Council on Monday will discuss a development application that involves the removal of a large number of trees.
The rezoning proposal seeks a subdivision for a property at 11694 96 Ave. into four single-detached residential lots.
Wanting to construct a new house on each lot, the owner wants to remove 37 trees from the property.
There’s currently 59 trees located on or immediately adjacent to the development site.
A staff report notes the owner has worked with an arborist to retain 22 trees (10 on-site and 12 off-site) including six significantly sized trees by modifying building footprints, strategically placing dwellings and designing servicing for the proposed lots.
Of the 37 trees to be removed, 24 are of a significant size, however, a majority of those are not of high value for retention and some have existing structural defects, the report notes.
For the 74 replacement trees required as part of the city’s current tree replacement policy, the owner proposes to plant seven replacement trees and to provide $45,000 cash-in-lieu for the remaining 67 replacement trees.
The owner would be required to enter into a tree retention and replacement covenant.
Council over the past year has had some heated discussions on development applications that involve tree removals.
City staff are recommending the latest application receive preliminary approval and be forwarded to a public hearing.
The city, meanwhile, is currently gathering resident feedback on proposed changes to Delta’s tree bylaw.
The new bylaw proposes increased protection for larger trees and significant trees, increased penalties to discourage illegal tree cutting, increased requirements for tree replacement and special requirements for pruning large trees and significant trees.
