TREE PRESERVATION 1 Objective

(a) To retain existing vegetation suitable for preservation through careful site planning including the consideration of building, site facility and site servicing locations.

(b) To enhance environmental quality such as maintaining the scenic qualities of streets and neighbourhoods, screening undesirable views, providing separation between land uses, stabilizing slopes, reducing soil erosion, providing habitat for wildlife, modifying air temperatures and providing wind and sun protection.

(c) To enhance the economic value of properties by reduced landscaping cost and increased property by maximizing the extents of trees preservation values.

13.2 Existing Vegetation - Definition

All existing vegetation as defined by the following criteria shall be shown on the existing conditions plan submitted with an application for site plan approval:

(a) trees exceeding 100 mm (4 inches) diameter at breast height in the interior of the site and on abutting properties within 3 meters of a property line and;

(b) shrubs exceeding 1.5 metres (5 feet) in height located:

(i) on both sides of a property line of the proposed development;

(ii) on the proposed development and within 6 metres (19.6 feet) of a property line including a property line common to a public street; and (iii) on lands adjacent to the proposed development and within 1.5 metres (5

feet) of the common property line; and

(c) trees and shrubs on the boulevard of the public street along the streetline(s) of the proposed development.

If there is no existing vegetation as defined in this section within the proposed development a statement by the Owner or Owner's representative is required on the existing conditions plan. The statement should be dated and signed by the Owner or Owner's representative and refer to the date of the site inspection at which time no existing vegetation was located on the site.

The existing conditions plan showing the location and general description of existing vegetation or a statement by the Owner or Owner's representative is a requirement at the time of site plan application and a prerequisite to the acceptance and processing of an application.

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Exemptions: Minor or small scale development such as building additions, changes of use, outdoor patios, temporary structures, or small parking/loading area expansions upon lands that have been previously landscaped and where the development will have no substantial impact upon the existing landscape.

(d) It is also recognized that while smaller trees and understorey plant materials do not need to be located as aprt of the inventory. It is equally important that these materials be considered for preservation when in combnation with trees and shrubs notes above in 13.2(a) & (b)

13.3 Tree Preservation Report

A tree preservation report shall be provided for proposed development on lands where there is existing vegetation. Tree preservation reports must be prepared by a qualified consultant; usually an urban forester, arborist, or landscape architect. Depending upon factors such as the amount, location, condition (state of health), quality with regard to species, significance or sensitivity of the existing vegetation, the extent of the tree preservation report may vary from the simplest form such as notes on the landscape plan or a letter report to more extensive reports that may include detailed tree inventories, assessments, discussion of alternatives and multiple recommendations. Any recommendations should also be based on the review of the grading and servicing plans for the development. Owners shall preserve as many trees as practically possible

The report shall include the following:

(a) a plan prepared by an Ontario Land Surveyor or other accepted professional at the same scale as the site plan and a reduction of the same be submitted for review and approval and preferably using the site services plan as a base showing,

(i) accurate location of existing vegetation; (ii) existing and proposed grade elevations;

(iii) building, site facilities including parking areas, driveways, service areas, and pedestrian walkways, and underground and overhead services; and (iv) limits of construction/ground disturbance.

(b) a general description or detailed inventory (depending upon the extent of the report) of the existing vegetation. Such description shall also include species, size, location, health, age, rare or threatened species.

(c) an opinion of the significance of the vegetation.

(d) an evaluation of the impact of the proposed development upon the existing vegetation.

(e) possible site layout and/or site servicing modifications recommended to reduce the impact of the proposed development upon existing vegetation.

(f) recommended vegetation to be preserved.

(g) measures to mitigate the impact of the proposed construction upon vegetation recommended for preservation including the care of trees during and after construction including items such as watering, fertilizing, aerating, pruning as my be required to ensure the preservation of the trees.

(h) provisions for replacement of trees recommended for preservation.

The requirement of a Tree Preservation Report or element(s) of the report may be exempted in circumstances such as:

(i) the conflict between the location of existing vegetation and the reasonable development of the site is unavoidable;

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(ii) the existing vegetation is proposed to be preserved by the developer and can be isolated from the impacts of the development. An example of this exemption would be a group of trees located at a remote corner of a site or along a property line that can be protected for preservation by construction of temporary protective fencing;

(iii) the existing vegetation is considered an unsuitable species; (iv) survivability of the existing vegetation is obviously not feasible;

(v) the existing vegetation is protected by other authority or agreement such as its location within the flood plain or an approved plan of subdivision; and

(vi) the existing vegetation has been included in a previous report provided by the Developer and accepted by the City.

(vii) to demonstrate that any construction on the subject site will not affect any palnt material on abutting lands.

13.4 Prior to Construction

Prior to issuance of a building permit or construction on the site, the owners qualified consultant will be required to:

(a) review drawings submitted for building permit approval and certify that the recommendations of the Tree Preservation Report have been incorporated in the building permit application drawings and that the permit application including the proposed grading, drainage and site servicing is not in conflict with the vegetation proposed for preservation. The consultants review of potential conflicts with proposed site services shall include gas, electrical, telephone and cable utilities. Exemption from this requirement may be provided if the building permit plans are of a simple and straight forward nature and City staff can easily confirm the effectiveness of the proposed measures for tree preservation.

(b) verify that any recommendations of the approved Tree Preservation Report required prior to construction or issuance of a building permit such as the installation of protective fencing, selective tree removal or pruning have been completed as required in accordance with the accepted recommendations.

(c) the Owner’s qualified consultant will certify to the City that all tree preservation protection fencing has been installed and will provide periodic inspections to ensure it has been maintained in accordance with the preservation plan.

