Friday December 13, 2024 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Tree protection is now part of the Langford political ecosystem.
At their December 2 council meeting, Langford Council unanimously voted in favour to adopt a permanent Tree Protection Bylaw (Tree Protection Bylaw No 2206).
This comes after concomitant public input on developing the city’s Urban Forest Management Plan.
The new tree bylaw replaces the city’s Interim Tree Protection Bylaw that was in place for the past two years (that was one of the first items passed by the new council in December 2022).
The Bylaw has been designed to balance the protection of tree resources with the regulation of private property. The design and structure of the Bylaw reflects tree bylaw best practices, addresses gaps in the administration of the interim bylaw, and incorporates community priorities and public feedback.
Some of the conditions for a Tree Permit To Cut or Remove a Protected Tree are straightforward, such as the tree is dead or hazardous, is within lands of an interface fire hazard area, or is causing significant damage to principal use of a building or utility service. Tree permits are valid for one year.
“With the new bylaw, Langford now has specific procedures in place to protect the environment and promote the health of the community’s urban tree canopy. This aligns with the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan,” stated Mayor Scott Goodmanson.
“By working within these guidelines, we can preserve and enhance the city’s natural beauty, and effectively achieve our common environmental goals together,” says Goodmanson.
Regulates tree cutting and removal:
Enabled through the Community Charter and Local Government Act, the City regulates tree cutting and removal on private property through the Tree Protection Bylaw and Development Permit Areas established through the City’s Official Community Plan.
Residents should contact the Planning Department to check if any part of their property is designated as a Development Permit Area and whether a tree falls under the Tree Protection Bylaw before removing any trees. This helps ensure compliance with the City’s regulations and clarifies how the new Bylaw applies to their specific situation.
For more information on the City of Langford’s Tree Protection Bylaw, please review the Frequent Asked Questions document.
Urban forest management:
The City of Langford has also recently passed its Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP).
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NEWS SECTIONS: LANGFORD | ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY