Residents were shocked to discover last week that a swath of trees have been cleared along Government Road and the Spit."Some of the trees I measured 15 ft. around the base," wrote John Buchanan, vice president of the Squamish Environmental Conservation Society, in an e-mail to The Chief. "Potential nesting trees like this anywhere are of high value, irreplaceable. And I get further concerned of this band of trees being nuked next to a Wildlife Management Area."The clearing on BC Rail property is believed to be in preliminary planning stages of a 40-lot industrial subdivision. But there's some dispute over the actual reason for the tree falling since the usual process of permitting through the District of Squamish was circumvented."BCR North Yards is working through converting the land into smaller acreages of lots with roads in it," said Brent Leigh, district deputy administrator.However planning director Cameron Chalmers said the tree clearing and the subdivision proposal are separate."The subdivision application is with us and is under review," said Chalmers, adding that BC Rail made the application a few years ago but the layout has yet to be approved and meet bylaw standards.The district's tree bylaw calls for fines if trees are cleared without a permit. The largest possible fine for offenders is $10,000 per tree.Community development director Mick Gottardi said early in the week that he and his staff did not know what the reason for the clearing was for but: "We need to find who did it, why they did it and what the circumstances are." Calls to BC Rail were directed to an official statement provided to Leigh, stating the corporation received permission to undertake independent remediation with the Ministry of Environment under the requirements of waste management. Chalmers said the site has historic contamination and the work BC Rail is undertaking is meant to clean it up.Leigh said he understands everyone's concern."The trees are of value and people want them retained." Leigh said the company should have recognized the bylaw and discussed it with the district to see if any of the trees can be retained. However, he added, an industrial subdivision could create more jobs for the community.
