Report to/Rapport au :

 

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

09 September 2008 / le 09 septembre 2008

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager

Directrice municipale adjointe,

Planning, Transit and the Environment

Urbanisme, Transport en commun et Environnement 

 

Contact Person/Personne-ressource : Carol Christensen, Manager/Gestionnaire, Environmental Sustainability/Durabilité de l’environnement, Economic and Environmental Sustainability/Viabilité économique et de la durabilité de l’environnement

(613) 580-2424 x21610, Carol.Christensen@ottawa.ca

 

Urban Wards

Ref N°: ACS2008-PTE-ECO-0023

 

 

SUBJECT:

PUBLIC CONSULTATION STRATEGY FOR THE URBAN TREE CONSERVATION PROJECT

 

 

OBJET :

STRATÉGIE de CONSULTATION PUBLIQUE concernant LE PROJET DE PRÉSERVATION DES ARBRES URBAINS

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Planning and Environment Committee:

 

1.                  Approve the public consultation strategy for the Urban Tree Conservation Project;

 

2.                  Receive the Urban Tree Conservation Issues Paper, as presented in Document 1, as the basis for public consultations on this matter; and

 

3.                  Direct staff to bring forward a recommended strategy to Planning and Environment Committee by February 2009.

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement :

 

1.                  approuve la stratégie de consultation publique concernant le projet de préservation des arbre`s urbains;

 

2.                   prend connaissance du rapport sur les questions relatives à la préservation des arbres urbains, tel qu’il est présenté dans le Document 1, comme fondement aux consultations publiques sur le sujet;

 

3.                  enjoint le personnel de présenter une stratégie recommandée au Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement d’ici février 2009.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

In July 2002, following a high profile incident of tree cutting within a designated Natural Environment Area in Kanata, City Council directed staff to prepare a tree by-law for the City of Ottawa. A by-law was drafted entitled “Good Forestry Practices in Sensitive Natural Areas”, with the intent of promoting sustainable forestry within and adjacent to the City’s most sensitive natural areas: Significant Wetlands South and East of the Canadian Shield, Natural Environment Areas, and Urban Natural Features. The by-law applied to both urban and rural areas. Throughout the process of developing the by-law, there were concerns regarding the impact on rural property owners and whether there was a need for regulations on tree cutting in the rural area. In November 2004, the draft by-law was deferred at Council. 

 

With the support of the Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee (OFGAC) and others, staff are proposing to consult residents again on tree conservation. However, the focus is the urban area only, and includes options for tree conservation on private land. Work on this initiative has been renewed because of the benefits of trees in the urban area, including improved air quality, climate change mitigation, energy conservation, stormwater runoff reduction, and wildlife habitat. Maintaining ecological integrity is a strategic direction of the Official Plan. Through policies on natural features and greenspaces, the City commits to ensuring that land is developed in an environmentally sensitive manner and that forest cover is increased through the planning and development review process. In Section 2.4.5, the plan sets a target to achieve and maintain 30 per cent forest cover for the city. To do this, direction is given to develop guidelines for tree preservation and planting and to develop a policy on compensation for trees lost as a result of development. Furthermore, the plan gives direction to develop a by-law under the Municipal Act to regulate tree cutting and preserve woodlands.

 

The tree canopy in Ottawa’s urban area covers approximately 17 per cent of the landbase. An estimated 74 per cent of these trees are on private property. The City currently has limited ability to ensure the conservation of trees on private property and to implement Official Plan policies to maintain and enhance forest cover.

 

The Municipal Act gives all municipalities in Ontario the ability to regulate tree cutting. Since the Act came into effect, tree conservation by-laws for private property have been enacted by most major Ontario municipalities including Toronto, Kingston, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, and Mississauga. In fact, Ottawa is now one of the few major centres in Ontario that does not have any regulations in place for tree cutting on private land. 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Under the City of Ottawa’s current development review process, situations have arisen where greenfield areas are being cleared of trees before development is approved and in some cases, before a development application is submitted. The City requires a Tree Preservation and Protection Plan, the purpose of which is to identify trees that warrant retention, to outline measures for their protection, and to describe the amount of tree loss and related compensation measures proposed. However, the plan serves no practical purpose when the site has been cleared. In these situations, the City loses its ability to evaluate tree conservation opportunities and has little ability to secure compensation in the form of additional planting.

