A change to the current bylaws will be put into place which Edmonton city counsellors hope will save older trees on private land.
Under the current rules, it is mandatory for all property owners plant at least two shrubs and one larger tree on each of their low density lots. The new rules that will be drawn up will state that a tree that is already on the land can be counted towards that number. The council hopes that this will encourage people to retain the older plants and not cut them down. Brochures that outline the new policies can be sent out to the public, home construction companies, developers as well as placed in hardware and building supply stores.
According to the councillors, having mature trees is part of what makes older neighborhoods so appealing to many people, and they also have secondary benefits as well. They provide oxygen and filter out pollutants, provide shade, and also help to reduce the amount of water that reaches storm drains and other infrastructure when there is a heavy rainfall.
It has not yet been decided how large the trees will have to be to qualify, but it is expected that trunk diameter will be used to determine whether or not they are big enough. It is expected that the new bylaw will be drawn up by next year.
Get a Free Quote for Brochures