13.5 Project Completion

Upon completion of construction and prior to the release of final performance security or final acceptance by the city, the Owner's qualified consultant will be required to certify that work has been completed substantially in accordance with the recommendations of the approved tree preservation report.

Exemption to this requirement may be provided if compliance can be confirmed by City Staff at the time of construction completion. An example of this exception would be the installation and removal of temporary protective fencing with no disturbance of the trees designated for preservation including the understory plaintings.

13.6 Maintenance

Existing trees that have been preserved for the purpose of fulfilling a requirement of Section 9 Landscaping and Buffering of the Site such as; screening, buffer strips, or parking lot landscaping will be shown on the landscape plan and maintained and/or replaced as required in the same manner as landscape material provided at the time of development. Replacement of other vegetation preserved to contribute to the aesthetic or ornamental quality of the development will not be required.

13.7 Reduced Landscaping Requirements

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preserved vegetation in contributing to the landscaping of the site. Requirements may be reduced such as:

(i) reduced installation size of "new" plant material by up to 50%; (ii) seeding of low intensity use areas;

(iii) reduction of "new" trees required equal to those preserved provided the preserved trees are in a similar location and fulfill the same functional requirement as those required for landscape plan approval;

(iv) reduction of ornamental or non-functional landscaping by up to 100%; and

(v) elimination of perimeter fencing where existing vegetation provides an adequate barrier.

13.8 Approval Procedures

(Refer to Appendix 2), Site Plan Approval and Enforcement Procedures)

To ensure that site plan approval applications are not delayed and to incorporate the most efficient and cost effective tree preservation measures the consideration of existing vegetation should take place as early as possible in the site planning process.

At the time of Site Plan Approval or Building Permit application, the existing conditions site plan should include:

(i) the location and description of existing vegetation as defined in Part 13.2 of this section, or

(ii) a signed statement by the Owner or Owner's representative declaring that there is no existing vegetation on the site as defined in Part 13.2 of this section, or (iii) a request to be exempt from the requirement to show existing vegetation.

Applications that include existing vegetation will be reviewed with regard to the need for a Tree Preservation Report and at the time of application acceptance, the Owner or Owner's representative will be advised of either a requirement for a Tree Preservation Report or exemption from the requirement.

If a Tree Preservation Report is required, it must be submitted prior to consideration of the application by the Site Plan Review Group. Consideration by the Site Plan Review Group will be deferred on a one week basis until the Tree Preservation Report is received.

Final site plan approval is subject to the approval of the Tree Preservation Report. 14. BICYCLE PARKING FACILITIES

(a) Objectives:

To encourage the use of bicycles as an alternative means of transportation, bicycle parking facilities shall be provided at the residential base and at destination locations such as the workplace, convenience and destination and commercial and institutional facilities. Bicycle parking shall be provided in facilities that are convenient, safe, secure and functional for the intended use. (b) Number of Bicycle Parking Spaces:

To be provided in accordance with the regulations set out in the current Zoning By-law.

(c) Design Characteristics

When required in association with a development, bicycle parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the design characteristics as set out in Table 6.10.

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(d) Long and Short-term Bicycle Parking Facilities:

Long-term bicycle parking is required for apartment buildings and lodging houses with five or more residential units to store bicycles for several hours or days at a time. The facility must be protected from the weather and should be enclosed within a secure space.

Subject to the provisions of the Z.-1 Zoning By-law, short-term bicycle parking is required for all non-residential development requiring 10 or more vehicular parking spaces. Short-term bicycle parking spaces should be as accessible as possible and should be visible to discourage theft. Short-term bicycle parking facilities typically consist of a rack or a post where the frame and wheels of the bicycle can be secured by a user supplied lock.

Table (14.1)

Design Characteristics for Bicycle Parking Facilities:

1. Location Long-Term Bicycle Parking:

Apartment buildings and lodging houses (with five or more residential units) shall be required to provide for long-term bicycle parking opportunities in an accessible, secure and weather protected area. Subject to the design

characteristics set out below, long-term bicycle parking spaces may be provided in the following locations;

(a) in a bicycle room or bicycle compound located within a building or motor vehicle parking structure

(b) within an individual bicycle locker (c) within an accessory building

For the purpose of this By-law, long-term bicycle parking shall not be provided within a dwelling unit or a balcony thereof.

Short-Term Bicycle Parking:

Short-term bicycle parking spaces may be provided within an exterior space (covered or uncovered) designated for the parking of bicycles.

Large scale developments may spatially disperse the required number of short-term bicycle parking spaces throughout the site in accordance with the locational considerations detailed under 4, 5, 6, and 7 noted below. 2. Size of a Bicycle Parking

Space

· Minimum horizontal dimensions of 0.6 metres by 1.5 metres and a height of at least 1.9 metres

3. Aisle Width · Where more than one row of bicycle parking spaces is

provided, a minimum aisle width of 1.5 metres shall be provided.

4. Location for Accessibility · Less than 15 metres from the entrance used by cyclists or if located within a building in a location easily accessible to bicycles

· Should not be farther from the entrance than the closest motor vehicle parking space (excluding parking spaces for the person with disabiltities)

· In a separately designated area that does not impede the movement of pedestrians

· In an easy to find location directly visible from the street and if not directly visible from the street directional information signs shall be installed to direct cyclists to the bicycle parking facility

5. Location for Natural Surveillance

· Located within constant visual range of persons within the adjacent building or within well traveled pedestrian areas

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roadway

6. Security Lighting · Night lighting shall be provided in a manner to ensure that the entire bicycle parking area is well lit

7. Covered Bicycle Parking · If covered motor vehicle parking is provided, the required bicycle parking shall also be covered.

(e)Change Room and Shower Facilities: Change room and shower facilities for cyclists are encouraged to enhance the use of bicycles for work based travel.