 

Recent incidents of tree removal include the following:

 

·         This past year, a portion of a highly ranked Urban Natural Area (UNA) was cut down while the City was attempting to negotiate acquisition. The site consists of mature maple forest and deciduous swamp forest; it is rich in plant diversity, and it is bordered on the south by a creek. Council had approved the acquisition in principle through the Urban Natural Features Strategy (UNFS) and the boundaries of the area to be preserved were further refined through site visits. Following a delay in the City’s acquisition process, the owner proceeded to remove seven hectares of trees on the 14-hectare portion of the UNA being considered for acquisition.

·         In spring 2008, approximately two hectares of forest were removed to develop a golf driving range. The trees were removed and the driving range was constructed before the required development application was submitted.

·         In 2006, trees were removed from a buffer along a creek within a UNA. The buffer was identified through the subdivision approvals process and protection of the buffer was a condition of draft plan approval. The tree removal occurred after draft approval was given.

 

Urban Tree Conservation Project

Environmental Sustainability has initiated the Urban Tree Conservation Project to explore a suite of tools to support tree conservation in the urban area of Ottawa. The suite of tools could include a tree by-law, a tree compensation strategy, and stewardship initiatives. It will be linked directly to the City’s existing programs that enhance and maintain Ottawa’s urban forest.

 

The project will focus on the urban area of the city and will not be looking at the rural area. Consultations through the Rural Summit found there is currently little support for regulations on privately-owned trees and forests in the rural area.

 

The project will:

·         Identify issues, in consultation with the community, Council, and other stakeholders associated with urban tree conservation in Ottawa

·         Look at effective models of urban tree conservation being used elsewhere in the province

·         Develop one or more options to address the identified issues

·         Recommend a preferred suite of tools to Council for approval

 

The timeline for the project is shown below:

·         September 2008 - Table Public Consultation Strategy and Issues Paper at Planning and Environment Committee

·         Fall 2008 – Advertising and promotion for public consultations

·         Late October 2008 – Hold public consultations and discussions with development community

·         November/December 2008 – Incorporate consultation results into a recommended strategy

·         Winter 2009 – Table recommended strategy at Planning and Environment Committee, with additional consultation to follow as needed

 

Consultations

A Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) has been formed, made up of individuals with expertise in urban tree conservation and with an interest in urban tree conservation. The TAP includes Ottawa Carleton Home Builders Association (OCHBA), Federation of Citizens Associations, Tree Canada, OFGAC, and others, as well as City representatives from Bylaw and Regulatory Services and Surface Operations (Forestry Division). At the first meeting in June, the TAP worked together to identify urban tree conservation issues in Ottawa, discuss solutions to these issues, and suggest strategies for consulting the public on this topic. Following the public consultations, the TAP will provide input into development of the recommended strategy. 

 

In addition to the general public consultations, staff will work directly with homebuilders and land developers to hear their views and develop an effective strategy. Staff will also reach out to community associations and other groups across the city, using existing networks, to provide opportunity for group discussions on the issues and solutions.

 

Four public consultations will be held across the urban area of the city. A workshop format will be used with the discussion questions in the Issues Paper as the basis for the workshop. The consultations will also provide a forum for showcasing some good news stories related to trees in Ottawa. For each consultation, a small exhibition will be set up, featuring the tree-related programs run by the City of Ottawa, data on tree cover in the city, invasive species information (e.g., the Emerald Ash Borer), and partner organizations doing tree-related work in Ottawa. During registration, the participants will have an opportunity to collect information and talk to City staff and partners about the information presented.

 

A website will be created for the project, inviting residents to send their comments on the Issues Paper via email.

 

From the information gathered at the public consultations and through the discussions with the development community, a recommended strategy outlining the preferred suite of tools will be developed and tabled at Planning and Environment Committee in early Winter 2009. Additional public consultations will follow as needed.  

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Urban tree conservation has a positive overall impact on air quality, water quality, energy use, and climate change mitigation within the city. The Issues Paper outlines some of the findings of Ottawa’s CITYgreen project, which used a computer-based tool to assess the value of trees in such areas as stormwater retention, climate change, and air quality. Key findings include:

 

·         Ottawa’s urban trees sequester close to 29,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, which is enough to offset 10 million car commutes to and from work, based on the average commute of Ottawa residents.

