 A step toward tree protection
Thanks to your efforts, on Monday April 21, council recommended a private tree protection bylaw be drafted by staff. This is a small step in the right direction. Let your councillors know, we expect staff to consult with forestry experts when drafting this bylaw so that our bylaw properly protects our urban forest and all its benefits. Continue to let your councillors know that you believe our community trees are worth protection. In addition to this motion, council has also accepted for review the new Forestry Strategic Management Plan. This is an excellent document which we need to ensure is supported through appropriate budgeting this fall.
How Council Voted on April 21, 2008:
Mayor Rob Burton
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905-338-4173 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Tom Adams ![]()
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905-849-7915 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Mary Chapin
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905-338-8797 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Allan Elgar
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905-827-6056 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Marc Grant
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905-815-6001 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Ralph Robinson
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905-827-7659 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Allan Johnston
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905-825-9586 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Roger Lapworth
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905-825-2211 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Ralph Robinson
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905-827-7659 Voted for a draft bylaw
Councillor Max Khan:
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905-845-6601 Voted for a draft bylaw (but with reservations)
Councillor Fred Oliver
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905-849-5669 Voted against a bylaw (strongly opposed)
Councillor Cathy Duddeck ![]()
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905-845-8374 Voted against a draft bylaw (but asked for a heritage tree registry)
Councillor Keith Bird:
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905-844-5571 Voted against a bylaw (understood the need for changes to variance adjustments)
The details were not debated. Staff was simply directed to prepare a formal bylaw for council deliberation. Staff has been advised to prepare a bylaw for review based on the original elements presented to the Community Services Committee http://www.oakville.ca/Media_Files/agendas-csc-2008/041508csca-item4.pdf with amendments http://www.oakville.ca/Media_Files/agendas-council-2008/042108ca-stdgrpts.pdf.
It is important that you let your councilor know that you value our mature trees and do not want developers to clear away our natural heritage. Mississauga, Toronto, Richmond Hill have all introduced private tree bylaws (without public uprising). These are sensible bylaws that do not penalize citizens for removal of dead, dying, diseased or hazardous trees, but rather they protect their urban forests from unnecessary tree loss. Let your councillors know that you want to protect and improve our environment:
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Here is a comparison of various Tree Protection Bylaws, so you can get an understanding of the impact. The staff recommends reporting only for up to four trees over 15cm (to monitor the number of trees being cut annually). Like the Mississauga bylaw they will charge a fee for five or more healthy non hazardous trees. Unlike Mississauga, they propose charging more for a permit to remove larger trees. There are no recommended fines at this point. The amendments suggest special consideration for rare and endangered species and heritage trees.
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Jurisdiction
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Toronto
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Mississauga
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Richmond Hill
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Oakville elements(?)
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Trees requiring permit
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All trees over 30 cm (12") dbh
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5 or more trees that are 15cm (6") dbh
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All trees over 20cm (7.8") dbh
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Five or more trees over 20cm
(8") dbh
Special consideration for 50cm (20")
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Fees for dead, imminently hazardous or terminally
diseased trees
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$0
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$0
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$0
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$0
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Fees per tree for non-construction related
application
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$100
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$0 for under five trees
$250 for five trees with $50 for each additional tree to a
maximum of $1000
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$150 for the first tree to $50 for each additional tree to
a maximum of $400
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$0 for under five trees
$100 for five trees
$200 for trees over 50cm
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Fees per tree for development related application
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$300
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no distinction
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no distinction
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no distinction
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Fines for persons
Per tree
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$1000 to a max $10,000
Subsequent offence: $2,500 to a max $25,000 (to be revised
in accordance with Toronto City Act: e.g. min $500)
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$1000 to a max $10,000
Subsequent offence: $2,500 to a max $25,000
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$300
A potential maximum $100,000
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Not available
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Fines for corporations
Per tree
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$5000 to a max $50,000
Subsequent offence: $10,000 to a max $100,000
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$5000 to a max $50,000
Subsequent offence: $10,000 to a max $100,000
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no distinction
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Not available
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Mississauga bylaw http://www.mississauga.ca/file/COM/TREE_PERMIT.PDF
Richmond Hill bylaw http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/tree_preservation_bylaw.pdf
Toronto bylaw http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_813.pdf
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