NV District tree cutting Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer miller@nsnews.com North Vancouver District Council voted 4-3 Monday to tighten what is already consid- ered to be a cutting- edge Environmental Protection and Preservation Bylaw. Current regulations require permits for the cut- ting of trees 10 centimetres in diameter or more on district land and environmentally sen- sitive areas on private land. The standard applies to approximately 82% of land within the district. The condition for the remaining 18% — primarily non-environmentully sensitive residential land — is 75 cen- timetres. Responding to a council request for additional tree protection measures, staff rec- ommended that the size for trees on private property which require a permit before cutting be reduced from: 75 centimetres in diameter to 30 centimetres in diameter. But some council mem- bers and at least one member of the public thought the 30 centimetre standard was too much of a jump. “It is a simple fact that over time trees grow,” Brian Platts told council. “What -| were once small trees on a res- idential Jot, often become large unmanageable trees.” “This proposed bylaw’s massive reduction in the size of a protected tree on private property is, in my view, an unreasonable and unneces- sary infringement, on the . rights of private property owners.” Platts also asked why the bylaw was being pushed through one night from introduction to third reading without benefit of further public input. Environmental Protection Manager Mel Kotyk told council there had been public telephone polling conducted by consultants in the summer to test the level of support. Kotyk also said the pro- osed new bylaw had not cen advertised “to avoid a a lot of tree cutting across the district.” Because a tree-permit for cutting is asked for, it won't necessarily be approved, said Kotyk. But hazard and property damage would be reasons tor cutting if pruning was not an option. Mayor Don Bell opposed the staf¥ proposals, describing them as over-regulation. He suggested that older homes in the district once had clear-cut lots that have since grown back. However, Coun. Janice Harris’ compromise sugges- tion for a 40 centimetre stan- dard was eventually adopted with the support of council- lors. Trevor Carolan, Ernie Crist and Lisa Muri. But in the best tradition of confusing district debate it took three votes to do it. The original vote saw Coun. Pat Munroe fail to raise his hand which, under council rules of procedure, is considered support of the motion. He later asked for the vote to the opposed column resulting in a failed bylaw (3- 4) and outrage 2round the council table. Bell took the unusual step of calling a recess and retreating to a committee room with the municipal clerk and Carolan. When he returned he called for yet another recon- sideration of the vote, sug- gesting Carolan had intended to register his opposition to the reconsideration, not the bylaw. When the dust settled the bylaw was on the books with a 4-3 approval. While trees on private property larger than 40 cen- timetres in diameter will require approval ofa tree per- mit before cutting, another part of the bylaw. has stricter requirements. If a building permit has been applied for on the prop- erty in question, the standard for protection becomes 10 centimetres in diameter in an attempt to prevent clear-cut- ting of lots during develop- ment. Fines for infractions under the bylaw could range from $250 to $20,000. Police seek credit card suspect Sunday, November 30, 1997 ~ North Shore News — 5 FAV AI WAS UELONSTHELN EvTg http://www. North Vancouver ACMP Paulean, who now lives in Roberts Creek, will be applying her extensive knowledge of real estate, assistin, uyers unshine NORTH Vancouver RCMP are looking for help i in identifying a man using a stolen credit card. The photo depicting him was taken from a bank machine video tape. The card was stolen from an elementary school teacher’s bag. It is not known whether the man stole the card him- self or had it passed to him by a child. Information on the man’s identity should be forwarded to RCMP Const. Toyata at 985-1311. WV quiet on municipal (2 land at Whitby Estates Catherine Barr Contributing Writer WEST Vancouver council members are silent over the fate of seven acres of municipally owned land. The property in question is located within the boundaries of Whitby Estates, British Pacific Properties’ (BPP) newest proposed development project. The land is up for rezoning pending the clo- sure of a seri arings and mectings regarding Whitby Estates. The final session in the public meeting process will take place Monday. Walter Thorneloe, BPP’s vice-president of development, has said that BPP is interested in purchasing the seven a Tionel Lewis, vice president of the Dundarave and Ambleside Ratepayers Association, confront- ed Mayor Pat Boname on the topic at a recent council meeting, Lewis asked why the land was not being offered for public tender. He suggested that BPP should not automatically have the right to pur- chase the land for an undisclosed amount of money. He called for council to bring the matter to the public for discussion. Boname said only that the matter had not yet been discussed and “would not be discussed at this time.” | isting on an answer, Lewis pointed out [RR that the issue was on the agenda of council’s next in-camera mecting. Municipal Manager Doug Allan told Lewis that land rezoning had nothing to do with the safe of municipal land. He called the avo matters “unrelated.” BPP proposes a single and multi-family resi- dential development called Whitby Estates above the Upper Levels Highway. Community con- cerns have been raised about some areas of the development reaching above the 1,200-f00t level, rhe maximum allowable level for develop- ment under the OCP. Christmas Gift Suggestions ROYAL BOULTON FIGURINES 1637 Lonsdale ave. 1730 Marine Or. North Vancouver West Vancouver Park Reps 4 Noah tert Fue the Bay | 2 | | 4 | Stephen Anderson 922-8881 If you have been injured in an auto accident The RRSP Experts “Staking care of “inside and out” e PRODUCTS LTD ° 165 PEMBERTON. AVE, N: VAN ' 365 Days A Year. OTON BLOWOUT! aT ” ” briple foam care folea, scotch-guatded feten Cove?, pillows and pikes covers. Hhule al bpm Sunday 12-5 pm 04 SM INRAPIDLUBE 2 Sas | DRIVE-THRU Oil. 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