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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTree Preservation Area Assessment & Planting ideas submitted by Urban Forester 11-09-20 Tree Preservation Area Assessment Clay Terrace- Carmel Indiana Google Aerial of Clay Terrace Prepared for Lisa Callahan Washington Prime Group 111 Monument Cir Indianapolis, IN 46204 -5100 Prepared by Jud Scott Jud Scott Consulting Arborist LLC Registered Consulting Arborist #392 American Society of Consulting Arborists October 22, 2020 2 October 22, 2020 Lisa Callahan Washington Prime Group 111 Monument Cir Indianapolis, IN 46204-5100 Re: Assessment of Planting Opportunities for Clay Terrace Executive Summary There are many opportunities to supplement the landscaping to add for more density to the Tree Preservation Area. Most of these opportunities are inside the fence and wall as this would supply for a better opportunity for survival. Some trees could be planted along the outside edge of the Tree Preservation Area to add aesthetic enhancement but adding trees in the midst would do little to add to the density, as the trees would have a slim chance of survivability. Assignment I was asked to review the Tree Preservation Area at Clay Terrace to make recommendations as to planting opportunities to provide, sound and sight buffering. Site Visit Information On October 15, 2020 I visited the site with Lisa Callahan and two members of the adjacent neighborhoods to discuss what the neighbors would like in the way of additional buffering. It should be noted that I was the Consulting Arborist that did the original assessment of Clay Terrace in the early 2000’s, prior to development. Part of the original assessment included a recommendation to retain mature trees along the West and South borders. This area was left as a Tree Preservation Area to buffer the neighborhoods from Clay Terrace. Overall, the Tree Preservation Area, is in my opinion a great success. It is dense and supplies a lot of noise and sight buffering as well as wildlife retention and aesthetic benefits. There are some dead trees that were found throughout, which is to be expected, and which Washington Prime Group has had assessed by a Certified Arborist to come up with a plan to remove. Following is my assessment of the Tree Preservation Area and suggestions for areas to enhance the landscaping. 3 Tree Preservation Area Good buffering due south of Orvis Good buffering to the West 4 Good buffering along the west line- With some apparent clearing into the Tree Preservation Area Good buffering along the south line- With some apparent clearing into the Tree Preservation Area During our October 15th, 2020 walkthrough the neighborhood representatives expressed that they would like to see trees added to the Tree Preservation Area. After investigation during my October 21, 2020 site visit I do not think that that is a very viable option as the current Tree Preservation Area is so dense, in most places, that adding new trees would be a hopeless procedure i.e. they would not survive because of the competition. Instead of adding trees to an already dense Tree Preservation Area I recommend the following areas as opportunities for planting. 5 Area #1- S. East Corner South of Orvis This area is ~65 feet deep and 185 feet east to west. There are already many nice established trees in this area. The addition of eleven (11) evergreens or a combination of six (6) evergreens and five (5) deciduous trees would add to the screening for the residents south of this area. 6 Area #2- Southwest Corner Area. There is good density throughout. The primary area in need of screening is the corner. Corner area This area has the outlet for the drainage structure for much of Clay Terrace. A wooden fence structure could be constructed that would add screening for the property owner that has constructed a home on the hill south and west of the corner. There is a small 30 x 28-foot area of grass in the corner where three (3) to five (5) Norway spruce (Picea abies) could be added. Seven (7) deciduous trees could be added to the Tree Preservation Area west of the drainage structure and south of the wall once a large ash tree has been removed. This would add buffering. These could be seven (7) two-inch caliper trees or fourteen (14) five gallon reforestation trees. 7 Area #3- Planter Areas in the Parking Lot This is an opportunity but may have utility issues There are six (6) planter areas that run east and west. The western three (3) have nice mature red maples (Acer rubra) that could be retained. The three (3) planter areas that are closest to the Orvis building could have the red maples replaced with Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) which we add more vertical screening. There are two red maples along the Orvis building that could be replaced with Serbian Spruce once the construction is completed. This would soften the building. South side of Orvis building 8 Area #4- End of Rockberry Court Rockberry stub street There is a ~30’ x 50’ area here that could have deciduous trees added for buffering. This section of the Tree Preservation Area has been cleared, as has the property to the north. This may be a problem as it appears to be an encroachment into the Tree Preservation Area which is owned by Clay Terrace. 9 Area #5- Large Open Space in Neighborhood This is a large open area between the two cul-de-sacs to the south This is one large open space in the neighborhood to the south where trees could be planted along the edge of the Tree Preservation Area. A little more research would need to be done if this is to be performed. 10 Area #6- West and South Borders Google Earth Aerials This area is very dense and adding trees would do little to add density. In my opinion the trees would have little chance of survival. Note: One area we do not want to plant in is where the Pipeline crosses through the Tree Preservation Area. This area may on occasion be cleared by the Pipeline Company. 11 Possible Encroachments As mentioned, there are very few planting opportunities along the south and west line in the Tree Preservation Area. Some trees could be added but many areas that could use trees are areas where residents have cleared into the Tree Preservation Area. This is a carved-out area that appears to be in the Tree Preservation Area This area has had the underbrush cleared to the fence 12 West row again appears underbrush to have bee cleared to fence Conclusion There are many opportunities to supplement the landscaping to add for more density to the Tree Preservation Area. Most of these opportunities are inside the fence and wall as this would supply for a better opportunity for survival. Some trees could be planted along the outside edge of the Tree Preservation Area to add aesthetic enhancement but adding trees in the midst would do little to add to the density, as the trees would have a slim chance of survivability. I certify that all the statements of fact in this report are true, complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that they are made in good faith. __________ Jud Scott Jud Scott Consulting Arborist LLC Registered Consulting Arborist #392 American Society of Consulting Arborists 13 STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS Jud Scott Registered Consulting Arborist #392, American Society of Consulting Arborists Certified Arborist #IN-0287A, International Society of Arboriculture M. Arbor A. #PR 200177, Arboricultural Association, U.K. Trained Severe Weather Spotter, NOAA Weather OSHA 10-Hour Certificate- Construction President- 2007, American Society of Consulting Arborists President- 1980-2019, Vine & Branch Inc. 2010-Present, Registered Consulting Arborist Jud Scott Consulting Arborist LLC Education 1980 Wabash College, Bachelor of Arts International Society of Arboriculture, Certified Arborist IN-0287A American Society of Consulting Arborists, Academy Graduate American Society of Consulting Arborists, Registered Consulting Arborist #392 Professional Association Membership American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) Arboricultural Association of U.K. (AA) Indiana Arborists Association (IAA) Indiana Academy of Science Indiana Nurserymen’s and Landscape Association (INLA) 1988-2019 Indianapolis Landscape Association (ILA) International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII) Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) 1987-2020 Utility Arborist Association (UAA)