Several members of the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) are disappointed that an old tree was removed as a contractor built a new duplex in town.
“Was the tree in the front saved?” Mayor Judy Dahl asked as the project came up for a development permit.
She was told it wasn't.
“Oh, that's too bad,” Dahl said.
“It was right in the sidewalk. There was just no way to get around it,” commissioners were told.
In the end, the MPC approved a development permit for the project and the duplex, at 5133 50 St., is now virtually complete and for sale.
Dahl was not the only one to express a desire to see old trees and bushes retained when new builds are undertaken in the town – especially in the Uptowne core, as was the case this time.
“I don't consider that acceptable at this point,” commissioner Dave Harris said.
Chair Don Dwyer agreed.
He said it's his understanding that other communities have bylaws or policies in place that do not allow contractors to remove old trees or bushes, etc., at least before they've received development permits.
“That's all I'm saying – something for future thought and the administration to possibly protect existing landscaping in the future,” Dwyer said.
“I think as such there's no rule that stops the developer (from removing trees or bushes). It's his land; he can do whatever he wants,” Dwyer added.
“I'm just saying the town and the administration may think about that for something in the future as a lot of downtown mature areas will begin to be redeveloped in this town.
“As time goes on, this will become a bigger and greater issue and we can always deal with it after the fact as we are here, or we can deal with it further ahead by thinking about it and putting policy in place.”
Dwyer expanded on that point during an interview after the MPC meeting. He stressed at that point, he was speaking as an individual, not as a representative of the MPC.
Dwyer was asked if the person who eventually owns the home constructed by the developer should have the right to start with a clean slate, so to speak, and plant trees or bushes where they wish, rather than deal with an existing tree or two which may not be where they want or what they want.
“I think citizenry deems these things to be a valuable addition to everyday life,” he said.
“So on one side, yes, should we be denying someone the opportunity to cut down a tree – at the redevelopment stage or prior to the redevelopment stage – because they feel that it's their choice to get rid of it for whatever reason? But there's a loss to the community on the other side.”
Dwyer said obviously developers and homeowners have a right to deal with their property as they see fit, but other considerations come into play.
“I think generally speaking, most people, particularly in front yards, are pretty appreciative of having existing landscaping, knowing that most planting and trees takes a long time to grow,” he said.
“If you've got a 40-year-old spruce tree in your front yard that's 50, 60 feet high and you're going, ‘I'd like it three feet over to the other side; cut it down and plant another one,' that is a long process.”
Development officer Keleman says the town's land use bylaw does not regulate what is done with existing landscaping.
That said, “we do encourage developers to retain existing vegetation, but it is not always possible as the root structure is often affected during excavation, etc.,” she wrote in an email to the Albertan.
"I think citizenry deems these things to be a valuable addition to everyday life."DON DWYERCHAIR MUNICIPAL PLANNING COMMISSION
