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4- The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 18, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Proponents say bylaw needed to protect trees from clear cutting Continued from page 1 ating a bylaw to protect trees on private property. In 2006, when the town first suggested requiring residents to seek permission and pay a permit fee to remove trees on their property, hundreds of residents expressed their anger. Even now, after spending $25,000 on a public survey and consultation process, Town staff admits "there is no widespread consensus on the need for, or content of, a bylaw." Still, Town staff and politicians say a private tree bylaw is the only way to contend with redevelopment that has been wreaking havoc in many exclusive areas of south Oakville. Large and often heavilytreed lots have been prime pickings for developers and home owners looking to build massive new houses. Construction typically requires the removal of many of the very mature trees on the property. Liz Benneian, president of Oakvillegreen, said her organization supports a private tree bylaw as a way of stopping clear cutting of lots for infill developments. "What has become very clear to us is that most people don't understand the fundamental issue, and that's that developers are private property owners, too," she said. On Tuesday night, councillors who sit on the Oakville's Community Services committee voted to direct town staff to develop a private tree bylaw. If the recommendation from that committee is approved at a meeting of the full Town Council on Monday night, town staff will begin work drafting a bylaw for council's consideration. Although final details will be hammered out at that point, the intent is to create a bylaw that will require residents to get a permit to remove any tree with a diameter of 20 cm or more. Residents wishing to remove up to four trees less than 50 cm in diameter would automatically be given permission, at no cost, following notification to the town. Removal of five or more trees would require a townissued permit, following a pay- MATTRESS LIQUIDATION 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SALE SALE ENDS SUNDAY 5 P.M. COMFORT SLEEP ORTHOPEDIC PILLOWTOP Twin Double Queen King 179 219 249 359 Set Set Set Set 299 369 429 599 Twin Double Queen King 249 279 349 439 Set Set Set Set 399 459 549 769 CHOOSE Any 3 Free Choices With Any ment of $100 per tree, while trees over 50 cm in diameter would require a permit and a payment of $200 per tree. It's expected the bylaw will also allow free removal for trees that are dead, dying or hazardous. While most of the eight delegates who addressed the committee meeting expressed support for a bylaw, councillors also heard from Glen Herring, who spearheaded opposition to the 2006 bylaw through a local group known as NTBiN (No Tree Bylaw is Necessary). Herring suggested the town hasn't presented enough information to justify the need for the bylaw. "This whole thing is lacking basic information," he said. "I personally think the policy should be shaped by the facts." Although Herring argued that a private tree bylaw isn't wanted or needed, last spring he chaired a Mayor's Advisory Group that recommended the creation of a bylaw, noting that the town's current processes are insufficient to protect its important healthy trees. That group also recommended that the town develop a broader tree protection strat- egy to focus on improving the health and maintenance of public trees. Shortly before considering the private tree bylaw issue on Tuesday night, the Community Services committee received an Urban Forest Strategic Management Plan that outlines how the town will protect and expand its urban forest canopy over the coming 20 years. The extensive report outlines 66 recommendations to be implemented in four fiveyear stages. One of the first tasks to be undertaken is the completion of a town tree inventory that will capture the age, health and species of all Oakville street trees. "We can only manage a resource if we understand the extent and condition of that resource," said Dr. Andrew Kenney, a professor with the University of Toronto's Faculty of Forestry, who was retained to work on the plan. Ward 4 Councillor Al Elgar also expressed concern about the permissiveness of the proposed rules, saying, "I can't imagine we could get something weaker than this bylaw." Mattress Set Purchase Think Green. Breathe Easy. FREE Disposal of Old Set FREE Local Delivery FREE FREE Quilted Mattress Protector Adjustable Bed Frame FREE Bed Set Up FREE FREE Pair of Soft Loft Pillows Set of Percale Sheets FREE Quilted Comforter HUGE CENTRAL AIR & FURNACE $ Up to 3450* MANUFACTURERS CASH BACK SALE BEST PRICES EVER! Cash Back AND NO PAYMENT! NO INTEREST! 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