WATCH: Residents of a Vancouver neighbourhood want to know why a large tree was cut down. As Jill Bennett reports, they say it contradicts a city plan to better protect trees.
An empty home on Adera street in Kerrisdale, likely to be demolished, is on the market for $5.6 million.
But it’s the giant tree stump in front of the house causing the most shock.
“I’m just disgusted,” said Carol Stepenoff, a longtime Vancouver resident. “I thought the city had stopped destroying trees in the neighborhood.”
In April, the City of Vancouver passed a bylaw requiring people to get a permit before cutting down healthy trees, and permission from an arborist if they remove any dangerous or diseased trees.
The realtor for the house told Global News that they did get a permit, and an arborist did deem the tree dangerous. Even still, Stepenoff wishes there was more public communication around the issue.
“I would think if there was an arborist report, there would be something here indicating why it was taken down.”
The sentiment was echoed by Stephanie Nicolls, a Kerrisdale resident who is concerned aboutthe changing landscape of her neighbourhood. She wishes the city had clearer public disclosure over when and why trees get cut down.
“Why is it being taken down? Is it truly decayed? Who said so? Who looked at it? Who said it was okay to take down a beautiful 120-year-old tree that is part of Vancouver’s landscape?” she asked.
“Maybe it was decayed, and safety comes first…but this is such a great opportunity for the city to have a chief forester, and a really clear process.”
– With files from Jill Bennett
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