Urban Forest Management Plan

Presentations were delivered on the Urban Forest Management Plan and the Westhills YW/YMCA Aquatic Centre.

• Glenn Willing (Happy Valley)Concerned · Tree-protection bylaw
  Raises concerns about arborist costs, missing notices, ALR exemptions, and whether replacement planting can restore mature wildlife canopy.
• Lisa VauxhallAsks · Tree-protection bylaw
  Asks council to disclose tree-related liability costs and consider suspending the bylaw ahead of approaching storms.
• S. Kerry (Bear Mountain Parkway)Mixed · Tree-protection bylaw
  Applauds the plan but urges stronger protections, including development-process rules and species-specific measures for trees such as Garry oak and Arbutus.
• Mary Brooke (West Hills)Mixed · Urban Forest Management Plan
  Supports hiring an arborist but questions limiting maple trees and seeks more information about Langford’s official tree.
• Mike Morton (Phelps Avenue)Concerned · Urban forest and taxpayer costs
  Urges council to recognize residents as natural assets and weigh taxpayer costs, noting mature neighborhood trees grew without planting.
• Jeff McGeeConcerned · Tree-protection bylaw
  Asks council to avoid punitive rules, citing a past requirement to replace six dangerous trees with 15 trees and 35 bushes.
• A residentSupports · Urban Forest Management Plan
  Urges OCP and zoning changes to protect canopy, connect ecosystems, strengthen significant-tree penalties, hire an arborist, and fund low-income compliance costs.
• Carrie DalbergMixed · Urban Forest Management Plan and bylaw
  Supports the plan and hiring an arborist, while urging species-specific protection for Garry oak, Arbutus, Pacific dogwood, and Pacific yew.
• S. PlankSupports · Urban Forest Management Plan
  Supports the plan and an arborist, and urges brownfield-focused development, stronger protection of forested areas, wider setbacks, and species protections.
• Bev SolstromOpposes · Tree-protection bylaw
  Opposes costly restrictions on private tree removal and urges council to notify residents and address hazardous trees on city property.
• Nicholas Joel (Happy Valley)Asks · Urban forest data
  Questions the sources and methods used to calculate canopy loss and the timing and meaning of the thermal-image data.
• Wendy Hawes (Luxton Highway)Opposes · Proposed road and tree removal
  Opposes removing trees from private property for a proposed road and urges the city to align road planning with its tree-protection goals.

Two presentations were received: Urban Forest (Diamond Head Consulting) and Arts Centre Accessibility (Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society).

• Elizabeth Campbell (Lakeside Place)Supports · Tree bylaw and urban-forest planning
  Supports the tree bylaw and offers forest-science expertise to help with future urban-forest planning.
• Bernadette Armstrong (Rodney Road)Mixed · Tree bylaw and Bray development
  Supports the temporary tree bylaw and asks whether further discussion is possible on the Bray development amid nearby density concerns.
• Kara DoblockSupports · Urban forest plan and tree-protection bylaws
  Praises the urban-forest-plan report and supports hiring a consultant and advancing the tree-protection bylaws.
• Carnal ChimaSupports · Tree-protection bylaws
  Supports the tree bylaws and the procedural review, saying swift action was necessary to meet a community need.
• Michael Sunshine (Lang Vista Drive)Supports · Tree-protection bylaw
  Supports the tree bylaw, arguing responsible property owners have little to fear, and welcomes future input on tree management.
• Pete Kidge (East Spencer Road)Supports · Tree-protection bylaws and penalties
  Supports both bylaws and argues penalties should deter harm to irreplaceable trees, including restrictions on future development applications.
• Rennie Luberts (Sanehill Place)Mixed · Urban forest plan, tree bylaws and Latoria Road intersection
  Supports the urban forest plan, tree bylaws and Latoria Road signals, and asks for clarification about sidewalks on the Klahani side.
• Patsy Hamilton (Granderson Road)Supports · Tree bylaw and urban forest management
  Supports the temporary tree bylaw and the proposed urban forest management policy to protect residents and the natural environment.
• Nithya Harris (Humpback Road) · Tree-protection bylaw and urban-tree benefits
  Describes a 2021 urban-tree-canopy assessment that measured the benefits and functions provided by trees and forests.