More trees fall to ‘arboristic homicide’
City to pursue maximum fines after healthy Douglas firs cut down in Dunbar
More healthy trees have been illegally chopped down at a house under construction in Dunbar, the 13th such incident in the upscale neighbourhood on Vancouver’s west side in a year.
City officials were alerted by neighbours on Monday about three more trees being cut down at 3854 West 38th Ave. The Douglas fir trees were behind tree protection barriers when they were stripped of their branches and chopped down.
The incident was the second at that address, after six trees were cut down in November in what landscape architect Judith Blake Reeve described as “arboristic homicide.”
“We will be pursuing the maximum fines in this case,” Brian Jackson, the city’s general manager of planning and development services, said on Tuesday. The maximum fine is $10,000 per incident.
The illegal tree felling is the second such case in less than a month in Dunbar, including six trees axed on a Dunbar property at the corner of West 37th Ave. and Collingwood St.
In the past, homeowners were allowed to cut down one healthy tree per year on their property, but Vancouver’s Protection of Trees bylaw was amended last April as authorities grew concerned about the city’s thinning tree canopy.
Jackson said, since the bylaw was amended, there have been 61 incidents relating to the destruction of trees without permits sent to the city prosecutor’s office. Thirteen of those cases have been in Dunbar.
“The city is very aware of the recent removal of trees within the Dunbar area, and is actively investigating, and enforcing against, violations,” said Jackson. “The public has been tremendously helpful in notifying the city when violations occur.”
“Licensed arborists won’t touch this, sot hey would have to bring in Joe Blow with a chainsaw. It’s terrible.
ANDREW HASMAN
REAL ESTATE AGENT
Jackson said in the near future city staff will forward a report to council suggesting ways to better enforce the tree bylaws and improve the tree canopy.
He said details of the report were still being worked out, but may include measures used in other municipalities, such as a letter of credit for landscaping to ensure trees remain a year from occupancy, or a municipal ticketing system instead of relying on the courts for all of the fines.
The city might also consider a cash in lieu system, where developers pay a fee to have the same number of trees planted elsewhere to ensure Vancouver’s tree canopy is replaced, said Jackson.
Since last April, $120,000 in fines have been levied by the courts in relation to protection of trees bylaws.
Fines for cutting down healthy trees can range from $500 up to $10,000 per incident, but according to a local real estate agent in the area, developers are not deterred by such fines, given that cutting the trees down could add an extra $300,000 to the property value.
“I’ve seen lots sell for considerably less because they were heavily treed,” said Andrew Hasman, adding that although he hasn’t had any clients with this problem, he knows that houses in the area have sold for 10 per cent less because of the trees.
Market value for a small lot with no view in Dunbar is between $2.8 million and $3 million. But if those lots have big trees on them, the property value decreases, he said.
“A lot with a bunch of trees might only be worth $2.6 million or $2.7 million,” he said. “Licensed arborists won’t touch this, so they would have to bring in Joe Blow with a chainsaw. It’s terrible.”
If the trees are within the envelope of where a new house would be built, then the city will allow them to be chopped down, he said, but if they are located where the backyard would be, or to the side of the house, then they need a permit to remove them.