Clear cut affects 2.7 hectares Ray [email protected]
A total of 1,413 trees were cut down at the Upper Malamute earlier this month, according to a forestry specialist hired by the District of Squamish to investigate damage to the site.
An area of 2.7 hectares was affected by the downing of trees on the property, which is owned by Malamute Holdings Ltd. The damage is greater than originally estimated, with initial reports putting the number of downed trees at approximately 500.
"These are important facts for us to know as we move forward," said Mick Gottardi, director of community development for the district.
The district is looking at fining the property owner under the community's site alteration bylaw, which allows for fines ranging between $1,000 and $10,000 per tree, meaning that potentially Malamute Holdings could be on the hook for as much as $1,413,000 in penalties.
According to Gottardi, district staff will meeting with the land owner to discuss "what may happen as a remedy," and then bring the results of those talks back to council within the next two weeks.
"Our next council meeting will be May 1, and we expect that will be a formal agenda item on that date," said Mayor Ian Sutherland.The downed trees still remain on the property and no decision has yet been made as to what will be done with them.
The clear cut, which is clearly visible from the highway and is in a popular climbing area, occurred in late March and was halted by a stop work order issued by the earlier this month.
Malamute Holdings director Steve Miles has since sent a written statement to council saying that he was 'not aware that a site alteration permit was required to undertake the clearing and grubbing of the property."
Rather than send district staff on to the site, council enlisted N&R Forest Management at a cost of $3,000 to conduct the survey to ensure that if legal action proceeds to court, the district's case would be backed by a credible authority.
