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CITY OF PARKSVILLE
BYLAW NO. 1484
Consolidated for convenience only to include Bylaw No. 1515
A BYLAW TO REGULATE THE PRESERVATION, REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT
OF TREES WITHIN THE CITY OF PARKSVILLE
WHEREAS the Community Charter, including Sections 8(3)(c), 16, 17, 258 and 260 authorizes
Council to preserve trees, regulate the cutting and removal of trees, to require the
replacement of trees cut down and to allow for enforcement in relation to these matters;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the City of Parksville in open meeting assembled hereby
enacts as follows:
1.
TITLE
This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the City of Parksville "Tree Management Bylaw,
2012, No. 1484".
2.
REPEAL
City of Parksville "Tree Management Bylaw, 2006, No. 1415" and all amendments thereto are
hereby repealed.
3.
DEFINITIONS
In this bylaw, unless the context otherwise requires, the following means:
(a)
"Building Permit" means a permit for the construction of a building or structure
issued under the City of Parksville's building bylaw and amendments thereto.
(b)
"Certified Arborist" means a person holding a current certification of "certified
arborist" issued by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
(c)
"Covenanted Tree" means a tree or plant that is required to be retained or
required to be planted pursuant to a covenant granted to the City under
Section 219 of the Land Title Act R.S.B.C. 1996 Ch. 250, pursuant to a
comprehensive development plan forming part of the City's zoning bylaw or as
a condition of the approval of the subdivision of land under the Land Title Act.
(d)
"Council" means the Council of the City of Parksville.
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 2
(e)
"Cut Down" means to cut down, remove or kill a tree by any means including
the topping of a tree or the removal of any branch or trunk of a tree having a
diameter of more than 10 centimetres (3.9 inches).
(f)
"Damage" means to carry out any activity that may kill or injure a tree and
includes:
(i)
The topping of or removal of branches from a tree other than in
accordance with accepted ISA arboricultural practice;
(ii)
The cutting or shattering of the roots of a tree within its dripline other
than in accordance with accepted ISA arboricultural practice;
(iii)
The scraping, gouging or denting of a tree's trunk, branches or roots
within its dripline;
(iv)
The compaction of the soil within a tree's dripline or within an area
required to be enclosed by a protection fence pursuant to a tree cutting
permit by the placement of soil, fill, heavy equipment, vehicles or
building or other materials thereon or by the movement of vehicles or
equipment thereover;
(v)
The depositing within a tree's dripline of any toxic or harmful
substances;
(vi)
The placement of soil or other material within a tree's dripline or within
an area required to be enclosed by a protection fence pursuant to a tree
cutting permit to a depth of greater than 20 centimetres (7.8 inches);
(vii)
The removal of soil within a tree's dripline.
(g)
"Hazardous Tree" is a tree which is considered, by a certified arborist, to be in
imminent danger of falling.
(h)
"Demolition Permit" means a permit for the demolition of a building or
structure issued under the City's building bylaw and amendments thereto.
(i)
"Diameter" of a tree means the diameter of the tree's trunk or, in the case of a
multi-stemmed tree, the sum of the diameters of the three largest trunks or
stems measured 1.4 metres (4.5 feet) above the ground level at the base of the
tree.
(j)
"Director" means the City's Director of Community Planning or their deputy or
designate.
(k)
"Dripline" means a circle on the ground at the base of a tree which has as its
centre the centre of the tree's trunk and as its radius the distance from the
centre to the end of its outermost branch.
(l)
"Landscape Architect" means a member in good standing of the British
Columbia Society of Landscape Architects.
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 3
(m)
"Lot" means an area of land designated as a separate and distinct legal parcel
on a subdivision plan approved and registered in the Land Title Office pursuant
to the provisions of the Land Title Act R.S.B.C. 1996 Ch. 250.
(n)
"Occupancy Permit" means a permit or approval to occupy a building or
structure issued or given under the City's building bylaw.
(o)
"Protected Tree" means:
(i)
Any tree, the diameter of which is greater than 50 centimetres
(20inches);
(ii)
A covenanted tree;
(iii)
A tree located within 30 metres (98.4252 feet) of the natural boundary
of a watercourse or top of a slope of 30% or more;
(iv)
Specifically excludes all Populus sp. and Alder trees;
(v)
An Eagle or Great Blue Heron nesting tree.
(p)
"Pruning" means the selective removal of branches from a tree in accordance
with accepted ISA arboricultural practice.
(q)
"Replacement Tree" means a tree that is planted pursuant to a tree cutting
permit or a notice issued under Section 6.
(r)
"Residential Lot" means a lot designated for single or two family residential use
under the City's zoning bylaw.
