Oak Bay Urban Forest Strategy

District of Oak Bay

October 21st, 2016

Progress made

URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH AND REVIEW

BACKGROUND POLICY REVIEW
CANOPY ANALYSIS

PUBLIC REALM PLANTABLE SPOTS ANALYSIS

CANOPY PROJECTIONS

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION
DRAFT VISION, GOALS, PRINCIPLES AND TARGETS
RECOMMENDATION EVALUATION

DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS
FINAL REPORTING!

PUBLIC
OPEN
HOUSE #1

INITIATE SURVEY

PUBLIC
OPEN
HOUSE#2

SURVEY CLOSED

PUBLIC

COUNCIL
OPEN
PRESENTATION
HOUSE#3

STRATEGY

First Public Open House May 17th, ~60 People

Priority Urban Forest Issues

Priority Planting Locations

Public Survey, May August, 316 Respondents

It is important for the urban forest to

Most Important

Public Survey, May August, 316 Respondents

People agree that the District should

Take t ree protection secu r ities

Restrict paved surfaces

Require minimum canopy cover or cashin-lieu
Set a soil volume standa rd

Increase t ree replacement requ irements

Protect t rees of sma ller size

Strongly Agree

Public Survey, May August, 316 Respondents

Other issues raised

Access to sunlight for light and growing
food/gardens
Infrastructure conflicts
Support and education for public to manage and
contribute to the urban forest
Invasive species management and deer

BACKGROUND + CONTEXT

Oak Bays Urban Forest Strategy

establishes a shared vision for the future of the

communitys urban forest with goals, objectives
and measurable targets

Urban Forest Context

Human Settlement + Development

Pre-Colonization

1890-1915

1916-1940

1941-1970

1971-2015

Human Settlement + Development

Carleys Riding Stable (1955)

South Oak Bay (1949)

INVENTORY + ANALYSIS

Species + Age Diversity

Species diversity
Garry oak 35% of Oak
Bays tree population

Age diversity
Street trees reaching 100
years old
Shorter-lived species
requiring replacement

Canopy Cover

Canopy cover change in Oak Bay

Setting a Canopy Cover Target

Opportunities

Setting a Canopy Cover Target

Opportunities
Current (1,200 potential trees)
Anticipated growth
and loss
Community character
and values

Setting a Canopy Cover Target

Aspirational target to approach 40% canopy

cover by 2045
Land use (main zoning)

Current Canopy Approximate Approximate increase in

Cover
Target
total number of trees*

Established neighbourhoods (RS 3-5)

28%

35%

3,700 medium trees

Uplands (RS 1 2)

44%

45%

150 large trees

Community institutional (P2)

42%

50%

900 large trees

Commercial and mixed Use (C/P3)

29%

30%

130 medium trees

Multi-unit residential (RM)

18%

20%

60 medium trees

Parks and open space (P1)

35%

38%

200 large trees

Roads

34%

38%

1,000 medium trees

Oak Bay District

33%

36-40%

6,000 medium to large trees

ISSUES + OPPORTUNITIES

Redevelopment + Infill

Redevelopment

Infill Development

Tree Protection on Public + Private Land

Size of trees protected

Trees in building envelope
Canopy replacement
Permit fees
Public perceptions
Significant majority support, but
polarized opinions
Support for private tree maintenance

Public Works + Utilities

Complete streets + trail

upgrades
Combined sewer
separation
Utilities

Degradation of the Natural Environment

Garry oak
ecosystems
Garry oaks
in urban
areas
Areas of
ecological
interest

Climate Change Mitigation + Adaptation

Projected urban forest impacts

tree growth + natural regeneration
tree mortality + range of species suitable

Using trees to adapt to climate change

Maintaining a Healthy Tree Population

Tree mortality rates

Individual tree health
Tree diversity
Native species
Targets for introduced
species

Managing Water + Soil

Soil volume
Water availability
Pervious surfaces

Stormwater
runoff
Making use of
the urban forest

Trees and Urban Design in the Public Realm

Larry McCann, 2013

Google Maps, 2015

URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT

STRATEGY

Vision

Oak Bay is close to nature. Lush, gorgeous treed streets, gardens and wild
places give Oak Bay a unique parkland feel that is integral to our communitys
sense of identity. Our urban forest supports a diversity of healthy and well
cared for native and non-native trees and plants with a special place
provided for the Garry oak as our namesake and the keystone of our native
ecosystems. The urban forest supports desirable birds, insects and wildlife
and provides places for children to play and for people to connect with
nature. The urban development that has occurred in our community has
protected and enhanced the distribution of trees and greenery throughout
our neighbourhoods, preserving and renewing Oak Bays urban forest legacy
for future generations.

Strategy Objectives

A. Protect and enhance canopy cover to approach

40% by 2045
B. Support a healthy, well-adapted and diverse tree
population
C. Manage the urban forest for community climate
change adaptation
D. Strengthen natural heritage to support healthy
ecological systems and biodiversity
E. Engage and partner with the community to build
stewardship of the urban forest

Baseline

Baseline

IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK

A. Protect and Enhance Canopy Cover

Tree planting
Actions

Resources + Costs

New public plantings

1,200 new trees

Est. $25,000/yr
for 15 years

Replacement plantings

Est. $25,000/yr
for 15 years

Private + Institutional plantings

1,000 new institutional trees
4,000 new private trees

Grants + donations

Resourcing

Planting crew
+ 0.2 arborist planning load

A. Protect and Enhance Canopy Cover

Tree Protection Bylaw Update

Actions

Resources + Costs

Writing + Legal Review

Est. $5,000

Resourcing

+ 0.4 arborist planning load

Administration 0.5 position

B. Support a Healthy, Well-Adapted + Diverse Population

Tree Maintenance Program

Actions

Resources + Costs

Maintain current population

Est. $550,000
($60/yr per street tree;
$50/yr per park tree)

Maintain 1,200 additional trees by + 0.4 arborist planning load

Administration 0.5 position
2031

B. Support a Healthy, Well-Adapted + Diverse Population

Other items
Actions

Resources + Costs

GIS-based mobile data collection

$3,000 10,000

Tree inventory data

$20,000 possible consultant

project

Watering program

+ 0.4 full-time equivalent

(2 people for 6 months)

Fencing young trees

$5 50 / unit

D. Support Ecological Systems + Biodiversity

Ecosystems
Actions

Resources + Costs

Inventory: Garry oak and

associated ecosystems, rare and
endangered plants, invasives
(possible)

$5,000 15,000 (consultant)

Possible citizen science
+ 0.15 position engagement
coordinator

Natural Areas Management

Framework

Existing resources + possible

consultant project

Invasive species management plan $5,000 15,000

E. Engage and Partner with the Community

Engagement
Actions

Resources + Costs

Community engagement program

+0.25 position (engagement

coordinator)

Partnerships with Lekwungen

people

+0.15 position (engagement

coordinator)

Inventory available online

$5,000 10,000

Summary: Core Budget Items

Yearly budget (inclusive of current budget)

Actions

Resources + Costs

Planting program

$50,000 per year

Maintenance

$550,000 per year

(increasing to $615,000 by 2031)

One-off
Actions

Resources + Costs

Bylaw update

$5,000

Data collection technology

$3,000 10,000

Summary: Core Budget Items

Increase in staff positions

Position

Increase

Arborist

0.6

Administration clerk

0.5

Seasonal watering staff

0.4

Engagement coordinator

0.3

Performance Indicators

1.
2.
3.
4.

Percent canopy cover

Number of trees planted per year
Percent genus and family
Percent in each ULE class