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14-100598 foorillra .. ill= LE CITY OF CITY HALL 33325 8th Avenue South Federal Way Federal Way,WA 98003-6325 (253)835-7000 www.cityoffederalway.com April 15,2014 Mr.John Rollins Tall Firs Condominiums 31841 18th Avenue SW Federal Way,WA 98023 RE: Permit#14-100598-00-AD;TALL FIRS CONDOMINIUMS—TREE REMOVAL 31841 18th Avenue SW,Federal Way Dear Mr.Rollins: The City of Federal Way Community and Economic Development Department has completed review of a letter prepared by Mr.Bryce Landrud,an I.S.A. Certified Arborist,regarding potentially hazardous trees on the above-mentioned property.This letter paraphrases the recommendations made by Mr.Landrud and the city's response to each(italicized). FINDINGS Seven trees near south side of Cabana The three trees closest to the building: a 22"diameter pine(SE corner),a 16"diameter hemlock and a 22"Douglas-fir,are too close to the building.The four trees nearest the fence are far enough away from the building and may remain. City concurs with this recommendation;the three trees closest to the building represent a hazard to the property and may be removed The four trees nearest to the fence shall remain. Douglas-fir near southwest corner of Cabana The lower limbs are too close to the roof and should be removed. City concurs with this recommendation;the lower limbs of the Douglas-fir may be removed to dear them from the rooftop. Four trees near Building 8 The 26"Douglas-fir at the north end of the building should be removed;it is too close to the building and its roots are heaving the walkway,potentially threatening the rock wall.The three nearby cedar trees may remain. City concurs with this recommendation;the 26"Douglas-fir represents a hazard to the property and may be removed The three cedars shall remain. Douglas-fir near Building 21 The 20"Douglas-fir is close to the north wall of the building and should be limbed up to 15 feet above the roof. City concurs with this recommendation;the limbs of the 20"Douglas-fir are too close to the building and may be limbed to a point 15 feet above the roof. Mr.Rollins April 15,2014 Page 2 Two trees near Building 32 The 22"Western Redcedar that is 6 feet from the garage has begun to heave and crack the carport foundation and sidewalk;as this tree grows these problems will worsen.This tree should be removed and replaced with a more suitable tree.The 16"Western Redcedar at the northeast corner should have its crown raised to clear the roof by at least 10 feet. City concurs with this recommendation;the 22"Western Redcedar is a potential hazard and will only worsen in the future. This tree may be removed The 16"Western Redcedar at the northeast corner may have its crown raised to clear the roof by at least 10 feet. Eleven trees near Building 50 At the southeast end of the building,a 20"Douglas-fir 5 feet from the wall and a 10"Douglas-fir 8 feet from the wall are too close to the building and should be removed.At the west side of the building,two firs near the corner should be limbed to a height of 25 feet.At the northwest corner,the fir should be limbed to a height of 25 feet.Near the north wall,a 20"Douglas-fir has numerous dead limbs and should be removed. Five other evergreens that are further away from the building should remain. City concurs with this recommendation. The 20"Douglas-fir and the 10"Douglas-fir at the southeast end of the building represent a hazard to the building and may be removed The two firs at the west side of the building may be limbed to a height of 25 feet. The fir at the northwest corner may also be limbed to a height of 25 feet. The 20"Douglas:fir near the north wall,a dying tree,mg be removed The five other evergreens further from the building shall remain. Two trees near Building 37 The two Douglas-firs on the east side of the building should be limbed to a height 15 feet above the roof. City concurs with this recommendation. The limbs from the two Douglas-firs pose a hazard to the building these trees may be limbed to a height 15 feet above the roof Two trees near Building 9 The two Douglas-firs on the north side should have their crowns raised 15 feet to clear them from the roof. City concurs with this recommendation. The overhanging limbs from these trees pose a threat to the building;the crowns of the two Douglas-firs may be raised 15 feet from their current height. Western Redcedar near Building 2 The 20"Western Redcedar near the stairway is too close to the building. Further,this tree is being suppressed into poor form by a nearby Douglas-fir.This tree should be removed. City concurs with this recommendation. The Western Redcedar is a potential hazard to the nearby building and may be removed Western hemlock near Building 5 The 22"Western hemlock off the northwest corner of the building has stem and possible root discoloration and decay. Further,this tree is too close to the building. City concurs with this recommendation. The tree may be diseased and poses a threat to the nearby building;it may be removed. 