
12. Siberian Elm – Remove, Mitigation Required: 0, fair minus condition (#12 per tree inventory
plan) (2”) This tree conflicts with the proposed building, as well as grading and construction
activities
13. Honey locust - Retain, good condition (#13 per tree inventory plan) (6”)
This tree is proposed to be preserved.
14. Honey locust - Retain, good condition (#14 per tree inventory plan) (8”)
The walk and proposed retaining wall have been designed to provide additional room for this tree.
The new design provides 10’ on either side of the tree trunk within an open planter that will
improve the long-term viability of the tree. The current condition only provides a 4’x4’ tree grate
surrounded by concrete.
15. Honey locust - Retain, good condition (#15 per tree inventory plan) (7.5”)
The walk and proposed retaining wall have been designed to provide additional room for this tree.
The new design actually provides 10’ on either side of the tree trunk within an open planter that
will improve the long-term viability of the tree. The current condition only provides a 4’x4’ tree
grate surrounded by concrete.
16. Honey locust - Retain, good condition (#16 per tree inventory plan) (8”)
The walk and proposed retaining wall have been designed to provide additional room for this tree.
The new design actually provides 10’ on either side of the tree trunk within an open planter that
will improve the long-term viability of the tree. The current condition only provides a 4’x4’ tree
grate surrounded by concrete.
17. Honey locust – Retain, fair minus condition (#17 per tree inventory plan) (17.5”)
The walk adjacent to this tree has been designed to curve around the tree to provide additional
room for the tree.
18. Honey locust – Remove, Mitigation Required: 3, fair condition (#18 per tree inventory plan) (22”)
Per redline comments from round 1 of review, Forestry has permitted the removal of this tree due
to the poor condition of this tree.
19. Honey locust – Remove, Mitigation Required: 2, poor condition (#19 per tree inventory plan)
(16”) Per redline comments from round 1 of review, Forestry has permitted the removal of this
tree due to the poor condition of the tree.
20. Juniper – Remove, Mitigation Required: 0, fair minus condition (#20 per tree inventory plan)
(5.5”) This tree conflict with the proposed building, as well as grading and construction activities.
Per the City Forester, no mitigation trees are required.
21. Siberian Elm – Remove, Mitigation Required: 0, poor condition (#21 per tree inventory plan)
(12”) This tree will be a conflict with the proposed building, as well as grading and construction
activities. Per the City Forester, no mitigation trees are required.