Comox Council hears about the potential impacts of Bill 44 on urban forests

The group worries that as building sizes are maximized on residential properties, it could reduce the urban tree canopy. Photo: Jeff Summers / Flickr

Another local environmental group has spoken to their town council about the potential impacts of recent changes to B.C.’s Local Government Act could have on urban forests in the community. 

Bill 44 amended the law to allow fourplexes to be built on any property within a municipality’s urban containment zone, and six plexes near transit hubs.

At a Comox town council meeting on March 6, Mel McLauchlin from Save Our Forest - Comox Valley spoke to council about his concerns that an increase in multi-unit housing could see a decrease in “urban forests” that includes all the public and private-owned trees in the community.

“Cities around the world are planting trees in an attempt to mitigate our changing climate. April will be two years since we were here to urge council to do more in the face of our diminishing tree canopy,” he said. “We're here again to suggest that the tree canopy is an even greater peril.”

McLauchlin said that he is not denying the need for more housing, but sees the consequences that could come with the changes to the law.

“The neutering of our municipalities. The ability to work with developers and the elimination of citizens' participation in how development takes place has us very concerned about what could be politely considered inadvertent consequences,” he said.

The group worries that as building sizes are maximized on residential properties, it could reduce the urban tree canopy.

“By now everyone knows or should know that trees are a primary contributor to a neighborhood's character,” McLauchlin said. “They add beauty and give experience of nature, providing habitat for birds and other creatures. They also remove pollutants from the air, manage rainwater and provide cooling on hot summer days. Access to nature and trees is linked to improved mental health and well being no wonder they add to property values.”

McLauchlin said as private land in Comox holds much of the tree canopy in the community, Bill 44 removes any say the town has to urge property owners to work to preserve trees.

“Their fate is solely at the discretion of the property owner,” he said.

He urged council to actively promote tree or land donations to the town.

“If we truly recognize trees as a public asset and a resource with benefits, which benefits us all, as part of a healthy ecosystem, and consider critical infrastructure for municipalities, an annual municipal tax break to the property owner may be appropriate as an incentive to preserve the trees perhaps incorporated in a lasting covenant the tax break coming from the parks budget and acquisition funds,” he said.

McLauchlin asked council to bring their concerns to the province to underline that urban forests are valuable natural assets that need to be protected in the face of rapid development.

“You can’t fight city hall holds some truth, but we don't want to fight city hall, we want you–city hall–who work with us, to fight for us,” he said.

After the presentation, Mayor Nicole Minions shared that the town hopes to preserve more trees in the community but is unsure where they stand with the current number of trees in the urban areas.

“Knowing that we have our urban tree kind of inventory, which hasn't been done for 12 or 13 years, will really be a marker for us on where Comox is now,” Minions said. "Back in 2011 we were actually doing quite well as a municipality and what we don't know is where we stand now.”

Minions then said the town has been in talks with the province and the local MLA about the concerns around Bill 44.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.