District News, News

SURVEY OPEN: Public invited to provide input on the development of a tree management bylaw

02
Nov

Monday, November 2, 2020 – Last week, the District of Sooke announced that a tree management bylaw is being developed and the public is invited to provide feedback through an online survey. The survey is now live at sooke.ca/engage and will remain open until midnight on November 11, 2020.  Please allow approximately 10 minutes to complete the survey in full.

***COMPLETE SURVEY NOW***

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Frequently Asked Questions (& Answers)

Why regulate the removal of trees?

Trees provide important community services and values including pollution and stormwater absorption, oxygen production, water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, shade, windbreaks, noise reduction, privacy, wildlife habitat, and neighbourhood beautification. Within the District’s strategic plan, the District has identified long-term thinking and environmental leadership as a core value and operating principle for the organization; managing trees is one mechanism to respond meaningfully to these areas.

What are the goals of a Tree Management Bylaw?

A tree management bylaw will set expectations for retaining trees, replanting or paying cash-in-lieu to plant trees elsewhere on public land such as local parks, when trees are removed. The District of Sooke is consulting with the public in the preparation of a tree management bylaw. 

What are the next steps in this process of preparing and implementing a Tree Management Bylaw?

The District is consulting with the public until November 11, 2020. After the public consultation period stakeholder engagement with the Agricultural Land Commission, Ministry of Environment, School District 62, and the Climate Action Committee will take place. A draft Tree Management Bylaw will be presented to council on December 14, 2020.

The public is able to provide input to Council through the public meeting process as described here.

 

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