Editor:
Re: Resident livid as city cuts down trees, NOW, March 28
Recently, the City of Burnaby had to remove six cherry trees from a stretch of Boundary Road in Burnaby Heights.
This was not a decision we made lightly.
We recognize the significant enjoyment and value trees provide. Unfortunately, this particular corridor is very narrow with many existing utilities, including two large Metro Vancouver water mains. To do the water line replacement and sewer separation project, we had no alternatives to shift the alignment.
I want to assure people that when work finishes later this year we will be planting new cherry trees.
As a city, we place a high priority on trees and green space. We have a robust tree bylaw. When a tree is cut down it must be replaced with one, two or three new trees depending upon the diameter of the tree removed. This applies on both public and private land.
Since 2015, City of Burnaby forestry division staff has planted more than 9,000 trees. That’s roughly equal to all the boulevard trees in the northwest part of the city, north of Highway 1 and west of Sperling Avenue.
And in terms of green space, residents can be proud of the fact that Burnaby is one of the greenest cities in Canada. Protected green space covers more than 25 per cent of the city, totaling 2,400 hectares (6,000 acres). That’s six times the size of Stanley Park.
Some residents said we could have done a better job communicating about the work and the tree removal. This is valuable feedback which we will take to heart as we seek to improve how we communicate and engage with residents on things that affect them.
Leon Gous, director of engineering