(s)
"Retained Tree" means a tree that is shown on a tree plan as a tree that will be
retained.
(t)
"Tree" means any living, erect, woody plant which is:
(i)
5 metres (16.3 feet) or more in height; or
(ii)
10 centimetres (3.9 inches) or more in diameter; or
(iii)
A replacement tree planted pursuant to Section 6 of this bylaw; or
(iv)
A replacement tree planted as a condition of a permit issued under this
bylaw.
(u)
"Tree Cutting Permit" means a permit issued under Section 4.
(v)
"Tree Plan" means one or more plans, including a survey plan prepared by a BC
licensed surveyor showing the legal boundaries and dimensions of the site to
which it relates and the location and diameter of each protected tree on the
site or within 2 metres (6.562 feet) of the boundary of the site and containing
the following information.
(i)
The type (coniferous or deciduous) of each protected tree;
(ii)
Each protected tree proposed to be retained;
(iii)
Each protected tree proposed to be cut down;
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 4
(iv)
The previous location and type of each protected tree that was cut down
within the three (3) month period immediately preceding the date the
tree plan is submitted;
(v)
The location, species and size of all proposed replacement trees; and
(vi)
The location and timing of any propose demolition, excavation or
construction on the site.
(w)
"Water Course" means any natural or man-made depression with well-defined
banks and a bed of zero point six (0.6) metres or more below the surrounding
land serving to give direction to or containing a current of water at least six
months of the year and includes the sea or any lake, river, stream, creek,
spring, ravine, swamp, gulch, surface source of water supply or source of
groundwater supply.
4.
REGULATIONS
1.
Except as permitted by this bylaw, no person shall damage a protected tree
and no person shall cut down a protected tree unless that person holds a valid
tree cutting permit.
2.
A tree cutting permit is not required:
(a)
For pruning;
(b)
For the emergency removal of a protected tree that has been so severely
damaged or has been rendered so unstable by wind, snow or other
severe weather event, that it is in imminent danger of falling and
injuring persons or damaging property and the person who cuts down the
tree immediately advises the Director of that action;
(c)
By the City to cut down a protected tree located in a City park in
accordance with normal park maintenance procedures and in
consultation with the City's certified arborist;
(d)
To cut down or damage a protected tree where necessary for the
construction, installation, maintenance, repair, replacement or removal
of:
(i)
Public roads, lanes, paths, sidewalks and boulevards,
(ii)
Rail lines,
(iii)
The sewer, water and gas mains and ancillary works of the City,
any other governmental authority or any public utility,
(iv)
Public drainage, dyking or flood control works,
(v)
The electrical, telephone and telecommunication lines, cables,
poles, supports, conduits and ancillary works of any public utility;
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 5
(e)
To cut down a protected tree that is within the area bounded by the
exterior walls or face, or a protected tree as defined in Sections 3(o)(i)
or 3(o)(iv) that is within 1.5 metres (4.921 feet) of the exterior walls or
face of any building or structure or planned building or structure for
which a building permit has been issued.
3.
An application for a tree cutting permit shall be made to the Director in the
form prescribed by the Director accompanied by:
Bylaw 1515 adopted March 16, 2015, repealed Section 4(3)(a) in its entirety and substituted
the following:
(a)
Payment of a non-refundable application fee as set out in Schedule "H"
of "Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2015, No. 1515";
(b)
Where the applicant is not the owner of the land on which the protected
tree or trees proposed to be cut down or damaged are located, the
signed written consent of the owner authorizing the applicant to make
the application on behalf of and as agent of the owner;
(c)
A tree plan including photographs;
(d)
A report prepared by a certified arborist in regard to any protected tree
or trees proposed to be cut down or damaged, including an impact
assessment on remaining trees and providing an assessment of the tree
or trees' health, hazard potential and the feasibility of the retention of
the tree or trees in accordance with the standard procedures prescribed
by the International Society of Arboriculture;
(e)
The applicant shall securely attach to each protected tree or cluster of
protected trees required to be shown on the plan referred to in Section
4(3)(c) a clearly visible plastic tag or survey tape for identification
purposes.
4.
Upon receipt of an application that complies with Section 4(3), the Director
may issue a tree cutting permit, with or without conditions as provided for in
Section 3 where;
(a)
It is proven to the satisfaction of the Director that:
(i)
The tree is a hazardous tree, and
(ii)
Removal of the tree is reasonably necessary in accordance with
accepted ISA arboricultural practice in accordance with the
actual written recommendations of a certified arborist retained
by the applicant;
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 6
(b)
Removal of the protected tree or trees is necessary to accommodate the
construction or installation of an authorized driveway, required off-
street parking area or utilities services.
