Open letter to City of Richmond’s mayor and council,
Don’t follow the easy route — keep trees in our future.
Yes, it is easy for builders’ to clear-cut trees. No pesky branches to work around.
Yes, it is easy to give builders plans priority over the most magnificent tree in the neighbourhood. Any trees within the envelope of a new house, with a maximum footprint and minimum setbacks, is fodder for the chainsaw.
Yes, it is easy to continue with a toothless building bylaw and tree bylaw that hamstrings even the best intentioned city staff to save trees. I have heard reference to the “tree protection bylaw.” Perhaps a more accurate title would be the “tree clear-cut bylaw.”
Yes, it is easy to bend to the strong backroom developer lobby and ignore the voices in the community and your voters.
It’s always easier to do nothing and say nice words. But, is it really easier for our children — and the future of our city?
To live without nature and a diminished experience of bird-life, wildlife and air that we breathe?
Real change is needed now. Resident Cindy Lee has added to the discussion with the group, Save Richmond Trees. She has called on council to act with seven easy steps:
1. Increase front, backyard setbacks to 30 feet.
2. Plant two significant trees and two shrubs on each new building lot.
3. Return to two-car garages.
4. Replace, not just remove, hazardous trees on the same lot.
5. Eliminate “one tree per year cutting without a permit.”
6. Reduce lot areas covered with paving stones in favour of plant-based materials.
7. Eliminate the unwelcoming large brick fences and gates from residential entrances (as Surrey has done).
More space for nature and trees equals more balanced development.
You have been working on some of these changes for over a year now. Waiting any longer will mean more loss of all trees and nature. Richmond needs to immediately prohibit the removal of trees over 30 cm (1 foot) in diameter while we write a real tree protection bylaw.
Steven Guthrie
Richmond
