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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArborist Report 2021MARCH 29, 2021 ARBORIST REPORT WINSPER HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Prepared by Terrence J. Flatley Forester Certified Arborist/Municipal Specialist #7272 AM Arborist Report Winsper Homeowners Association Critical Area Wetland Buffer Tree Removal March, 2021 Purpose City of Renton regulations requires property owners to submit an arborist report to perform tree removal within designated critical areas and obtain a permit referred as, “CRITICAL AREAS EXEMPTION.” The report includes information about trees so that City Planning staff can determine if tree removal falls within exemption guidelines in order to issue a permit. This report for the Winsper Homeowners Association (HOA), provides information for a tree the HOA and adjacent neighbors are concerned with that might impact the homes bordering a wetland area. The report contains the information that the HOA can use in filing Critical Areas Exemption submittals. The information in this report was collected at the site using basic assessment techniques from ground level. Tree diameter was measured using a metal Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) tape. Description of the Site •General description: Tract F is located along the north-central property boundary of the Winsper HOA and south of the Victoria Hills HOA (see maps below). Near the north boundary line can be found a large black cottonwood tree (Populus trichocarpa) directly south of 815 South 31st Street, Renton Washington. Besides impacting the property at 815 S. 31st Street, the property to the west at 809 S. 31st Street is within 100 feet of the cottonwood tree. Tract F was designated a wetland area by King County. While it does not appear as a designated wetland area on City of Renton mapping, the development plat map indicates this parcel as being transferred to Renton following incorporation and/or annexation. And, as such, the City of Renton requires that the property owner obtain a permit in order to remove this tree or perform any type of vegetation management within the tract. •Legal Description: SW Quarter Section, Section 29, Township 23 N, Range 5 N, City of Renton, King County, Washington. Parcel ID: 9485750560. •Tree: The tree of concern is within Tract F. It is a black cottonwood that is 41 inches in diameter measured at 54 inches (4.5 feet) above ground level. Its approximate height is greater than 100 feet. The tree has been tagged with bright pink flagging. The tree’s approximate location is shown on the subdivision map attached. Photographs of the tree and descriptions are included below. The tree is 97% dead having a few live trunk-sprouts that may sprout a some leaves from latent buds. However, all the main branches found in the top of the tree are dead; these are rotting and falling to the ground within 30 to 40 feet of the trunk. Some of these branches have fallen into the neighbor’s yard to the north and onto a property fence. An indication of trunk rot was noticed approximately 60 feet above the ground on the east side of the tree; this appears as a yellow fungal fruiting body or conk. Tract F Tract F is approximately 0.39 acres (17,145 sq.ft.) in size. It contains a well-stocked population of trees and shrubs adapted to the wetlands. The main over-story species is black cottonwood with many such trees in decline and storm damaged. Numerous Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) trees compose the understory Tree of Concern Live, healthy trees do not represent a significant risk of failure under normal weather conditions. Such trees are considered to be in excellent, very good or good condition. On the other hand, trees that are dead, contain large pockets of decay, and have severe lean can be considered in poor or very poor condition. A large gradation exists between very poor and excellent conditions of trees. Typically, trees are evaluated according to some risk and how they might affect property or people according to their risk rating. For example, trees in the open represent a low risk because if they fail there are no specific targets for them to strike, damage or hurt people. Trees along a busy street can represent a higher risk due to the presence of people, vehicles and structures. The tree in this report is found in the wetland tract adjacent to two developed properties which contain fences, houses, other structures and, the intermittent presence of people. Both houses are within the path of this tree should the whole tree fail. However, large dead branches represent a significant risk to people and property within 40 feet of both adjacent properties. Should they fail, and numerous branches have already fallen, they have a very high probability of damaging property or injuring people. It is recommended this tree be removed or reduced to a safe height immediately due to its high risk of damage to property and injury to people. The following pages provide site photographs of the tree as well as maps to assist locating the property at the: •Regional/Neighborhood level •Subdivision level 2 of 10Winsper HOA Site Photographs 41” DBH Black Cottonwood South of S. 31 Street 41” Black Cottonwood 100+’ tall 3 of 10Winsper HOA Black Cottonwood Exhibiting Large Dead Branches 4 of 10Winsper HOA Potential Fungal Body at 60 Feet Above Ground Conk 5 of 10Winsper HOA Branch Debris Area from Cottonwood Tree 6 of 10Winsper HOA Large and Dead Branch on Neighbors Fence 7 of 10Winsper HOA Neighborhood Map 8 of 10Winsper HOA Site Map 9 of 10Winsper HOA Plat Map 10 of 10Winsper HOA