The town announced the lifting of the order on May 26.
“We are satisfied that all the conditions outlined in the Gospel Rock – Block 7 Development Permit will be met,” said Lesley-Anne Staats, the town’s director of planning. “Accordingly, work may now proceed at the site as planned.”
The order, in effect since Dec. 21 2020, was applied after staff discovered two trees in the lot’s designated Conservation Area had been damaged during tree removal earlier that month, and that the buffer zone at the edge of that protected area had been improperly flagged at five metres instead of 10. An Environmental Monitor wasn’t present on-site to oversee the tree removal.
Two trees sustained minor damage, one tree was scarred and no trees were cut in the protected area.
The developer was issued $900 in fines for Tree Preservation Bylaw infractions.
The May 26 release said the developer has since “been working closely with Town staff to implement tree protection measures to ensure that the development proceeds as proposed.”
The issue was raised several times at Gibsons council meetings, with councillors Annemarie De Andrade and Stafford Lumley reflecting constituents’ concerns in March about whether the cutting had been permitted.
