HERITAGE OR HAZARD?
Tree removal spurs anger
Every day Roanna Zuker watches two bald eagles circling overhead with nowhere to land.
They are looking for the 65-yearold Douglas fir where they used to perch, one on either side of the tree’s tip, surveying the city.
No one can explain to the eagles why their tree was removed during construction of a laneway house in the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood of Vancouver, and Zuker is having a hard time understanding too.
Zuker, who lives near the house on the 2600-block of Trinity Street, has signed a local petition and is questioning why the heritage tree was taken down. Zuker is so upset, she has been posting hand-lettered signs on her front lawn suggesting the tree was intentionally damaged by the developer to make way for a laneway house.
She said she was shocked to wake up on July 22 to see a tree removal crew, and a city permit authorizing its removal.
Property owner Danny Nikas, who said he’s building a home for his family, has been taking the signs down.
“It’s unfair for her to post information that is inaccurate.”
He is frustrated the situation has escalated to this point.
“I’m not a big developer taking trees down for profit.”
Nikas, who has two toddlers and wants to raise them in family-friendly East Van, said his cityapproved building plan included keeping the tree.
To protect the tree, the city required that the laneway house have a “grade beam” foundation wall on its west side, sunk no deeper than 18 inches so the roots wouldn’t be disturbed, and an arborist on site during the excavation.
However, early in the excavation process the arborist expressed concern about the tree roots.
Nikas claims he contacted the city six times to inform them and ask for direction, but had no reply.
So he brought in another arborist, who said the roots looked fine. Nikas moved forward with the excavation — a hand-dig supervised by the second arborist.
At some point during the excavation, the city was notified (Nikas doesn’t know by whom) that the tree’s roots may have been damaged during the process, and the city put a stop-work order on the entire construction.
The city confirmed that the tree “was deemed a hazard” and they ordered it removed.
Construction was allowed to continue with a plan for tree replacement in place.
City staff “are still investigating the case and considering enforcement on the matter.”
Nikas said what hurts the most is the suggestion that he planned the whole thing.
“It’s not a good feeling.”