Vaughan
December 29, 2007 06:56 AM
Caroline Grech
When Kleinburg resident Christina Pochmursky watched a neighbour cut down trees on his lot this summer, she wondered how tough Vaughan’s new tree bylaw actually is.
“What is the point of all the laws if people feel cavalier and do what they want?” Ms Pochmursky said.
Vaughan passed a bylaw in June prohibiting any tree with a diameter of 20 centimetres or larger from being cut down on private property without a permit.
The person who cut down the trees in the summer has been asked to replant them, said Councillor Peter Meffe, who introduced the bylaw.
“I don’t blame the people for complaining about it, but do we have the authority to stop when he wants to install something like a new septic tank?” Mr. Meffe said. “It’s not there to stop people from building a shed on their property.”
Councillor Peter Meffe said the bylaw is working, but does not cover woodlots, which are under regional jurisdiction.
“To suggest the city’s tree bylaw is not working is not the case,” Mr. Meffe said, adding according to the region’s rules, the area where the trees were cut is considered a woodlot.
“Woodlots are not subject to the city’s bylaw,” he said.
According to York Region’s bylaw, there are different sizes defining woodlots, anywhere from 100 to 200 trees, with specific tree heights and property sizes from 0.2 hectares to 1 hectare outlined specifically.
But woodlots do not include a cultivated fruit or nut orchard, a plantation established to grow Christmas trees or nursery stock.
The incident last week where trees were cut down has been referred to city’s bylaw and engineering department as well as York Region and The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Mr. Meffe said.
Kleinburg resident Richard Lorello said he is incensed trees were cut down last week on a Kirby Road property. He sent a letter to politicians and the bylaw department demanding answers.
“Is the tree bylaw that powerless and cannot be enforced by our bylaw enforcement crews?” Mr. Lorello wrote. “Forgive my rant, but today I saw trees cut that ranged from two to four feet in diameter and several generations old, that were not in anyone’s way, after we were told that the bylaw would prevent this type of incident.”
Vaughan is not alone in instituting a tree bylaw. In Richmond Hill, a permit is required to cut down a tree with a trunk that is 20 centimetres wide and, in Aurora, the bylaw requires property owners to apply for a permit if they want to cut down five or more trees with a diameter of 20 centimetres or eight inches.