Qualicum Beach council is considering amending its tree protection bylaw to include the entire estate properties.
Council voted to give it first reading at a special meeting held on Aug. 24. The vote was not unanimous.
Mayor Brian Wiese and Coun. Robert Filmer opposed first reading, as they would prefer to have the new council deal with it in 2023 and also have a public consultation held before considering. Councillors Anne Skipsey, Teunis Westbroek and Scott Harrison voted in favour.
Wiese said they should give residents who live in the estate properties an opportunity to be consulted.
“We need to have that discussion with them and the community before we even consider doing three readings,” said Wiese. “Possibly three readings in one meeting. So that’s how I feel about it.”
Filmer said the next council should take it on and include it in their strategic planning session in 2023.
“They can decide whether it’s going to be a priority for them or not,” said Filmer. “I agree with what the mayor is saying. But when you look into deeper especially with the estate properties, those are such big properties. If somebody has lived there for 30 years and they need to remove a tree for landscaping, whatever, who are we to dictate that they can’t remove one tree on their property.”
Filmer said if they’re redeveloping the property then council has the authority to prevent any trees from being chopped down.
The estate properties are heavily treed lands located along Island Highway West and between Cherry Road right of way and the Hollywood Road right of way. Staff indicated 10 properties would be impacted by the proposed tree protection bylaw amendment and recommended before advancing it, a consultation process be undertaken to allow an opportunity to solicit feedback.
Westbroek said the proposed bylaw amendment will set the tone on the direction council wants to take on this issue and what it would look like.
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He would like to work with the owners to determine if they feel strongly about protecting the trees on their properties and establishing an agreement.
Skipsey supports protecting the estate properties and the rare coastal douglas fir ecosystem.
Town planner Luke Sales said the town can enforce tree protection through the development permit process or by establishing a convenant.