Okotoks has passed a bylaw which lays out regulations to protect trees in public spaces owned or controlled by the Town.
The bylaw was brought into effect last week after being given first reading in February.
According to parks technician, urban forest Gordon White, the bylaw revisits the approach for tree replacement on public property using a valuation system rather than a tree for tree approach (two planted for every one removed) which was previously in use.
"Tree appraisal can be significantly higher than two trees for one and so we're looking for compensation on the appraised value of the trees that are lost in certain projects and developments," White explained during a council meeting last month.
However, it is common that many more trees are planted that meet or exceed the appraisal value, he added. An example of this is Veterans Way, where a number of low-valued poplar trees were removed for construction but replaced over and above.
White, who is also a certified assessor, explained that trees are evaluated using a number of criteria, including age and location.
The new bylaw will be applicable on a case-by-case basis, explained parks director Christa Michailuck.
"In the case of subdivision developers, this isn't really going to apply to them because when they're developing a whole new quarter section of land, they're already doing a bio-physical overview and then a biological impact assessment for the natural assets on those properties," she said. "So we're talking about if you buy a lot on Elma Street and you want to tear down the house and build a bigger, newer house or a condo or something and there's a big tree there."
Michailuck highlighted possible scenarios: if the tree to be removed is on a boulevard, it is considered public so removing it would make the owner subject to compensating the Town for the loss of the tree based on its evaluation.
"The other case might be, it's on your own property and you decide you want to retain the tree because it's going to add value to the beauty of your new development," she said. "So then we're going to require that you protect the tree as per our tree protection requirements and our general design and construction guidelines.
"And if you wish to remove that tree because it's in your way, that's on you, you own that tree and that property and that's your right to do with it what you want."
In necessary cases, the Town may engage a third party to complete the tree assessments, so that no accusations can be made of the Town inflating the value of its own assets.
The Town will most often be affected by its own policy, where it purchases land that houses trees which it wishes to develop
All funds generated from the bylaw will be placed in reserves to use for environmental initiatives, such a purchasing and planting trees.
White said the Town doesn't expect to generate a significant amount of revenue through this policy, but the rules have been developed to ensure there is direction when the time comes.