14-100598 Doc.1.D.64983 1� Mr.Rollins April 15,2014 Page 3 Western hemlock along the steps from Cabana to the RV parking lot The 23"Western hemlock on the slope near the steps may be in decline,with numerous dead branches and a possible mistletoe infection.The tree should be monitored this coming spring for changes in density and color as new growth appears. City concurs with this recommendation. The tree shall remain and should be monitored during the.spring of 2014. DECISION Mr.Bryce Landrud,a certified arborist,has determined that some of the above-mentioned trees are hazardous or dying. Other trees,according to Mr.Landrud,serve a screening or shade purpose and do not pose a threat. Pursuant to Federal Way Revised Code(FWRC) 19.120.030(12), the tree removal and trimmings outlined in the`Findings'section of this letter are hereby approved. CLOSING This administrative decision shall not waive compliance with future City of Federal Way codes,policies,and standards relating to this site. If you have any questions regarding this letter,please contact Planning Intern Clayton Wiebe at(253)835-2622,or clayton.wiebe@cityoffederalway.com. Sincerely, Isaac Conlen Planning Division Manager for Patrick Doherty,Director c: Clayton Wiebe,Planning Intern 14-100598 Doc.LD.64983 P.O. Box 1847 AUBURN,WA 9807 1-1 847 OFFICE 253-288-TREE(8733) FAX: 253.939.5126 Thundering OakWWW.THUNDERINGOAK.COM ENTERPRISES February 7, 2014 Mr. John Rollins Tall Firs Condominiums 31841 18th Ave. SW Federal Way, Wa. 98023 Re: Tree conditions and recommendations Dear John, I visited Tall Firs and walked the property with you on November 18th. The purpose of my visit was to examine a number of trees near building walls and/or over roofs and provide feedback regarding appropriate tree pruning and/or removal. The trees below are listed in the order that we looked at them. Cabana, south side: There are seven evergreens between the cabana wall and the southern fence, providing a solid wall of screening and shade throughout the year. This screening is not essential for privacy nor is it really useful in shading much but the building. Three of the trees closest to the building, a 22"diameter pine (SE corner), a 16"hemlock and a 22" Douglas-fir are really just too close to the building. The four trees nearest the fence can be left, will still provide shade and screening from 320`h, but will give the building and sport court a little more space. Cabana, Southwest corner: Remove low limbs from Douglas-fir to clear from roof and tennis court light standard. Building 8: The 26"Douglas-fir at the north end of the building should be removed. There is too much branch overhang over the roof to effectively limb it up(too close). The roots are heaving the walkway and could be threatening the rock wall. The three nearby cedar trees can be left and will fill the space well. Building 21: 20" Douglas-fir. Though fairly close to the north wall, this tree is smaller and could be limbed up to around 15 feet above the roof. Building 32: 22" Western Redcedar 6' from garage. This tree has begun to heave and crack both the carport foundation and sidewalk. As this tree grows, these problems will certainly worsen. I recommend that it be removed and replaced with a more suitable tree. 16"western redcedar at NE corner: raise crown to clear from roof by at least 10 feet. ' •Building 50: SE end of building- 2 Douglas-firs, 20"tree is 5' from wall, 10"tree is 8. These are too close to the building to limb up without destroying all aesthetic appeal. The problem will only increase as they grow larger. Remove both. West side- limb up to firs near corner to 25' high. Northwest corner- limb up 1 fir to 25' high. North wall-remove 20" Doug-fir; it is 16' from wall and roof; it also has numerous dead limbs that impact its appearance. There are 5 other evergreens further away from the building that will suffice in this area. Building 37: 2 Douglas-firs on east side- limb up to 15' above roof. Building 9: 2 Douglas-firs on north side—raise crowns 15' higher than present to clear from roof. Building 2: 20" Western redcedar near stairway—this tree is too close to the building,plus it is being suppressed into a poor form by the larger Doug-fir 20 feet away. Remove tree. Building 5: 22"western hemlock off NW corner- likely that this tree has stem and possible root discoloration and decay; a common defect in landscape hemlocks. It is too close to the building, is perched above the building on the windward side, and there are ample evergreens along the west boundary fence to provide screening and shade. Remove tree. Along steps from cabana to RV parking lot: there is a 23"western hemlock on the slope near the steps that may be in decline. There are numerous dead branches throughout the crown, and appears to be infected with mistletoe. The top looks worse than the lower canopy with regards to color and density. Monitor tree next spring for changes in density and color as the new growth appears. