[CANUFNET] Compensation for removal of municipally-owned trees

[Young, Nancy]

Hi Alex,

These are good questions! Especially since this is something that we all likely do differently.

At the City of Ottawa we do routinely require compensation for removal of municipally-owned trees as part of development, construction, and any other projects requiring their removal.

Our approach changes depending on the situation, but for the most part, we put the onus of removal (and the associated cost) on to the proponent. We generally valuate trees using the CTLA TFM if they are over 20cm in size; anything under that we tend to use a replacement ratio (2:1, 3:1, etc).  The location of the tree is factored in as well: we tend to place a higher value on trees in highly maintained areas in the downtown core, where trees require a more significant investment to plant and maintain.

Again, depending on the situation, and whether or not there is space available to replace trees that are removed, we credit the number of replacement trees and the planting costs, when determining the full compensation cost for a site. If no trees can be replaced we use TFM by the book.

We are fairly successful in obtaining compensation from the various proponents for the most part, as our approval for removal is withheld until payment is received. From my perspective our weaknesses primarily relate to:

-           The tracking and enforcement of tree compensation for larger projects which take place over an extended period of time,

-           Developing a standard approach to using tree valuation as a basis to collect securities for tree protection,

-           Damage done to municipal trees by adjacent development where no permit was sought, and so no prior valuation was made,

-           Standardizing the process for valuation as each case is unique and requires judgement by the forestry staff.

I am looking forward to hearing everyone’s comments on this, as I’m sure that every municipality has developed their own way of doing this. Any recommendations for improvement would be welcomed!

Cheers,
Nancy


Nancy Young, RPF | Forester| Forestry Services Branch | City of Ottawa
• 100 Constellation Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K2G 6J8 |
• 613-580-2424 Ext 13581 | Fax: 613-580-2611
• nancy.young at ottawa.ca | þ City of Ottawa - Trees and community forests<http://www.ottawa.ca/en/env_water/tlg/trees/index.html>
[roundForestry2Cbil]

From: CANUFNET [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Alex Satel
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2015 9:56 AM
To: canufnet at list.web.net
Subject: [CANUFNET] Compensation for removal of municipally-owned trees

Hello fellow CANUFNET members,

I am looking to compile some basic information about municipalities which currently request compensation for the removal of municipally-owned trees (such as street trees), particularly in relation to development on private lands.

I would greatly appreciate any input from CANUFNET members in response to some or all of the following questions. Any level of detail would be great, and if you don’t feel comfortable broadcasting to the list (although that’s encouraged so we can all share the information), feel free to email me directly.

Questions:



1.       Does your municipality seek compensation for municipally-owned trees removed through development on private lands?



2.       If so, do you seek (A) to cover removal/replacement costs, (B) amenity value, (C) both amenity and removal/replacement, or (D) other?



3.       If your municipality seeks to recover (B or C) amenity value, do you determine amenity value using (A) the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers (CTLA) Trunk Formula Method (TFM), or (B) an alternate method?



4.       Can you provide some more details about the method you use (e.g., TFM by-the-book, TFM with modifications, negotiated value, etc.)?



5.       Can you provide any comments about the successes/challenges in seeking compensation for the removal of municipally-owned trees?



Thank you all kindly in advance, and kudos to everyone for continuing to use CANUFNET! I always enjoy seeing everyone’s contributions and think it really helps to connect the UF community.


--Alex Satel

Alex Satel, MFC
ISA Certified Arborist ON-1353A
Urban Forest Innovations, Inc.
1248 Minnewaska Trail
Mississauga, ON L5G 3S5
P: (905) 274-1022
asatel at ufis.ca<mailto:asatel at ufis.ca>
urbanforestinnovations.com<http://www.urbanforestinnovations.com/>
[UFI new logo very small]


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