Sechelt council members were anything but stumped during their May 22 committee of the whole, when they advanced plans to better protect trees not in parks and to fine abandoned vehicles.
James Nyhus, Sechelt’s chief building official said that over the last year, there have been at least 20 cases of unpermitted tree removal damage, accretion of district road allowances, clearing and habitat destruction without the ability to engage in any enforcement actions.
He said one resident removed five very large Western red cedars from a road allowance to accrete and occupy district property.
Sechelt council last considered this issue at its May 1 meeting and referred it to committee for discussion.
Nyhus clarified that this does not affect private property. The amendments are directed to district lands that are not in parks such as road allowances and dead-end roads.
Removing trees from district lands that retain steep slopes can be extremely difficult and costly to remediate, Nyhus said.
He explained the proposed amendments would empower district bylaw officers to issue fines of $1,000 under the Municipal Ticketing Information (MTI) Bylaw, and seek conviction under the Offences Act for more serious violations of the Highway and Parking Bylaw.
Stating that trees are a valuable natural asset worth protection, Nyhus said removing trees for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons would also be prohibited.
The proposed changes include what Nyhus called housekeeping amendments to help regulate unlicensed vehicles parked on district highways – noting that this does not apply to mobility aids such as motorized wheelchairs.
He said Sechelt is having problems with fining unlicensed vehicles, stating that the bylaw only allows them to tow them.
Nyhus explained that staff wanted to address unlawful tree removal and unlicensed vehicles because they are both under the same bylaw.
Coun. Darren Inkster asked if the district would use the fines to replant trees and if there would be a FireSmart approach taken to the replanting, recommending deciduous trees be used.
Nyhus answered that the fines are solely intended as penalties adding that the MTI bylaw is the highest level of enforcement available to staff outside of the Offence Act.
The committee unanimously recommended council pass second and third readings, those will need to be endorsed by council.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
