Proposed Amendment to the Interim Tree Bylaw Michelle McGuire, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Proposed Amendment to the Interim Tree Bylaw

July 15, 2019

Michelle McGuire, Manager of Current Planning

• 1. Previous Decisions
• 2. Changes to proposed amendment
• 3. Staff Resources and Financial Implications
• 4. Recommendation

Agenda

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE INTERIM TREE BYLAW

THAT staff (1) be directed to modify proposed “Interim Tree Bylaw No. 4892, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 5023, 2019” to:

• Protect existing trees over 35 cm DBH;
• Require replacement trees when hazardous trees are removed;
• Require replacement trees when protected trees are removed;
• Allow every homeowner, by permit, to remove:

– One protected tree over 35 cm DBH every three years in Ambleside and Dundarave; – One protected tree over 35 cm DBH per year in the rest of West Vancouver; and – A reasonable number of trees over 35 cm DBH per year for multi-family developments; and (2) bring proposed “Interim Tree Bylaw No. 4892, 2016, Amendment Bylaw

• No. 5023, 2019” forward for Council’s consideration as modified.

Previous Decisions

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE INTERIM TREE BYLAW

• protection for trees with a DBH of 35 cm and greater;
• replacement trees are required for all protected trees,

including hazardous trees.

• no permit required for the removal of limbs using

acceptable pruning practices as defined;

• includes exemption tree provisions and application

requirements.

• updated terms for tree replacement security; and
• the expiry for a tree removal permit has been

extended from 6 months to 1 year.

• other minor clarifications / edits

Changes to Proposed Amendment

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE INTERIM TREE BYLAW

• Properties subject to a development permit are

exempt from the Interim Tree Bylaw.

• These sites required to obtain approval prior to tree

removal.

• Discretionary review.
• No change proposed to current process.

Exemption Tree Provision for Multi- family sites

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE INTERIM TREE BYLAW

• The proposed motion brought forward would enable

the removal of healthy trees over 35 cm DBH on an exemption basis.

• No protection for currently protected trees over 75

cm DBH.

• Further loss of the District’s most mature trees is

anticipated due to the proposed exemption tree provision.

Loss of Trees over 75cm DBH

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE INTERIM TREE BYLAW

• Additional staff will be required to administer the updated Interim

Tree Bylaw as per Council’s motion. 2 additional FTE positions will be required will be required. As a result, a budget amendment will be required.

• A budget amendment of approximately $20,000 will also be required

to classify 2013 LiDAR data to enable comparison against 2018 data.

• Staff recommend bylaw amendment effective January 1, 2020 to

reflect the timing of available funds required to implement the recommendations and provide the required staff resources.

• Fee revenues for tree removal permits could in future defray funding

required for the additional FTE positions required to implement the bylaw.

• Funding to pay for additional staff may require cuts in other areas of

service.

Staff Resources and Financial Implication

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE INTERIM TREE BYLAW

That Council

• give three readings to the proposed amendment to

the Interim Tree Bylaw and corresponding amendments to enforcement bylaws;

• direct staff to include funding in the 2019 Fall Budget

amendment to:

• implement the bylaw; and
• btain comparable 2013 LiDAR data to start work on the

Urban Forest Management Strategy.

Recommendation

Thank you Questions?