[CANUFNET] tree protection

[Astrid Nielsen via CANUFNET]

Hi Michelle,

Last May, 2016, the City of Ottawa adopted new infill housing guidelines to
help protect trees during infill development. These require a Tree
Disclosure Information Report submitted as part of the Building Permit
Application process. Details on the location and health of protected trees
need to be included on the grading plan for the site. This gives the
opportunity for developers and city staff to see the impacts to the tree
canopy early on. As far as neighbouring trees are concerned, they are
required to be included in the report if they are large enough to be
protected under the private tree by-law and their critical root zone
extends into the proposed zone of excavation You can check out more at:

http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water-and-environment/trees-and-community-forests#tree-and-infill-development

Some background....

The City of Ottawa has both a private tree by-law and a city-tree by-law.
The private tree by-law was implemented in 2009 and requires that
"distinctive trees", i.e. over 50 cm in diameter on properties less than 1
ha in urban areas need a permit from the City of Ottawa to remove. For
properties larger than 1 ha (i.e. mostly subdivision developments), permits
are required to remove trees greater than 10 cm.

Through regular subdivision applications and those files going through
Committee of Adjustments, there is opportunity for trees to be captured
early in the development process. However, for those infill developments
that require only building permits, there was no mechanism to ensure that
they are considered during the actual planning stage. Although developers
would require Distinctive Tree Permit to remove trees greater than 50 cm,
this was done often at the last minute once the plans had all been
approved, or once the tree was damaged to the point of no return or because
it presented a hazard to construction crews.

The new infill housing guidelines are the next step in helping to ensure
that trees and protection are considered earlier in the planning process.
It's not perfect, but a good start. And, it results in better reporting by
the applicants as mapping the trees is a requirement.

I'd be happy to answer any questions about it.

Astrid


__________________________________________
*Astrid Nielsen*
MFC, RPF, ISA Certified Arborist®

astrid.nielsen at dendronforestry.ca
+1.613.805.WOOD (9663)

www.dendronforestry.ca



On Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 2:47 PM, Chartier, Michelle (CY - Parks) via
CANUFNET <canufnet at list.web.net> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I’m trying to track down samples of city policies or bylaws related to
> tree protection that effectively balance the protection of established
> trees and new in-fill building. Saskatoon is currently seeing several large
> building projects and homes being built in established neighbourhoods where
> the work site is surrounded by large valuable City trees. We currently have
> a City Council policy in place that provide Urban Forestry with direction
> related to tree protection. As part of this policy we do not remove large
> (>15cm” diameter) healthy trees for development. However we are finding
> ourselves in a difficult position of attempting to work with construction
> companies hired to build what does not reasonably allow for preservation or
> protection of the existing tree(s). In some cases the building footprint
> requires excavation that will result in ~40%-50% root removal. Often the
> damage is done on the private property side when our City trees are close
> to property lines or in some cases straddle property lines (funny how tree
> roots just don’t respect property lines).
>
>
>
> I know there are several cities that have tree protection bylaws and some
> also protect private trees. I’m wondering if anyone knows of a really good
> example that might include standards that include what can and can’t be
> done on private property adjacent to City trees. I’d also like to know if
> anyone can share their experience or views (what has worked and what hasn’t
> worked) with existing Bylaw or policies.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
>
>
> Michelle Chartier
>
> City of Saskatoon
>
> Community Services, Parks Division
>
> Superintendent - Urban Forestry/Pest Management
>
> Ph: 306.975-2537 <(306)%20975-2537>  Fax: 306.975.3034 <(306)%20975-3034>
>
> michelle.chartier at saskatoon.ca
>
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