The chairperson of Port Coquitlam’s environment committee is pushing for more protection of trees, asking city staff to set higher targets in the updated tree bylaw.
Last week, Coun. Laura Dupont urged managers to add language to the policy revision that would boost the city’s tree canopy from its current 23.8% to 30%, by 2042.
A tree canopy measures the plant cover of a city and is considered by urban planners to be key to improving the environmental health and green quality of a jurisdiction.
“Having a goal is an important part of this [new bylaw],” Dupont said. “I know it will be some work but I think a 30% canopy coverage doesn’t feel unreasonable to me.”
Her comments came after city staff presented results of a year-long consultation.
Last year, 850 residents gave their feedback in an outreach campaign called Let’s Talk Trees; it was followed up with a second round this past spring that drew 157 responses to an online survey as well as 20 people to an open house, in June.
The changes to the existing tree policy comes in response to a public outcry last year after the city chopped 122 trees to make way for the recreation complex rebuild.
The revised policy, which city council has yet to adopt, calls for, among other things:
• a doubling of permit fees to $100;
• a requirement to replace every tree;
• a $500 cash-in-lieu payment where a tree can’t be replaced;
• an expansion on the definition of “significant” trees;
• and an increase of fines for removing a tree without a permit.
Dupont told the committee she’s against black cottonwood and balsam poplar trees from being excluded in the proposed “significant” tree list. Though they can be hazardous, she argued those species have a role to play. “I think there’s a bigger picture we need to look at. We may not be looking at the unintended consequences.”
Dupont also recommended city staff include an education drive, after the policy is changed by council, to “dispel fears” about tree protection in the municipality.
And she suggested future requests to remove significant or heritage trees be dealt with at the city council level to “shift the burden” from civic staff to elected officials.
Committee member Coun. Brad West said the city needs to start a “tree bank” where the public can see the cash-in-lieu funds being directed to planting more trees.
An updated policy report will return this fall to the environment committee.
Currently, PoCo has about 5.6 million trees, of which 55% are on private property.
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TREE EXHIBIT
A new exhibit called The Secret Life of Trees opens Aug. 7 at PoCo Heritage.
The display is a partnership between the PoCo Heritage Museum and Archives and PoCo Heritage Trees, a group that started last year after the city chopped 122 trees in downtown PoCo to make way for the recreation complex rebuild.
The grand opening is Aug. 18 at PoCo Heritage (2248 McAllister Ave.). Visit pocoheritage.org.
