Some trees along the waterfront will be getting a trim on a more regular basis.
A group of residents from the Dockside building appeared before council last October to ask the city to remove five trees on the esplanade boulevard in front of their building, saying the trees grew far taller and wider than the city had envisioned and were blocking views of the Fraser River and reducing the amount of sunlight getting into some suites. Three of the trees were particularly problematic.
In response to the concerns, staff recommended the city undertake a thorough pruning of three of the boulevard trees at 12 K de K Court and increase the tree-pruning cycle to once every three years. Council also approved a recommendation to direct staff to research existing regional policies related to city tree planting and city tree maintenance in relation to the preservation of viewscapes.
“The community, from my discussions with their leadership, would still desire taking the trees down and transplanting them. That would be their desire, but they were supportive of an alternative to that as long as there was an annual review for the first three years, and also any pruning that is done to those trees is done with consultation,” said Coun. Chuck Puchmayr, who has met with Dockside residents about the issue.
In addition to the staff recommendation, Puchmayr proposed an amendment containing specific recommendations related to the pruning and trimming of the trees, with the goal of protecting and reopening view corridors to the river and keeping those views open in the future.
Dean Gibson, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said he’s generally comfortable with the amendment, but would like the city’s arborist to have a chance to address the specifics of the pruning plan put forward by Puchmayr.
“As council can appreciate, trees are living bodies so they can only tolerate so much maintenance in a given year,” he said.
According to Gibson, staff expects to do a “very thorough pruning” of the trees within the next couple of weeks. He said that would be followed by a routine and ongoing maintenance program that would exceed tree care normally offered in other areas of the city.
Council approved the amendment put forward by Puchmayr, but directed staff to report back on the implementation of the specific recommendations for pruning of the boulevard trees in front of Dockside.
“I want to make sure it’s something that staff feel that they can do,” said Coun. Mary Trentadue. “The consideration I am interested in is how the amendment may impact the health of the trees. I get the sense that what we are looking for is to preserve view corridors, which I understand, but I also want to make sure that tree health is not overlooked.”
Coun. Lorrie Williams agreed.
“I am suspect when it comes to view. We build apartments in front of other apartment buildings and we tell people that they don’t own the view,” she said. “I am concerned about the health of the trees as well. If it can be done and the trees will survive and survive well, fine.”
