Protection of Oak Bay’s Urban Forest & Green Space
Tree lined street scapes, trees and landscaped gardens and natural ecosystems are central to Oak Bay’s identity and produce a variety of significant tangible and intangible benefits for residents. Oak Bay has a history of green space protection, tree retention and tree planting. Today development and planned development, increasing urban impacts on tree life, an inadequate tree bylaw, restrictions that limit enforcement, are all playing a part in depleting Oak Bay’s Urban Canopy.
Other factors involved are:
· Council’s resistance to change the zoning back to the lot coverage and density permitted before the 2007 mistaken Bylaw change.
· The liberal interpretation of building footprints and suspect tree life assessments.
· Generous zoning provisions that allow covering most of the lot with paving.
· Council’s routinely allowing clear-cutting for new big houses and subdivisions.
· Enforcement procedures that are expensive and time consuming.
· Council Policies and Objectives that place development and the allocation of municipal resources ahead of Urban Forest protection.
· No tracking system for development impacts on infrastructure e.g expensive upgrades required and run off issues.
The resident representation at the Urban Forest workshop and symposium in 2015 demonstrates the interest and concerns the Community has for Development impacts and protecting our trees and environment. Tree protection and how to reduce tree loss was by far the number one issue. This was followed by protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Development impacts were also a frequent topic. The Urban Forest Summery Consultation Report May 2016 indicated a direct correlation between Infill Development and Tree and Vegetation loss. However it is interesting to note that Council’s Residential Infill Strategy makes no such direct distinction - concentrating mainly on design and development.
Obviously these Community concerns should send a clear message to Council that these are important community “priorities” and they must find there way onto Council Priority Agendas, Strategic Plans and Financial Plans. The Home page "Community Concerns attachment" lists many concerns and suggestions expressed by the Community that must be considered and implemented before pressing forward with development initiatives that will impact “Oak Bay’s central identity”.
· What is the current Budget for enforcement staff?
· What inventory system & monitoring is currently in place?
· What other municipality has a strong, effective tree bylaw we could copy ASAP?
· Why not document suggested OCP tree zoning protections, reflected in Official Community Plan Policies, Objectives and Guidelines and provide them to Council?
· Is it possible to place a dollar amount (schedule) on each tree to avoid court costs for taxpayers?
Tree lined street scapes, trees and landscaped gardens and natural ecosystems are central to Oak Bay’s identity and produce a variety of significant tangible and intangible benefits for residents. Oak Bay has a history of green space protection, tree retention and tree planting. Today development and planned development, increasing urban impacts on tree life, an inadequate tree bylaw, restrictions that limit enforcement, are all playing a part in depleting Oak Bay’s Urban Canopy.
Other factors involved are:
· Council’s resistance to change the zoning back to the lot coverage and density permitted before the 2007 mistaken Bylaw change.
· The liberal interpretation of building footprints and suspect tree life assessments.
· Generous zoning provisions that allow covering most of the lot with paving.
· Council’s routinely allowing clear-cutting for new big houses and subdivisions.
· Enforcement procedures that are expensive and time consuming.
· Council Policies and Objectives that place development and the allocation of municipal resources ahead of Urban Forest protection.
· No tracking system for development impacts on infrastructure e.g expensive upgrades required and run off issues.
The resident representation at the Urban Forest workshop and symposium in 2015 demonstrates the interest and concerns the Community has for Development impacts and protecting our trees and environment. Tree protection and how to reduce tree loss was by far the number one issue. This was followed by protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Development impacts were also a frequent topic. The Urban Forest Summery Consultation Report May 2016 indicated a direct correlation between Infill Development and Tree and Vegetation loss. However it is interesting to note that Council’s Residential Infill Strategy makes no such direct distinction - concentrating mainly on design and development.
Obviously these Community concerns should send a clear message to Council that these are important community “priorities” and they must find there way onto Council Priority Agendas, Strategic Plans and Financial Plans. The Home page "Community Concerns attachment" lists many concerns and suggestions expressed by the Community that must be considered and implemented before pressing forward with development initiatives that will impact “Oak Bay’s central identity”.
· What is the current Budget for enforcement staff?
· What inventory system & monitoring is currently in place?
· What other municipality has a strong, effective tree bylaw we could copy ASAP?
· Why not document suggested OCP tree zoning protections, reflected in Official Community Plan Policies, Objectives and Guidelines and provide them to Council?
· Is it possible to place a dollar amount (schedule) on each tree to avoid court costs for taxpayers?