·         The urban tree canopy removes over 600,000 kilograms of pollutants from the air each year.

·         Urban trees provide the equivalent of close to 4 million cubic meters of stormwater storage.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no rural implications.

 

CONSULTATION

 

A Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) made up of representatives from the development community, community associations, and others has been formed for this project. The TAP was consulted on much of the material presented in the Issues Paper and will be consulted as the recommended strategy is developed.

 

OFGAC strongly supports this project and receives monthly updates.

 

Rural Summit II included a discussion on introducing regulations on tree cutting in the rural area and little support was expressed.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Funding for this project is available in Account # 902042.

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1 – Urban Tree Conservation Issues Paper

 

DISPOSITION

 

The Natural Systems Unit will initiate the public consultation strategy this fall.

 

Upon Council’s decision, the Issues Paper and other relevant material will be placed on the City’s website, a media advisory will be released, and the public consultation dates will be advertised.

 

 

 

 


URBAN TREE CONSERVATION ISSUES PAPER                                            DOCUMENT 1

 

Issues Paper

Urban Tree Conservation – Creating Opportunities

 

Introduction

 

Trees form the fabric of the rich and diverse natural landscape that characterizes urban Ottawa and make it a great place to live.  However, only 17% of the land within the urban area of the City is sheltered by tree canopy[1]. The City’s Official Plan commits to increasing the forest cover throughout the city and preserving trees on private and municipal land.  The City runs several different tree-planting programs, but in addition to planting more trees each year, the conservation of the existing urban tree canopy is fundamental to meeting the City’s strategic directions on the natural environment.

 

The City takes care of trees on City property through the tree maintenance strategy and regulations that protect municipal trees and natural areas.  However, three-quarters of the urban tree canopy is privately-owned and there are few tools to support tree conservation on private property. 

 

City trees are municipally-owned trees with a trunk entirely located on municipal property.  City trees include trees within the road allowance in front of houses and businesses, in parks, and in municipal natural areas.  Private trees are any trees that are located on private property, including residential, commercial, and undeveloped land.

 

This paper seeks your views on whether the City should adopt new approaches to conserving trees on private land and how these approaches could be used. The paper outlines a suite of tools that the City could use to enhance tree conservation and solidify policies on trees in urban Ottawa.

 

Identifying Issues

 

Most people recognize the value of trees on their property and only remove them when they are diseased or interfering with foundations or pipes.  Occasionally, however, the cutting of a landmark tree sparks outcry from the neighbours who demand to know what the City can do to protect the tree.  At present there are few tools to protect trees on private property and as the City grows inwards through redevelopment and outwards onto former farm fields, the loss of mature trees increases.  Additional pressure is created by the need for higher densities throughout the city, putting stress on trees in both new suburban developments and infill projects in the developed areas of the city.

 


 

Benefits of Urban Trees

 

Urban trees provide the residents of Ottawa with many environmental, social, and economic benefits. In partnership with Tree Canada, Ottawa recently completed a project to assess the value of the tree canopy in the urban area using CITYgreen, a GIS-based software package designed to calculate the value of trees in an urban landscape. Some of the results are incorporated into the following list of benefits.

 

1.      Climate Change: In Ottawa, urban trees store 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 and sequester close to another 29,000 tonnes each year. This sequestration is enough to offset 10 million car commutes to and from work, based on the average commute of Ottawa residents. (CITYgreen 2007)

2.      Pollution: The urban tree canopy in Ottawa removes over 600,000 kg of pollutants from the air each year, including carbon monoxide and ozone (CITYgreen 2007). One large tree can provide a day’s worth of oxygen for up to 4 people (Tree Canada 2008).

3.      Energy Conservation: Trees provide shading that reduces cooling costs in the summer and wind protection that reduces heating costs in the winter. The savings per household vary from 10-15% in the winter to 20-50% in the summer. (Heisler 1986)

4.      Increased Property Value: Research shows that a tree can increase property values from anywhere between 9% and 30%. (Coder 1996)

5.      Water Quality and Quantity: Trees filter surface water and prevent erosion, helping to improve the quality of water running into the streams, creeks, and rivers of Ottawa. Trees also help to decrease stormwater volume through intercepting, slowing down, and storing water. In Ottawa, the urban trees provide the equivalent of close to 4 million cubic meters of stormwater storage. (CITYgreen 2007)

