If you haven’t yet provided feedback to the City of Courtenay on how you’d like trees managed in the community, it’s not too late.

The city launched a tree survey in early June seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Tree Management and Protection Bylaw. Due to the high level of interest in the survey, the City is extending the opportunity for public survey input into the proposed changes to the existing Tree Management and Protection Bylaw until Monday, July 11.  

The survey and background material are available online: www.courtenay.ca/trees 

Fill in the survey and be entered into a prize draw for a slow-release tree watering bag.  

So far, over 500 people have responded to the survey, either online, or at the two public information sessions held in mid-June.

“The City has received enthusiastic interest from the community on the proposed bylaw,” said Nancy Gothard, the city’s environmental planner. “The fact that the responses to the survey continue to increase every day suggests to us that people are interested in the topic and are sharing the opportunity with their friends and neighbours to provide input. We want to encourage that.”

The proposed changes to the bylaw include requiring a target number of trees per property based on lot size, and expanding the bylaw to include all types of properties. Standards would be based on the experience of some other B.C. communities, and how many trees seem reasonable to retain on an individual property. A target of 50 trees per hectare is being considered. The goal would be to retain existing trees, but replanting or paying into a replanting fund would be an option in some circumstances. The guidelines would apply to new subdivisions as well. Using this target, a single family home on a 650 square meter lot (0.16 acres) would be required to retain or replant three trees when seeking a tree removal permit.

“Trees provide many services for our community such as wildlife habitat, shade, air quality, carbon capture, and assisting with stormwater management,” continued Gothard. “The purpose of the bylaw is to ensure that these values continue to be provided as our community grows. It’s important that the community provide input into how best to achieve these goals.”

For more information, please contact Nancy Gothard at 250-334-4441 or email ngothard@courtenay.ca