Private tree bylaw proposed for Roseland as pilot project

Streetscape in Roseland, showing abundance of mature trees.

Streetscape in Roseland, showing abundance of mature trees.

A private tree bylaw is being proposed for Roseland as a pilot project.

The Development & Infrastructure Committee will consider a motion at its March 22 meeting directing staff to investigate the implementation of a pilot tree by-law for the Roseland neighbourhood. Staff would review options including, but not limited to: length of time for pilot project, extent of regulations, budget and staffing requirements, and measures to evaluate success, as well as community consultation. Staff would report back to committee June 21 with the information, allowing committee to decide whether to proceed with the pilot.

If approved, the pilot project will help determine the applicability of a private tree by-law in other neighbourhoods, and, potentially, a private tree by-law for the entire city.

Requests for a private tree by-law in Burlington have come from many communities, most recently from the Roseland community as part of the Character Area Study process. As one of the community’s oldest neighbourhoods, Roseland has a large number of mature trees that contribute to its character.

Separately, the community has launched the Roseland Tree Planting Initiative to plant trees within the public rights-of-way in areas with a high percentage of mature trees.

Any recommendation from the March 22 D&I will go to council for final approval April 11. More information about the committee is available here, with links to the agenda reports:

My Take: I support a private tree bylaw for Burlington, so I support a pilot project in Roseland that will yield information to get us one step closer to that goal. Residents in the Ward 2 neighbourhoods of Lakeshore, Wellington, St. Luke’s and elsewhere have asked for a tree bylaw, given the large number of mature trees in these areas. Through my community liaisons program, I will also work with neighbourhood leaders to explore establishing tree planting in public rights of way in various neighbourhoods.

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