(c)
Wherever in this bylaw trees may be cut or removed the applicant must
comply with the regulations as set out in Schedule "A" attached hereto
and forming part of this bylaw.
5.
The Director may attach conditions to a tree cutting permit, including any of
the following:
(a)
The replacement of any protected tree that is cut down or was cut down
within the three (3) month period immediately preceding the date the
tree plan was submitted under Section 4(3);
(b)
The erection of protection fences at such locations and the maintenance
of those protection fences for such periods of time, as the Director may
specify;
(c)
The posting of security with the City in accordance with Section 4(6) as
security for the planting and maintenance of replacement trees;
(d)
That employees and/or authorized agents of the City be permitted to
enter onto the site at any reasonable time to carry out assessments and
inspections to determine compliance with the tree cutting permit.
6.
The security to be provided pursuant to Section 4(5)(c):
(a)
Shall be the greater of $1,000; or
(i)
An amount equal to 120% of the cost of the replacement trees as
reasonably estimated by a certified arborist or landscape
architect retained by the applicant,
(ii)
Shall be in the form of a non-interest bearing cash deposit or an
irrevocable unconditional letter of credit issued by a chartered
Canadian bank;
(b)
Shall be provided to the City before the tree cutting permit is issued;
(c)
May be held by the City until the conditions in the tree cutting permit
have been satisfied and a period of one year from the planting of all
replacement trees has elapsed as confirmed by the City;
(d)
Shall in the case of a letter of credit, be renewed as necessary so that it
remains in effect through the time period specified in subsection (c);
(e)
May be used by the City to pay or offset any costs and expenses incurred
by the City in taking any action under Section 6(3) from the non-
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 7
compliance with the terms and conditions of the tree cutting permit or
the requirements of this bylaw.
7.
Protection fences shall be:
(a)
Not less than 1.2 metres (3.937 feet) in height;
(b)
Made of plastic snow fencing securely mounted on wooden posts or
wooden or chain link fencing mounted on wooden or metal posts;
(c)
Erected on or outside of the dripline of the protected tree or trees
around which they are required to be erected or as otherwise directed
or permitted by the Director;
(d)
Erected prior to the commencement of any demolition, excavation or
construction; and
(e)
Securely mounted at all times during the period that they are required
to be maintained pursuant to Section 4(10) or a tree cutting permit.
8.
A tree cutting permit shall, insofar as it permits the permit holder to cut down
or damage a protected tree or trees will be valid only for a period of six
months from the date of its issuance.
9.
If the permit holder fails to comply with the terms and conditions contained in
a tree cutting permit the Director may revoke the permit.
10.
Every application made to the City for the issuance of a demolition permit or a
building permit on a residential lot shall be accompanied by a tree plan.
11.
The person making an application referred to in Section 10 shall:
(a)
Before the demolition permit or building permit is issued, securely
attach to each protected tree or cluster of protected trees on the lot a
clearly visible plastic tag or survey tape; and
(b)
Erect and maintain in place around all protected trees on the lot, until
all demotion or construction works authorized by the demolition permit
or building permit have been completed, protection fences that comply
with Section 7.
5.
EXEMPTIONS
1.
The Director may exempt a person from the requirements of
(a)
Section 4(1) where:
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 8
(i)
A scheme of tree removal, retention and replacement, or any one
or more of them, for the site was previously made a part of a
comprehensive development plan or development permit for the
site under the City's zoning bylaw, or
(ii)
A scheme of tree removal, retention and replacement, or any one
or more of them, for the site was previously made a condition of
the approval of the subdivision of land pursuant to the Land Title
Act which created the site;
(b)
Section 4(3)(c) or Section 4(10) where the Director is satisfied that such
trees can be readily identified on the site from other information
provided by the applicant.
6.
TREE REPLACEMENT
1.
Every replacement tree required to be planted pursuant to this bylaw or a tree
cutting permit shall be healthy and reasonably capable of surviving and shall be
planted in accordance with accepted ISA arboricultural practice.
2.
Every replacement tree required to be planted pursuant to this bylaw or a tree
cutting permit shall be properly and adequately maintained in accordance with
accepted ISA arboricultural practice.
3.
If a person fails to plant or maintain any replacement tree as required by a tree
cutting permit or this bylaw or otherwise fails to comply with the terms and
conditions of the tree cutting permit the City, by its employees or agents may
enter upon the land in respect of which the replacement tree is required to be
planted and maintained or the tree cutting permit was issued and take such
action as it deems appropriate to remedy such failure.
4.
A person who cuts down a protected tree in contravention of this bylaw, or
who damages a protected tree in contravention of this bylaw which results in
the protected tree being cut down shall, in addition to any other penalty that
may be imposed under this bylaw, upon receiving written notice from the
Director to do so, immediately plant a replacement tree of the same species in
approximately the same location as the tree cut down.
