READ POLICY 611

POLICY TITLE:

TREE MANAGEMENT ON CITY LANDS

Policy:

POLICY NUMBER: CITY OPERATIONS - 611June 28, 2010 Date of Last Amendment:2010-322 Historical Change:June 28, 2010

City policy is to retain trees on City lands where practical. However, residents may apply for the

trimming, pruning or removal of trees on City lands as outlined below. Applications are made to

the City’s Department of Engineering and Municipal Operations. Applications must be submitted

in the form of a completed application form, a signed and addressed letter from a property owner

that identifies the subject tree or trees, explains the nature of the request, i.e. trimming, pruning

or removal, and the rationale or reasons for the request.

1. The City will continue to manage trees on City lands:

(a) for the trimming and removal of trees for health reasons, such as thinning,

spacing, pruning and treatment of diseased trees;

(b) for the trimming, pruning or removal of trees for safety reasons such as

hazardous, dead or diseased trees that cannot be treated;

(c) for the trimming or removal of trees that interfere with visibility at

intersections, or pose a risk for damage to infrastructure such as water,

sanitary, storm, sidewalks, power lines, etc.;

(d) for the re-planting of trees; and

(e) for the removal and replanting of trees as part of a parks or right-of-way

(ROW) redevelopment plan.

Requests by residents for removal of a hazardous, dead or diseased tree on City lands

shall be made to the Department of Engineering and Municipal Operations. City staff or a

designated agent will assess the matter, advise Council of any significant trees proposed

for removal, and take appropriate action, including providing public notice, a minimum

of 2 weeks prior to removal. The City will not remove trees in contravention of the

Provincial Wildlife Act or Riparian Area Regulations.

City Operations Policy No. 611 – Tree Management on City Lands

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2. Residents who desire to trim, prune or remove a tree on City lands that has been assessed

as a healthy tree and that does not pose a hazard or risk to the public or private property

or infrastructure as determined by City staff or a designated agent, but where the

residents are requesting action, as examples, to enhance their view or to accommodate a

development proposal (rezoning, development permit, demolition permit, building

permit, or subdivision of land), are required to make their request by application to the

Department of Engineering and Municipal Operations. These requests will be assessed in

the same manner as proposals on private lands in accordance with City of White Rock

Bylaw No. 1831 as “Type 2” and “Type 3” applications, further outlined as follows:

(a) Type 2 Requests – concerns requests to trim, prune, or remove a healthy but

unwanted tree on City lands. Type 2 requests shall be in accordance with the

“Council Criteria for Type 2 Tree Removal Requests”. Potential reasons for

removal may be to either enhance their view, to eliminate unwanted dropping

of pitch, sap or branches from the tree that is creating a nuisance to their

property, or concerns that the tree is getting too big and could become a

potential hazard during a major storm event. Submission requirements and

approvals shall include:

i) Submission of written request in conjunction with a Tree Assessment

Report as defined in Bylaw No. 1831, including explanation of the

rationale for the request, photo’s as illustrations, and proposals and

commitment for the replanting and maintenance of replacement

trees. City staff may require submission of professional geotechnical

and hydrological assessments when deemed necessary, for example,

in steeply sloped areas where tree removal could result in the destabilization

of soils.

ii) Upon receipt of a Type 2 request, City staff will post temporary

signage at the trees and provide letters of notice to immediately

adjacent property owners; review and assess the request in

accordance with the criteria established by Council, advise the

applicant of the decision and their right to appeal the decision to

Council if rejected; advise Council of the request and the decision on

the request; and advise the immediately adjacent property owners of

their right to appeal on a decision for approval .

iii) Type 2 requests for the trimming, pruning or removal of a healthy

tree on City lands shall be reviewed and assessed by Staff in

accordance with the Council criteria for Type 2 Tree Removal

Requests, and forwarded to Council for final decision if an appeal is

received.

iv) Application fees, securities, proposals for cash-in-lieu, replacement

trees, tree protection, and inspection and assessment shall be as

outlined in Parts 7 to 10 in Bylaw No. 1831.

(b) Type 3 Requests – concerns requests to trim, prune or remove a healthy tree

on City lands adjacent to a property under application for rezoning,

development permit, demolition permit, building permit, or subdivision of

land. Submission requirements and approvals shall include:

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i) Submission of written request in conjunction with a Tree Assessment

Report as defined in Bylaw No. 1831, including explanation of the

rationale for the request, photo’s as illustrations, and proposals and

commitment for the replanting and maintenance of replacement

trees.

ii) Upon receipt of a Type 3 request, and a minimum of 2 weeks prior to

referral of the application to Council, City staff will advise Council

of the nature of the request, advise property owners within 25 metres

of the subject tree.

iii) Type 3 requests for the trimming, pruning or removal of a healthy

tree on City lands shall be reviewed by Staff or a designated agent in

conjunction with the development proposal and forwarded to

Council for decision simultaneous with the development proposal.

iv) Application fees, securities, proposals for cash-in-lieu, replacement

trees, tree protection, and inspection and assessment shall be as

outlined in Parts 7 to 10 in Bylaw No. 1831.

Following City approval of a Type 2 or Type 3 request, and following submission by

the applicant of the required replacement tree funds, City staff or a designated agent

will plant on City land the required number of replacement trees, and will trim, prune

or remove the subject tree on City land, within a reasonable period of time.

3. Council Criteria for Type 2 Tree Removal Requests on City Lands

1.

applicant must own property and/or reside within 25 metres of the tree (or at

least a portion of their property is located within 25 metres).

2.

considered for removal, the tree or trees must meet the following criteria:

(i) the tree is a nuisance and dropping pitch, sap, fruit or branches; or

(ii) the tree is getting large and mature and, although healthy, is generating

concern that it could become a hazard during a major storm event; or

(iii) the tree has been previously topped or inappropriately trimmed and

although still healthy is at future risk of failure; or

(iv) the tree is impeding views.

(c)

follows:

i. the City will post temporary signage at the tree to provide notice of the

proposal; and

ii. the City will mail or deliver letters to the property owners/residents

within 25 metres of the tree for Type 2 tree removal requests, with a

request for comments to be returned by a specified date prior to

consideration of the request.

Who Can Apply – Where the tree, or at 50% of the tree(s) is on City lands, theCriteria for Making Type 2 Tree Removal Requests – In order to beNotification Prior to Decision – The City will provide notification as

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(d)

relation to the following criteria:

(i) the topping of trees as defined in Bylaw No. 1831 is not permitted.

(ii) the proposed tree removal must not adversely impact privacy,

screening or shading for a neighboring property owner, unless that

they have no objections to the tree removal.

(iii) the “nuisance tree” criteria must be supported by sufficient evidence,

including photographs in order to determine the degree or type of

nuisance, where the accumulation of falling leaves or evergreen

needles only does not qualify as a nuisance.

(iv) Previously topped or inappropriately trimmed trees should be

considered for removal and replacement.

(e)

applicants, and to the property owners/residents within 25 metres of the tree

(f)

within 14 days of notification and shall be provided to:

(i) the applicants when their request has been denied;

(ii) property owners/residents within 25 metres of the tree when the

request for approval has been given.

The decision of Council on an appeal shall be final. No tree cutting will be

permitted until completion of the appeal period.Criteria for Decision – Requests for Type 2 requests shall be reviewed inNotice of Decision – copies of the decision will be given to Council, to theAppeals – the opportunity to appeal the decision to Council shall be made

THE CORPORATION OF THE

CITY OF WHITE ROCK