The Town of Qualicum Beach is considering amending its tree protection bylaw to include all the much-valued estate properties.
Director of planning Luke Sales informed council at its regular meeting Dec. 7, that the current protection area only covers trees in the Milner Gardens area and adjacent properties but does not include areas in the eastern extent and the western extent of the estate properties.
Council has already given the Town of Qualicum Beach Tree Protection Bylaw No. 559, 1995, Amendment (Estate Properties Tree Expansion) Bylaw No 559.03, 2022 first reading prior to the municipal elections in October.
Sales asked council if they would like to advance the proposed amendment for second reading or consider it in the context of all other tree protection initiatives that were identified in the 2022 Urban Forest Master Plan.
READ MORE: Qualicum Beach council votes to give tree protection bylaw amendment first reading
Coun. Anne Skipsey declined second reading but supported the motion council defer further consideration of the proposed estate properties tree expansion bylaw amendment until there has been public consultation. It was unanimously endorsed by council.
“I am the one that’s normally advocating public consultation this early in the process as possible,” said Skipsey. “So to honour that it would be better for us to notify the owners, so they’re aware of the bylaw.”
Skipsey also made a motion to direct staff to inform the affected property owners, advised them of the amended bylaw as well as invite them to attend a town-hosted public information meeting to learn more about the proposed bylaw and its importance.
Council passed the motion unanimously.
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