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Contentious Dentville tree felled

Sylvie Paillard spaillard@squamishchief.com Dentville neighbours are still torn over the cutting down of an old growth cedar on Britannia Avenue and Madill Street.

Sylvie Paillard

spaillard@squamishchief.com

Dentville neighbours are still torn over the cutting down of an old growth cedar on Britannia Avenue and Madill Street.

The tree was at the centre of a four-hour stand off on April 24 when the owners of the property on which it sits, Maureen Provencal and Andy Kaiser, began chopping it down. A protest organized by neighbour Ron Enns that involved district staff and RCMP delayed the work, but on Wednesday (May 3), the tree came down.

"Although saving the tree was not possible, public awareness was raised" stated Enns in a letter to the Chief (see page 12).

Other local residents expressed support for Provencal and Kaiser and the rights of property owners to clear their land and make use of it for lawful purposes as they see fit.

"The owners of the tree verified several months ago with District of Squamish staff that no permit was needed to remove the hazardous tree in question from their private property," stated Tina Vansteenin a letter to Mayor Ian Sutherland and Squamish councillors.

"Surely there must be more important and deserving issues of your time and our dwindling tax dollars. I suggest that the District research controlled tree removal, and the benefits of planting new trees, which takes into consideration the final mature height of trees when planning and approving and improving our town's residential landscape architecture. This tree is on private property and is posing a public safety threat. The owners' efforts to improve their property and their neighbourhood should no longer be thwarted."

A district environmental bylaw is still being drafted and environmental coordinator Chessy Knight suggested in the Tuesday (May 2) council meeting that the tree and soil removal portion be sectioned off so that the contentiousness of those issues not impede the process.

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