When Ron Haydamak needs to experience nature, he walks to a small forested area on the north side of Robinson Memorial Park Cemetery at the end of his street.
But the 1.5-acre stand of trees is on land the city is planning to clear to make way for a cemetery expansion to accommodate hundreds of new burial plots. Haydamak said he and some of his neighbours are opposed to cutting down the trees, adding there is nothing else like it in the area.
“It is a wonderful refuge for people to see a natural forest,” he said in a presentation to council Monday. “It is not very large but it is kind of an oasis.”
In order to proceed with the cemetery expansion plan, council must repeal the Robinson Memorial Forest Bylaw, which has prohibited burials on the forested portion of the park since 1997.
While parks staff said they intend to maintain a 6 m green buffer around the perimeter of the property and will work to maintain as many tress as possible, Haydamak told The Tri-City News that it will lose its natural forest feel.
With so much development taking place in southwest Coquitlam, he added it is nice to have a small green space to visit.
"It is kind of a gem," he said on a walk through the area Tuesday afternoon. "I would hate to lose that."
But the city said it has to balance the needs of neighbouring residents with the long-term viability of the cemetery.
Between 2007 and 2016, Robinson Memorial Park Cemetery averaged 38 burials and 118 cremation interments per year. At that pace, the city said, there will be no room for traditional burials within three to four years.
A survey of residents found most people support the cemetery expansion.
Out of 58 people who responded to a recent public input opportunity, 33 supported repealing the cemetery forest bylaw while 23 were opposed.
But despite unanimous council support Monday for the cemetery plan and the repeal of the Robinson Memorial Forest Bylaw, several councillors expressed concern about tree retention.
Coun. Chris Wilson said he would like to see enough trees saved that it would continue the green belt started on the north side of the Vancouver Golf Course, making a green hedge unnecessary.
“I would have a hard time supporting this plan if the plan is to remove most of the trees and rely mainly on a hedge,” he said. “The mention of a hedge really worries me.”
Raul Allueva, general manager of parks and recreation, said staff have yet to conduct a detailed analysis of the condition and number of trees in the buffer. He added that even if there are significant trees slightly outside the perimeter area, staff would likely work to preserve them.
“If it looks like we can save a few more specimen trees by having that buffer meander, we will do that,” he said.
Council also approved an amendment put forward by Coun. Craig Hodge stating that staff will report back to council when they have a better idea of how many trees will need to be cut down.
According to a staff report, the city expects it will need room for 31,000 burials and cremations over the next 50 years.
COUNCIL VOTES
On Monday, council voted unanimously in favour of three recommendations, including:
• endorsing the overall cemetery plan;
• allowing staff to move forward with the detailed design of the cemetery expansion;
• and giving first three readings of the repeal of the Robinson Memorial Forest Bylaw.
