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27 | Thursday, May 4 , 2 0 1 7 | Urban canopy loss drives private tree bylaw changes continued from p.1 There have been 280,270 square metres (6,300 trees) of canopy loss in the five-year period, which excludes dead, emerald ash borer (EAB)-infested and hazardous trees. Under the new rules, permits replace noti fications. Property owners w ho wish to remove trees from their property will need a permit and may also be required to plant new trees to re place the lost canopy. The new regulation was approved and ad opted after a lengthy discussion at Monday' s Council meeting. "Oakville' s urban forest provides incredible environmental, economic and health benefits to our community," stated Mayor Rob Burton, in a media release. "It is critical that w e protect and grow that urban forest for future generations, which Council is seeking to do by strengthening Oakville' s existing private tree protections." The permit fee for the first tree removed measuring between 15-24 centimetres in di ameter will be $50. Additional trees sized within the range, or the first exceeding it, will cost $325 per tree. The Town estimates it will require about 1,235 new permits a year and generate close to $394,00 in annual revenue. The costs didn' t sit well with som e of the delegates at the meeting. Michael Boulanger, certified arborist and forestry technician, stated the permit fees are too high and suggested a cap on them, as they will be "astronomical" for som e residents -- an issue shared by others in attendance -- if there is no limit. Councillor Cathy Duddeck asked Town staff what the criteria was to help those who have financial hardships and may not be able to afford the permit and tree replacement costs. Chris Mark, director of Parks and Open Space, suggested it would use the same con ditions it has for its Recreation and Culture programs. If people can provide financial documents to the Town, which may be obtained from Halton Region, the Town w ould "entertain that Oakville's urban forest provides incredible environmental, economic and health benefits to our community. It is critical that we protect and grow that urban forest for future generations, which Council is seeking to do by strengthening Oakville's existing private tree protections. before the bylaw is voted on," said Boulanger, w ho presented Council with a petition from nine arborist firms opposing the bylaw. Councillor Marc Grant suggested to Bou langer the best solution is to pass the bylaw now and continue to consult afterwards, as it can be adjusted. He said the town is going to lose much more of its tree canopy if "w e sit on our hands." Councillor Sean O'Meara asked Town staff to get clarification on the consultation pro cess. Mark said the new bylaw has been in the works since 2014, w hen Council directed Town staff to review it to identify stronger protections for the urban forest. see Arborists on p.28 OAKVILLE BEAVER n Oakville ^IHalton halton.ca (| 311 in YnuiUHB | w w w .insideH A LTO N .com REGION Mayor Rob Burton Get involved, share your ideas Halton Regional Council is inviting members of the community to apply for positions on the following Advisory Committees: type of transparency" showing their struggle to help cover a tree-permit fee, Mark said. As a condition of the new permit, one tree m ust be planted for every 10-cm DBH (diam eter at breast height) of healthy tree removed. A $300 security deposit is required for each tree to be planted, which will be refunded once an inspection of the replacement plant ings is complete, according to the Town. Replacement trees m ust be planted on the same property as those removed, if possible. If there isn't adequate space on a property, a common complaint heard by Council Mon day, residents can donate the deposit to the Town to plant it on a nearby municipal-owned site. The minimum tree replacement size is a 30-milimetre caliper (three-cm width) decid uous tree or a 150-cm-high coniferous tree in a five-gallon container, balled in burlap or in a wire basket. Another concern brought forward by del egates Monday was lack of a consultation pro cess on the amended bylaw. Boulanger charged that arborists, such as himself, were ignored during the public dis cussions. "We feel w e haven't been consulted as a pro fessional group over this bylaw, properly. We w ould like som e time for that to take place · Halton Regional Accessibility Advisory Committee · Natural Heritage Advisory Committee These volunteer citizen appointments allow residents to contribute their skills and perspectives to program and policy changes that enhance the quality of life in Halton. This appointment term expires on November 30,2018. Regional Council wishes to ensure that its boards and committees reflect the diverse nature of its community, and invites all residents of Halton to consider these opportunities. An interview committee, composed of Regional Councillors, will recommend qualified candidates for these positions to Regional Council once the process is complete. Details of these opportunities and application forms are available at halton.ca/advisorycommittees, bye-mail to regionalclerk@halton.ca, or from the Office of the Regional Clerk, Halton Region, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Completed applications must be received at the Office of the Regional Clerk no later than Friday, June 2, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. Completed forms may be submitted online, by mail or by fax to 905-825-8838. Graham Milne Acting Regional Clerk Please contact us, as soon as possible, if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. NOW OPEN! www.dinghaoszechuan.ca 360 Dundas St. E, @ Trafalgar Rd. (just behind Longo's) H E: t 4 spring rolls Sesame chicken Sweet & Sour Chicken Chicken Chop Suey Beef with Broccoli Chicken Fried Rice Limitted Time Offer DING-HAO SZECHUAN CUISINE Great L u n c h S p e c ia ls ! Dine-in I Take-out I Delivery 647-984-3838 · 905-257-1333