Unavoidable construction| Really?

Eric Frei

Sort of ironic isn't it in this day and age to read something like the quote below. Whilst there's no shortage of funds for the building dang there's a shortage for the tree, yet no building approval geniuses thought of making allowances or modifications for the tree, nope, and now with 40% root loss on a veteran tree quick raise funds like street beggars to save it's life!

Would have been a lot easier to make it a condition of the DA, could the new pavement been of a type more tree root friendly?

Old Wilson tree in danger

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Bob Tooley

A few years ago, I ran into a similar situation...large tree root system going to be covered by a new pavement parking area. We designed an underground grid work of 4" perforated PVC tubing to allow water to the root zone as well as the entry of outside gases, and the exit for underground gases, and any heat build up. The design called for the grid to be 18" below ground and the new paved area. The water supply was to come from a passive-flow from a surface pond area which was being constructed....All above ground tube in/outlets were to be unseen and hidden by landscape material planted where they extended above ground...and two inlets were designed to use for applying liquid fertilizers when, and if necessary.
The paved area below the tree, and for 25' beyond the drip edge, was to be painted white to reduce 'solar-bounce' of sunlight, heat radiation into the root zone, and surface heat reflection to the underside of the foliage..

Project was 'rejected' for two reasons.... 1. It 'might' cause frost action under the pavement....(as if it wasn't going to exist otherwise).. 2. They didn't think the white section of the pavement "would look good"...

Sean Freeman

It is a shame that such instances do occur and will continue to happen for a long while yet imo.

It is difficult for many engineers to incorporate considerations for vegetation into their modelling, its not their area of expertise....it is ours...and when there are no exisiting protocols in place that direct planners to engage Arborist early in the process problems like this (and worse) will be repeated.

Eric is right IMO it would have taken little effort and minor expense-compared to what is now being written about, and even less compared to the contribution established large spreading trees such as this oak make to the local area they grow in.

Providing planners with a dollar value for the trees that are present on their proposed development sites is often very helpful in placing any variations to brown scape construction in a proper context...there are a number of well established formulae to do this, some of the best and most comprehensive have been developed with the assistance of the USFD.

As is mentioned in the local paper aricle large older trees play a very significant role in stormwater management, WSUD principles have been around for almost 10yrs that give numerous options for incorporating the role of vegetation...vry important when increasing hard surface.

The vast majority of bad situations for existing vegetation in a development context arises from a lack of understanding rather than any deliberate act on the part of anyone.

Bob Tooley

One of the first clues of a contractor's 'intent' is in their way of asking the question..."This tree can't be saved, can it ?" In that question they've already established the 'mind set' they want you to add onto, and if you don't follow 'that',...you're now the outsider.. Many make a 'token effort' just to pacify the general public, but from the very start...you know the fate of the tree.

Sean Freeman

It is true that there are planners architects and construction companies that have over time come to view trees as problems, rather than assets.

Part of our role as Arborists is IMO to be providers of solutions (where possible) and to place the known constraints on development that trees do represent (significant spacial constraints in the case of large older trees) within the real context of the magnitude of these assets can represent.

Without relying on established standards and specifications, pressure to make compromises in terms of protection areas and approach distances can and do result in unsatisfactory outcomes.

The variation in local government attitudes and commitment to protecting the environment whilst managing development, combines with dramatic variation in the quality of both informing and policing the controls that do exist to results in very frustrating differences in outcomes project to project.

As a 'profession' we need to do better at performing our role across the board but particularly when it comes to interacting with the other development professionals.

Knotahippie

Progress...

Bob Tooley

Oddly enough,... the best way to promote yourself, and your ideas, is to be just as expensive as the general contractor..it puts you on a level playing field. Though I related to a 'failure' at the Colby College's project.. there are a number of cases where similar designs have been used with great success, and in an equal number of cases...the 'high costs' for these design ideas became a determining factor in 'selling' them. If we place a low value on the design work to keep a tree alive, they in turn place a low value on the tree itself. Admittedly, you have to know what you're doing, but when you present them with a project you know will work, there is no reason to cheapen it by charging a low price. I've had people put me in-charge of the tree projects, over the general contractor, simply because I charged more then he did... Some might say you don't get many jobs being high priced...but with the right pricing scale....you don't have to..
You promote the profession up where it belongs by charging what the information and work is 'really worth'...

Maybe I should qualify this post............... Where we stand in regard to contractors depends on where 'we' put ourselves. We can wait for them to contact us..if ever... or we can contact them with what we can offer in advance of their need and start the co-operative dialog moving along. There is a lot of talk regarding what 'should be' done, but until these words are turned into actions, little gets done, and our industry's potential remains in the dark to the people who need them the most. Arborists need to be involved in writing periodic columns for local newspapers so the word gets out 'locally',...and though internet sites are a good start...they don't often support your individual company local work needs. I'd just like to see professional tree people get their just rewards by having their knowledge and expertize recognized, and appreciated... I'm on the out-going end of the industry, but I think fair is still fair.. no matter where it resides...

Eric Frei

I have been involved with a great variety of sites, from being the first on the scene to the replacement consultant where other arborists perhaps didn't work out or perhaps where a protected tree has been damaged or needs re-assessment.

In some instances it is very difficult when you field a call from a developer that goes like this ....

"how much for a report, we need a quote?"

"the tree is bla bla and bla bla, how much room does it need?":- with this one the arborist who provides the least room is seen as the better arborist.

I have seen some absolute shockers where large remnant trees I'd consider over mature entering their veteran phase have been given less than 5XDBH as a TPZ, and on that TPZ perimeter a 360degree excavation 0.5m to1m deep with retaining wall and houses built beneath the drip line.

In this story that tree certainly looked worth preserving from a distance, obviously it wasn't protected however here on many sites the moment the DA is lodged all vegetation becomes protected .... however some loop holes are to remove unprotected trees prior to the DA lodgement. Also the occasional development plan does try to go through with the trees omitted but the councils do check and then request reports.

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Bob Tooley

There are a number of 'penny- pinchers' in the construction business and they realize every penny they 'don't' pay you is one more they pay themselves. I've used a reverse-ego approach on some...usually when I didn't care if I got the job or not... On the phone they'd want me to 'quote' a figure, and my reply has been..."If you have to ask my price, chances are you can't afford me". This puts their ego down just enough so they'll pay almost 'any' price just to prove 'they can afford' you... It's sort of turning the tables from where they feel like they're giving you a prime opportunity to work 'for them', and you're pointing out it's 'you' doing them the favor... I've found, in some cases, the 'less' you put into some of these negotiations, the more you get out of them. Some companies will fall all over themselves just to get the work, but if you play like it doesn't really matter to you one way or the other...it hurts a few egos and they'll want that fixed... It also helps to draw a few predictions as to 'what they can expect' of another company's design work and final results...just so they have 'something to think about'...

I feel.....in our profession, we 'are equals' to these contractor's and other people, and I won't take a back seat to any of them... One quote I have told property owners is..."I charge $10. more per hour if I have to work with a architect, or contractor...and that's only to cover the mallox and asprin."