5.
A replacement tree planted pursuant to subsection 4 shall:
(a)
In the case of coniferous species, be not less than 2 metres (6.562 feet)
in height;
(b)
In the case of deciduous species:
(i)
Be a single tree not less than 6 centimetres (2.5 inches) in
diameter.
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 9
6.
The employees or agents of the City may enter onto any land to carry out
assessments or inspections of that land and the protected trees thereon:
(a)
At any time after a tree cutting permit has been applied for or issued in
respect of that land and until all of the terms and conditions contained
in that tree cutting permit have been satisfied;
(b)
For a period of one year from the planting of any replacement tree on
that land;
(c)
At any time for the purpose of determining whether there has been a
contravention of this bylaw or to determine compliance with the
requirements of this bylaw.
7.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
1.
Pursuant to Section 154(1) of the Community Charter, Council delegates to the
Director, the power of Council under Section 8(3)(c) of the Community Charter
to issue or refuse to issue a tree cutting permit under this bylaw, including the
powers of Council to require the applicant provide a security deposit as
provided in Section 4(6) of this bylaw.
8.
RIGHT TO APPEAL
1.
The owner or occupier of land that is subject to:
(a)
A requirement imposed under Section 4(3)(c);
(b)
A condition imposed under Section 4(4);
(c)
A decision under Sections 4(9) or 7(1);
may apply to Council to have the matter reconsidered.
2.
An application under subsection 9(1) shall:
(a)
Be made in writing;
(b)
Set out:
(i)
The applicant's name, address and telephone number,
(ii)
The address of the site,
(iii)
The requirement, condition or decision to be reconsidered,
(iv)
The reasons why the applicant objects to the requirement,
condition or decision;
(c)
State whether the applicant wishes to personally appear before Council
when Council reconsiders the matter;
(d)
Be signed by the applicant; and
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 10
(e)
Be delivered to the Corporate Officer.
3.
Council shall reconsider the matter at a regular Council meeting within a
reasonable time after receiving an application for reconsideration.
4.
Written notice of the time and place of the Council meeting at which Council
will reconsider the matter shall be forwarded by regular mail to the applicant
at the applicant's address shown in the application for reconsideration and the
applicant shall be entitled to attend such Council meeting and make
submissions.
5.
Written notice provided in subsection 4 may be provided through the
applicant's email address at the applicant's request.
9.
PENALTIES
1.
No person shall prevent or obstruct or attempt to prevent or obstruct entry of
any City employee authorized to enter upon property by this bylaw.
2.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of the bylaw or who suffers or
permits any act or thing to be done in violation of any of the provisions of this
bylaw is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is subject
to a fine of not more than $10,000.
3.
The cutting or damaging of each protected tree shall constitute a separate
offence.
4.
Each offence is a ticketable offence.
READ A FIRST TIME this 5th day of September, 2012
READ A SECOND TIME this 5th day of September, 2012
READ A THIRD TIME this 5th day of September, 2012
RECONSIDERED AND FINALLY ADOPTED this 17th day of September, 2012
Original signed by Chris Burger
Original Signed by Debbie Comis
Mayor
Corporate Officer
Consolidated under the provisions of the Community Charter to include Bylaw 1515. Printed under the
authority of the Deputy Corporate Officer of the City of Parksville this 18th day of March, 2015.
Original signed by Amanda Weeks
Deputy Corporate Officer
Bylaw No. 1484 - Consolidated - Page 11
SCHEDULE "A"
A.1
Wherever in this bylaw trees may be cut or removed the following regulations apply:
(a)
All works are to be carried out in strict accordance with the Workers
Compensation Board Regulations.
(b)
All works pertaining to removal and felling shall only be performed under the
guidance of a certified arborist or landscape architect.
(c)
If, in the opinion of the Director of Operations, the works will encroach on
public properties the owner/applicant will be required to:
(i)
Show proof of liability insurance in the amount of five million dollars
($5,000,000.00) with the City of Parksville named as an additional
insured;
(ii)
Notify the Operations Department a minimum of 48 hours in advance of
the intention to carry out the works;
(iii)
Provide a plan showing the intended method of safeguarding the users of
the public owned property during the works that is acceptable to the
Director of Operations;
(iv)
Provide a refundable bond in the amount of one thousand dollars
($1,000.00), acceptable to the Director of Finance, to cover damages
incurred to the public owned lands;
(v)
Remove any and all debris associated with the works on the same day as
the works are carried out to the satisfaction of the Director of
Operations.
Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of Bylaw No. 1484
Original Signed by Debbie Comis
Corporate Officer