Ceiebrations. 7 SUNDAY FOCUS V's tree-to Deana Lancaster News Reporter. : dlancaster@nsnews.comt TREES have long been praised in song, story, ~ prayer and] ~ We've bestowed them with human-like characteristics — even feelings. And factually, we know them to be a source of oxygen and of habitat for local wildlife. On the North Shore, we have an abun- dance of them... but not everyone is happy about that. .“We_have a tree problem,” said Ron Komm, president of the British | Properties Area’ Homeowners Association. “Some of the trees, especially’ on the eastern side of the Properties, are blocking views and sunlight, and they're dangerous.” “Ws'a growing problem, said Koram. Literally. ; The: neighbourhood’s inception was in. 1931, when British Pacific Propertics acquired about 4,700 acres from ‘the municipal- ity of West- Vancouver. Although it was the Depression, BPP began developing the 450-lot Capilano Estates, and improved access to the North Shore by building the Lions Gate Bridge. “The entire property was clearcut, and sold off as view proper- ties,” said Komm.:: "Especially after the Second World War, the pitch worked. Sales picked up and in no time, lots in the British Properties came to be corisidered valuable because of their settings and spectacular vistas. But the British Properties, like the rest of the North Shore, is locatéd in the middle ‘of a temperate rainforest. And in the forest, trees grow. These days, the view for most of the area’s residents has changed ‘dramatically. For those who most enjoy looking at trees, rs 4 . Komm however, like many othets int the neighbourhood, miss- és his once unimpeded view of the bridge, the harbour, English Bay arid Stanley Park. “I have one particular neighbour below me = they cut othe the trees i front of ‘their house that block. their which’ residents have eeapiined re tiety about the meighboue trees below them but refuse to cut down their own trees for the“ * ly private properties is the Capilino’ Golf and Country.Club, said Konm. “There are People. who live ; near the golf course who don’t get any sunlight at all, They can only grow moss in their yards. They'd really like to see the sun in their yard again before they die.” This past summer, the BPAHA distributed a questionnaire to area homes that asked resi- dents whether trees on their property obstruct views, block sunlight or pose a potential safety hazard. Of 2,700 surveys mailed, 555. were returned, primarily by residents who feel the trees are a problem. As well as the loss of view and light and the subsequent impact that has on property values, NEWS pivto Mike Wakefield residents are worried about fire hazards, falling WELCOME to the jungle one . British Properties homeowners like Ron. trees and power outages. “If there was a fire up here, it would just travel treetop to trectop. The damages would be huge.” ‘The BPAHA has asked the mayor, councillors and staff to meet with them on the issue. Mayor Ron Wood said he can understand the neighbourhood’s concerns, “They're living in a bit of a jungle up there.” The irony, he added, is that when the area was logged for devel- opment, it was “the clearcut of all clearcuts ... it was ‘Nuclear Heights.’ But the forest keeps growing, and now they’re living in _.a rainforest.” _The BPAHA is hoping to convince the municipality t manage control of the forest by enforcing existing covenants and intro- ducing new bylaws that will limit height of trees on private prop: erty. ‘According to municipal manager David Stuart, however, the municipality will tread carefully on private property issues. . ‘. “It's a very contentious issue,” said Stuart. “There are proper- ty rights involved.” He said staff and council are planning | to talk to and work with the homeowners’ association; “but it’s our hope | that we'll be able to address their concerns.on a voluntary basis. — rather than “extending regulatory policy over the whole municipality.” The mayor agrees. “That’s really all we can do,” said Wood. “My understanding is is ‘that unless a-tree is in danger of falling down, or the branches "about ™., I's going to be a bam burner. falling of off, we can’t Bo onto an individally owned piece of ‘Prop: members ‘will be attciidinig ing On Nov. 29 to talk about the issu Komm want their view back. erty and cut it down. “If it’s a viable tree, it’s healthy and growing and the property owner wants to keep it, we can’t do anything about it.” « ;- ~ Bur Komi and other area residents are not. convinced that homeowners with problem trees can be convinced to chop them, ‘voluntarily. “I think (the municipality) needs to ask, What i is good for the . neighbourhood?” - “They can legislate how high you build your house, and what square footage you can build: 20... we don’ t see why they c can’t also’. legislate the height of trees.” But legislation such as the BPAHA\ wants stands i in direct co trast to most other municipalities’ tree bylaws... 3. / In North Vancouver. District ‘for example, the mee bylaw i is“ designed to protect the trees: Homeowners must buy a permit to’. cut down trees on their own property with a diameter of 40 ce: timetres er miore. On district land, or on environmentally sensitive /..areas on private land, permits are required to cut trees: 10'cen- -timetres in diameter or more: ~-* . “T don’e understand that,” said Komm. ‘ any the most dangerous.” some of the muni pality’s oundillors and- -key ‘staff ; ‘aeenciation’s annual. general mee! - “It should be interesting,” said Komm “We ps; said BPAHA president Ron Komm. “ back 555°: That’s 20. per cent and considering we g per.cent turn uc during the municipal election, it seems‘ obvious that. this is an’ important. issue for the ‘Bi of the responses i clude: : a indicated {that : their lifestyles are adversel affect by trees ‘over which they have t no S : control. : * 92 percent indicated that loss of view was the: largest adverse effect followed by loss of light: and safe- hazards. . 85: per cent indicated thar the trees creating the. adverse ‘effects are located’ on‘ neighbours’ ‘property,’ 48 per cent indicated they are on municipal property: -and 19 per cent indicated they are on other properiies. : @ 63 per cent indicated:that the wee problem could ; be solved by removing the trees, 73 per cent indicat- ed topping trees would solve the problem and 61 per’ cent ‘indicated ‘selective pruning as a solution: Many~ residents indicated that they knew topping of trees. ‘was only ‘a. temporary ‘solution, at best, since: trees’ grow back in a short Period of of time. : ‘tribute finencially to solve. the’ problem wi ug 85 per cent indicated that ‘they.are willing to con- . 'Z1 per“. cent willing to ra 50 per cent or more of the cost. 71 per cent indicated the need for tree height ree r cent of respondents (317) submitted a vari ety of other comments, ‘observations and recommen Mary of them said ‘they'd like to: pality enforce current bylaws and covenants that limie: eight in some areas, whils others said a new tree’: bylaw is required. Many said they'd i be w ing to pay all. or part of the - - cost to remove problems trees, and some suggested tall . trees ‘could be replaced with short ‘TE you're ¢ looking | for selection, s service, and quality at aftordable prices, visit us at Suite Dreams 5 Furniture Our showroom features over 15,000 q) c : and oa TOO furniture, entertainme nt units; fabric and We custom 1 bui din pine, oak, maple, birch: and cherry. to pnie’s s décor.