Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 28, 2009 7:00 PM
Proposed regulations for heritage trees have been cut off at the roots. Vernon council refused Monday to accept a recommendation from the environmental advisory committee that would have forced anyone wanting to cut down a heritage tree to hire an arborist first. They would have also faced “a significant fine” if a tree was removed without the permission of the city. “This has a feeling of interference I’m not comfortable with,” said Coun. Shawn Lee. “I think we need to do something to make it desirable for people to preserve trees. Is there another way? I think this is very heavy-handed.” A heritage tree is considered to be more than 30 years old.Opposition to the recommendation also came from Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe.
The advisory committee had recommended that anyone wanting to remove or significantly alter a heritage tree would have to hire an arborist and provide a report to the city showing the tree is hazardous and must be taken out. “The majority of the committee members felt heritage trees are worthy of protection in the community,” said Coun. Buffy Baumbrough, committee chairwoman. “Heritage trees have a particular value in our community. They act as landmarks, they add to the community aesthetically and they add habitat values.” While regulations have been shot down, city staff has been instructed to complete an inventory of heritage trees on public and private property.
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