The Director of Planning & Building Services provided an introduction to the presentation and outlined the collaboration between many Town departments and external agencies in working on the issue.
The Senior Planner began the presentation with an overview of the history of the issue in Newmarket and the results of public consultation which has been conducted to date. She provided an outline of the proposed approach to a private tree protection by-law, which is made up of a three-tier approach. She explained that the philosophy of the by-law includes a customer service focus and a recognition of the value of Newmarket's trees. She advised that trees of a 20cm diameter at breast height would not be able to be removed under the proposed by-law. She explained the permit process which would allow the removal of these trees under certain circumstances.
The Forestry Supervisor advised of the role of the Town arborist in the proposed process. The Senior Planner provided an overview of the costs proposed under the developed framework. The Manager of Regulatory Services provided an outline of the enforcement strategy which would accompany the proposed by-law. The presentation concluded with an overview of the implementation plan for the proposed by-law and next steps for staff and Council.
Members of Council asked questions of clarification regarding tree canopy coverage requirements from York Region, requirements for the replacement of specific tree species, timelines for the proposed by-law to come into effect, attempts to bypass the by-law through tree pruning, compensation for dead or dying trees, increased costs for the removal of large trees, alternate permit processes for dead or dying trees, preservation of trees after a property is sold and the amount of fines which would be incurred as a penalty under the by-law.