Private Tree Bylaw now in effect within the Roseland; maximum fine $100,000

News 100 greenBy Staff

March 1st, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

City Council has been toying around with a private tree bylaw for years.

A tentative toe in the water step has been taken – now we wait to see how the public reacts.

This glade of trees on the east side of City View Park is to be cleared of these trees to create space for the construction of Maintenance space. BurlingtonGreen didn't think this was necessary.

This glade of trees on the east side of City View Park is to be cleared of these trees to create space for the construction of Maintenance space. BurlingtonGreen didn’t think this was necessary.

There are the tree huggers who argue that no one owns a tree – we are just stewards of one of God’s gifts – here to take care of the tree while the tree takes care of us.

On the other side there are those that see the tree as their property and no one is going to tell them what to do with their property.

Tree stumps Guelph LineAnd if someone wants to cut the tree down because they are tired of raking up the levees cutting down that tree is their right.

With a “pilot” private tree bylaw in place we now get to see what the Luddites actually do.

Private Tree Bylaw is now in effect within the Roseland community area, for two years. During this time, consultation will be facilitated by the Roads, Parks and Forestry Department to investigate the feasibility of rolling out the bylaw city-wide. At the end of the two-year pilot, a decision will be made by council to make the bylaw city-wide as-is, make changes to the bylaw or cancel it.

The pilot project protects private trees with diameters larger than 30 cm, historic and rare tree species from damage or destruction.

Two information sessions were held; one for residents of the Roseland Community and one for the general public. The presentation from the information sessions can be found at burlington.ca/privatetree.

About the Private Tree Bylaw

Within the Roseland Community, no person can injure, destroy, cause or permit the injury or destruction of a tree with a diameter of 30cm or greater or of a tree of significance (historic or rare).

To read the full bylaw, including information on permits, exemptions and fines, visit Burlington.ca/PrivateTree. The document is ten pages in length.

Roseland tree boundaries 2019

Roseland tree boundaries 2019

Examples of exemptions include:
• Trees with a diameter of less than 30cm
• For the purpose of pruning in accordance with Good Arboricultural Practices
• For emergency work
• If the tree has a high or extreme likelihood of failure and impact as verified or confirmed by an Arborist or the Manager
• If the tree is dead, as confirmed by the Manager of Urban Forestry, or designate
• If the tree is an ash tree (due to the Emerald Ash Borer), as confirmed by the Manager of Urban Forestry, or designate
• If a tree is within two metres of an occupied building
Permits

A person wanting to remove a tree with a diameter larger than 30 cm or of significance can apply for a permit online by visiting Burlington.ca/privatetree.

Fines
Minimum fine is $500. Maximum fine is $100,000.

That $100,000 fine will be the talk of the cocktail circuit in Roseland.

Steve Robinson, Manager of Forestry, the guy who is going to have to oversee this one did say that: “As this pilot progresses, we will be looking at what is working, what isn’t working and if any changes are needed. Once we have enough information to make an educated decision, we will present our findings and recommendation to council. We want a system in place that protects our trees and is manageable from a staffing perspective but doesn’t infringe upon property owner rights or slow development.”

Links and Resources
Private Tree Bylaw Pilot (project page)

 

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3 comments to Private Tree Bylaw now in effect within the Roseland; maximum fine $100,000

  • Steve

    Yes Dave!

    No tree bylaws got us here with lots of trees. This is over government.

  • Charles Jones

    What’s so special about Roseland? We love our trees in Shoreacres too and one by one the city is taking down the massive ash trees and destroying the beautiful tree canopy that was a major reason we bought here.

    These trees look healthy and there have been zero incidents of branches falling, etc. Seems a little suspicious to me as well that the company that gets all of the contracts to remove these trees also is responsible for the assessment.

  • Dave L

    “Luddites” (on the Cocktail circuit no less) You should rename this Socialist cheer leading online rag to Pravda