Link to PDS.21.080 provided to August 24, 2021 Committee of the Whole: https://pub-bluemountains.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=6040
Directions provided by Council on September 7, 2021 :
a)THAT Council of the Town of The Blue Mountains acknowledges receipt of the July 14, 2021 Sustainability Advisory Committee recommendation as below:
THAT the Sustainability Advisory Committee endorses the suggestions made by the Tree Preservation Subcommittee, attached herewith, and for consideration for the review of the Tree By-Law and as part of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, CARRIED.
b) THAT Council receive Staff Report PDS.21.080, entitled “Tree By-Law Update and Directions Report”;
AND THAT Council direct Staff to implement Option 2, in consultation with the Agricultural Advisory Committee and Sustainability Advisory Committee, as outlined in Staff Report PDS.21.080, which includes the following:
1. Direct Staff to complete housekeeping updates to Municipal Tree Preservation By-law 2010-68, as necessary, to ensure coordination with any updates completed by the County of Grey regarding County Forest Management By-law 4341-06, as amended;
2. To also include in the update to the Municipal Tree Preservation By-law 2010-68, provisions that controls tree clearing, prior to development applications and pursue the following objective and/or exemptions:
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- Apply the Town’s Tree Preservation Bylaw inside the Settlement Areas of the Town only (as defined in the County of Grey Official Plan)
- Require a permit for tree removal on parcels with a minimum of 0.5 ha when
A. When the applicant proposes to destroy five (5) or more trees simultaneously or in a given calendar year, regardless of diameter; and
B. When the applicant proposes to destroy a tree with a minimum diameter of thirty (30) cm or more.”
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- Only allow permits in certain Official Plan land use designations, when supported by appropriate studies and reports, such as a Certified Arborist Report, Environmental Impact Study, or any other report that the Director deems necessary:
- To pursue additional exemptions to the By-law:
A. Land parcels which are less than 0.5ha in size”;
B. The removal of a tree that necessitates removal as a result of being considered locally as an
invasive species, diseased, dead, or a hazard to life or property
C. 4 or fewer trees a certain size can be removed
3. To consider the development of a Comprehensive Tree Canopy Strategy in conjunction with the planned
Natural Heritage Study (subject to Budget 2022 Approval) and Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, CARRIED.
c) THAT Council of the Town of The Blue Mountains receives for information the deputation material from Kim Gardner, Harbour West Residents Group regarding Staff Report "PDS.21.080 Tree By-law Update and Directions Report" and refers the deputation materials to Planning and Development Services, and to the Sustainability Advisory Committee