Delta wants to look more closely at protecting ‘significant trees’

Delta staff have some homework on more clearly defining and identifying ‘significant trees’ when it comes to tree protection and amending its related bylaws.

During Monday’s (Oct. 4) council meeting, questions were posed about timelines and definitions during a discussion about protecting trees within Delta.

The report from corporate services recommended staff have a more detailed discussion about significant trees, and how to define and identify them, then report back to council.

Coun. Jeannie Kanakos asked staff what the timeline for addressing significant trees would be, and it was answered that it would likely take a few months.

“Part of the work that we plan to do before coming back to council is start a list of some of the trees that would fall into this category, including likely some municipal trees ... [we want] to just take some time to get it right and make sure that we’re covering everything we need to,” said planning director Marcy Sangret.

The latest staff report follows a May 2020 council meeting, where council adopted an Urban Forest Strategy recommending staff report back on options to protect significant trees in the city, as well as to ensure that the city is being appropriately compensated when tree removal is needed.

Nearly a year and a half later, council has now approved adjusting the definition of a “large diameter tree” to one with a trunk diameter of 60 cm or greater, which, if removed, will require increased tree replacement.

“I think one of the really important changes here is that we are recognizing, as a city, that not all trees are equal in terms of value for the community. And that an alder or a cottonwood or a dying, decaying tree should not be treated with the same weight as a large diameter tree,” said Coun. Dylan Kruger.

Council also approved creating new $5,000 penalties for the unauthorized removing of large diameter trees and $10,000 penalties for significant trees.

Another recommendation from the latest report was carrying out a tree education campaign, which Kanakos said she was looking forward to seeing how that rolls out.

It would work to raise awareness about the benefits of trees, how to maintain them, the Trees for Tomorrow program and current tree protection options for residents.