The city will require an extra professional opinion for applications to cut down trees.
Council last week agreed with a motion brought forward by Coun. Jeannie Kanakos to have staff look into creating a required process in which an independent third party will review arborists’ reports by applicants seeking to remove trees.
Noting the city already has such a requirement when it comes to development applications for steep slope areas, Kanakos described the move as a step in the right direction.
She also said the city has been flooded with letters of concern about tree cutting taking place in the Sunshine Hills area over the past year, but a third-party reviewing arborists’ reports should also be a requirement for the entire city.
The issue was raised during council’s discussion last week about a rezoning application to build a duplex residence at 727 Brooke Road.
There are eight trees and three non-bylaw sized trees on the site, all proposed for removal.
For the 16 replacement bylaw trees required, the owners are proposing to plant seven replacement trees and provide cash-in-lieu for nine trees.
City staff are already going to be reporting back with proposed amendments for the Delta Tree Protection and Regulation Bylaw and the enforcement bylaw.
City manager Sean McGill said the portion of the upcoming bylaw changes that deals specifically with so-called “significant trees” will be coming to council with recommendations in the next few weeks, in advance of the rest of the tree protection bylaw.
The city is also planning a public education campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of trees, maintenance tips, the Trees for Tomorrow program and explain any amendments to the tree bylaw.
