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ARBORIST REPORT
Bear Street Project
Prepared for:
Meritage Homes
Prepared by:
Dillon Reynolds - ISA Certified WE-9690A- The Landscape Center ATTACHMENT 10
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DILLON REYNOLDS
Certified Arborist
The landscape center
March 24, 2025
Johanna Crooker Via Email: [email protected] Meritage Homes
5 Peters Canyon Road, Suite 310
Irvine, CA 92606
Dear Ms. Crooker,
This report is submitted for your review in response to your request for an arboricultural survey and arboricultural reporting services of existing palms and trees located at the Bear Street Project (Tract 19334) in Costa Mesa, California. The site address is 3150 Bear Street Costa Mesa, CA. The inventory and site review of the trees located within the project limits was performed on Friday, December 13, 2024 and Monday, March 17, 2025.
Included with this report is a map of the inventoried trees (Exhibit 1), and a tree inventory matrix (Exhibit 2.)
The project proposes redeveloping the existing site. The redevelopment would include the construction of multiple residences along with the creation of a Central Open Space that would include landscaped common areas, and landscaped areas between buildings. Private open space would include front porches and patios/ balconies. All of which will encompass the planting of new trees, featuring a diverse range of species, as part of the project.
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ASSIGNMENT
I have been asked to visit the Bear Street Project to assess, locate and provide an evaluation of the state of the palms and trees on the property as well as collect data. Data collected includes:
• Identify trees with a unique tree number
• Common name
• Botanical name
• Diameter at 54 inches above grade (DBH).
• Height/Canopy
• Condition
o A visual assessment of the tree
o Evaluation of current health and structural condition of the tree o Aesthetic assessment
Note that the observations contained in this report are based on visual inspection of the above-ground parts of the tree. No soil was excavated, and no aerial inspection was carried out.
This report is based on my evaluations of the site conducted on Friday, December 13, 2024 and Monday, March 17, 2025.
OBSERVATION AND METHODOLOGY
The project site currently consists of a large commercial building along with associated parking stalls that are landscaped and regularly maintained. The location is relatively flat. The property and trees appear to be greater than 30 years old. Regular irrigation is applied to the site.
The specific tasks performed were as follows:
• Identify all trees on the property.
• Assign a unique tree ID.
• Verify the location of each inventoried tree.
• Measure the diameter of the individual at 54 inches above grade (DBH). • Analyze the assessment data for each tree. Determine the tree’s health and assign a current condition rating ranging from poor to good, as follows:
Good (3) – Exemplary health and structure for species; a healthy tree with limited signs or symptoms of disease.
Fair (2) - Some minor deficiencies noted in health and/or structure, with potential for corrective measures to be performed to improve condition (including but not limited to fertilizer applications, pruning, and chemical applications.) Poor (1) - Significant deficiencies noted in health and/or structure, some irreversible, and may include hazardous condition signs and symptoms requiring corrective action.
Some individuals may require removal. Trees in this category include any of or combination of the following: very low canopy density; major disease signs and symptoms; dying or dead trees; imminent, irreversible hazardous conditions.
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• Prepare a written report.
• Provide additional recommendations.
FINDINGS
Based on my evaluation of the site, a total of 167 trees were identified within the requested work area. The 167 trees are made up of 19 species and have been placed in Table 1. Table 1 represents the count of each species by overall condition rating. Based on my evaluation of the proposed development of the site, 138 trees will require complete removal as it will not be feasible for the trees to coexist with the site development. 29 trees will remain in place on an undisturbed slope area located on the western side of the project.
PROTECTED STATUS
As part of this scope of work, I did not review the City of Costa Mesa or the County of Orange Tree Protection Ordinance, should the city or county have one, or provide recommendations as to whether a tree falls within any Tree Protection Ordinance in the City of Costa Mesa or the County of Orange, CA.
SUITABILTY FOR PRESERVATION
Each tree was rated for suitability for preservation based upon its age, health, structural condition, and ability to safely coexist within a development environment.
Based on the site redevelopment plans, the removal of 138 trees will be required as they cannot safely coexist with the required site redevelopment footprint. 29 trees will be protected in place and be preserved in their current location on the western side of the project within an undisturbed slope.
High Trees in this category are in good health and structural stability and have the potential for longevity at the site.
Moderate Trees in this category have fair health and/or structural defects that may be abated with treatment. These trees require more intense management and monitoring, and may have shorter lifespans than those in the “high” Category.
Low Trees in this category are in poor health or have significant defects in structure that cannot be abated with treatment. These trees can be expected to decline regardless of management. The species or individual tree may possess either characteristics that are undesirable in landscape settings or be unsuited for use areas.
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Arborist’s Disclosure, Limitations, and Suggestions
• Arborists are tree specialists who use their education, knowledge, training, and experience to examine trees, recommend measures to enhance the beauty and health of trees, and attempt to reduce the risk of living near trees. • Clients may choose to accept the recommendations of the arborist. • Arborists cannot detect every condition that could possibly lead to the structural failure of a tree.
• Trees are living organisms that fail in ways we do not fully understand. Often the conditions are hidden.
• Arborists cannot guarantee that a tree will be healthy or safe under all circumstances, or for a specified period of time.
• Treatment, pruning and removal of trees may involve considerations beyond the scope of arborist services. Arborists cannot take such consideration into account unless complete and accurate information is disclosed.
• To live near trees is to accept some degree of risk. Trees can be managed, but they cannot be controlled.
• The only way to eliminate all risk associated with trees is to eliminate all trees. • Tree preservation is the spirit of arboriculture.
• Unless expressed otherwise information contained in this report covers only those items that were examined and reflects the condition of those items at the time of inspection and the inspection is limited to visual examination of accessible items. • This inspection does not warranty or guarantee that the subject tree is free of defects from hidden or unapparent conditions expressed or implied. The conclusions of this report are derived from visual inspection only.
• Loss or alteration of any part of this report invalidates the entire report. • Possession of this report or copy thereof does not imply right of publication or use for any purpose by any other than the person to whom it is addressed, without the prior expressed written or verbal consent of the certified arborist. • The certified arborist shall not be required to give testimony or to attend court, provide additional services or attend meetings because of this report unless subsequent contractual
arrangements are made, including payment of an additional fee for such services as described in the fee schedule and contract engagement.
• Photographs in this report, being intended as visual aids, are not necessary to scale and should not be construed as engineering or architectural reports or surveys.
I hereby certify that the statements furnished above represent the data and information, and that the facts, statements, and information presented herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Dillon Reynolds
ISA Certified Arborist WE 9690A