Sylvie Paillard
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An old growth red cedar is still standing in Dentville after a confrontation between concerned neighbours and the District of Squamish.
A four-hour standoff over the removal off the tree, which involved RCMP, district staff and residents, occurred at the corner of Britannia Avenue and Madill Street and ended in a stalemate Monday (April 24). Property owners Maureen Provencal and Andy Kaiser agreed to delay the cutting down of a large cedar for one week after meeting with Mayor Ian Sutherland.
But the larger question of property owners' rights versus neighbours' rights remains unanswered.
For more than two months, Dentville resident Ron Enns and a handful of other residents have been trying to stop Provencal and Kaiser from cutting down a cedar that sits on their property at the corner of Britannia Avenue and Madill Street.
"I really wish that people would realize how important trees, especially large old trees, are to our neighborhoods," wrote Enns in a letter to the district, the property owners and the faller hired to do the work. "I was driving through Garibaldi Highlands and marveled at how many massive trees are still standing in that neighborhood, while in Downtown and Dentville they're all but gone."
Enns and Weber, who estimate the tree to be 300 years old, pleaded with Kaiser to reconsider because the cedar provides the neighbourhood with cleaner air, shade and beauty, and provides a haven for birds, animals and insects.
The property owners say they have numerous reasons for removing the tree, including that it takes up a quarter of the backyard - a portion of the lot that could be used for an addition - the roots may damage the house's foundation and cutting the roots would kill the tree, the possibility of falling branches creates a hazard, and the wood is needed to build a fence around the property. "It's none of your business what we do with the tree," he said at the scene.
The conflict came to a head at 10 a.m. on Monday (April 24) when tree faller Rob Drygas scaled 10 to 15 metres up the tree to start removing limbs. Enns and resident Sarah Weber, who was part of a municipal committee attempting to put a tree bylaw together, began a peaceful protest by standing underneath the tree on municipal property. Kaiser warned Enns and Weber to stay away as large tree limbs came down, but they refused. RCMP members kept the peace as district community development director Mick Gottardi and environmental director Chessy Knight approached Kaiser to discuss options.
"Maybe if you came up with the right amount of money, we wouldn't cut it down," said Kaiser, adding that $50,000 was a fair price, since the tree has been a "huge thorn in our side."
Knight said she respects the rights of property owners and understands the concern of residents who want to save trees."This is a much bigger issue than the tree," Knight said at the scene. "It's where the community is going."
Following an afternoon meeting with Mayor Ian Sutherland, the property owners agreed to delay the work until Monday (April 30) in order to "explore possibilities," according to Sutherland. Sutherland said Kaiser brought up the issue of financial compensation - but not a price - however, there are "certain things that aren't doable" for the district. Coun. Patricia Heintzman is expected to put forward a motion to enact a tree bylaw, according to Sutherland. Enns said he would support the motion and cited a clause in the Surrey tree bylaw: "Even though the tree may be on your own property, the entire neighbourhood benefits from its presence. Everyone who agrees that trees enhance the urban environment should be prepared to share in the responsibility for ensuring that our urban trees are preserved."
But although other communities have bylaws to protect trees, the answer for Squamish isn't clear.
"None of these bylaws are as simplistic as they appear," said Sutherland. "One part of the community loves them, and the other, not at all."
The debate is expected to continue in near future council meetings.