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the items on this report. Respectfully submitted, '(1‘-'---2-1 Bryce drud I.S.A. Certified Arborist#PN0232 t - 1005lg- CEO AJ P.O. Box 1847 AUBURN,WA 98071-1847 OFFICE 253-288-TREE(8733) — = FAX:253.939.5126 WWW.THUNDERINGOAK.COM Thundering Oak ENTERPRISES December 12, 2013 Mr. John Rollins Tall Firs Condominiums 31841 18th Ave. SW Federal Way, Wa. 98023 Re: Tree conditions and recommendations Dear John, I visited Tall Firs and walked the property with you on November 18t. The purpose of my visit was to examine a number of trees near building walls and/or over roofs and provide feedback regarding appropriate tree pruning and/or removal. The trees below are listed in the order that we looked at them. Cabana, south side: There are seven evergreens between the cabana wall and the southern fence, providing a solid wall of screening and shade throughout the year. This screening is not essential for privacy nor is it really useful in shading much but the building. Three of the trees closest to the building, a 22"diameter pine (SE corner), a 16"hemlock and a 22" Douglas-fir are really just too close to the building. The four trees nearest the fence can be left, will still provide shade and screening from 320th,but will give the building and sport court a little more space. Cabana, Southwest corner: Remove low limbs from Douglas-fir to clear from roof and tennis court light standard. Building 8: The 26" Douglas-fir at the north end of the building should be removed. There is too much branch overhang over the roof to effectively limb it up (too close). The roots are heaving the walkway and could be threatening the rock wall. The three nearby cedar trees can be left and will fill the space well. Building 21: 20" Douglas-fir. Though fairly close to the north wall, this tree is smaller and could be limbed up to around 15 feet above the roof. Building 32: 22" Western Redcedar 6' from garage. This tree has begun to heave and crack both the carport foundation and sidewalk. As this tree grows, these problems will certainly worsen. I recommend that it be removed and replaced with a more suitable tree. 16"western redcedar at NE corner: raise crown to clear from roof by at least 10 feet. Building 50: FEB O 2014 CITY OF FEDERAL WAY CDS SE end of building- 2 Dougla.-Lars, 20"tree is 5' from wall, 10"tree is These are too close to the building to limb up without destroying all aesthetic appeal. The problem will only increase as they grow larger. Remove both. West side- limb up to firs near corner to 25' high. Northwest corner- limb up 1 fir to 25' high. North wall- remove 20" Doug-fir; it is 16' from wall and roof; it also has numerous dead limbs that impact its appearance. There are 5 other evergreens further away from the building that will suffice in this area. Building 37: 2 Douglas-firs on east side- limb up to 15' above roof. Building 9: 2 Douglas-firs on north side—raise crowns 15' higher than present to clear from roof. Building 2: 20" Western redcedar near stairway—this tree is too close to the building,plus it is being suppressed into a poor form by the larger Doug-fir 20 feet away. Remove tree. Building 5: 22" western hemlock off NW corner- likely that this tree has stem and possible root discoloration and decay; a common defect in landscape hemlocks. It is too close to the building, is perched above the building on the windward side, and there are ample evergreens along the west boundary fence to provide screening and shade. Remove tree. Along steps from cabana to RV parking lot: there is a 23" western hemlock on the slope near the steps that may be in decline. There are numerous dead branches throughout the crown, and appears to be infected with mistletoe. The top looks worse than the lower canopy with regards to color and density. Monitor tree next spring for changes in density and color as the new growth appears. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the items on this report. Respectfully submitted, Bryce Landrud I.S.A. Certified Arborist#PN0232