6.      Wildlife Habitat: Trees provide shelter and food for a variety of birds and animals.

 

 

Preserving forests on large tracts of vacant land at the city’s edge, the “greenfield areas”[2] that are tomorrow’s communities, is different than preserving individual trees in the built city.  In greenfields, trees compete with underground services for space on residential lots and land is at a premium as parks, schools, and stores compete for space.  The City’s Official Plan calls for a “design with nature” approach to planning and promotes development of land in ways that support natural features and functions. Development proposals are encouraged to retain as much natural vegetation as possible.  However, the grading changes and other servicing requirements for newly developed areas will lead to a loss of mature trees in these areas.  To guide this process, the City requires a Tree Preservation and Protection Plan for new subdivisions and individual sites to identify the existing trees to be preserved, the trees to be removed, and the new trees to be planted as compensation for the loss of trees on the site.

 


Under the City of Ottawa’s current development application and approvals process, greenfield areas are occasionally cleared of trees before a development application is submitted or before the development is approved.  In cases like these, the City has no authority to stop the clearing of trees and loses the ability to evaluate tree conservation opportunities through the Tree Preservation and Protection Plan. 

 

In the built city, infill developments will generally result in a loss of mature trees on the site.  Some losses are inevitable, as trees age and decay or as choices are made between additional development on a site and the preservation of trees.  When mature trees are lost in the inner city, it is virtually impossible to regain the benefits of that specific tree in that specific location.  This is especially the case where the infill site cannot accommodate the number of trees to be planted as compensation for the loss of mature trees on the site.

 

Question for Discussion: 

1.      Are there other issues that should be considered regarding tree conservation in the urban area of Ottawa?

 

 

Getting Greener: Ottawa’s Tree Planting Programs

 

1.      TREE Program: The Tree, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement (TREE) Program will plant 100,000 trees over 4 years between 2007 and 2010. Residents can take part by planting a tree on their own property, suggesting a location for a tree, or volunteering their labour to plant trees. Trees will be available in the spring and the fall on a first-come, first-served basis. See www.ottawa.ca/TREE for more information.

2.      Community Tree Planting Grants: A part of the TREE Program, the aim is to create partnerships with the community to enhance Ottawa’s urban and rural forests. Community tree planting projects may be eligible for funding up to $10,000 in three project categories: schoolyard greening, City parks and greenspace rehabilitation, and greening on non-City property. See www.ottawa.ca/TREE for more information.

3.      Green Acres: This is Ottawa’s rural reforestation program, delivered by the local Conservation Authorities and funded by the City of Ottawa. The program advises and assists landowners with planting plans and sources for quality planting stock at moderate prices. Up to 50% of the cost of reforestation is funded. Since 2000, the program has planted over 840,000 trees. See www.ottawa.ca/residents/funding/green_acres_en for more information. 

4.      Trees in Trust: This program plants trees on the City-owned road allowance in front of residential properties. If your front yard is lacking a tree, if there is adequate growing space, and if you are committed to help care for a tree, the City will supply and plant a tree. City Forestry Inspectors will assess your property and make a recommendation on the tree species that is suitable for your street. There is no charge to the homeowner. See www.ottawa.ca/forestry for more information.


5.      Commemorative Tree Program: Through this program, residents can commemorate the loss of a friend or family member by having a tree planted in a City park. Forestry Services will assist with the selection of a location and tree species, and will supply, plant, and maintain the tree. The cost is $400. A plaque may be installed at an additional cost and a ceremonial tree planting may also be arranged. See www.ottawa.ca/forestry for more information.

 

 

Suite of Tools for Urban Tree Conservation

 

Any consideration of tree conservation must be mindful of the authority provided to Ontario municipalities through the Municipal Act to regulate tree cutting. Since the law came into effect in 2001, many municipalities across the province have enacted forest conservation by-laws. Ottawa is now one of the few major centres in Ontario that does not have any regulations for tree cutting on private lands. A by-law that would have regulated commercial forestry in the City’s most sensitive environmental areas was considered in 2004 but not approved.[3]

 

The provisions of the Municipal Act provide a great deal of flexibility to municipalities to determine what trees to protect and how.  Some municipalities require a permit to remove any tree over a certain size, measured as the diameter of the tree trunk, with the size limit varying among municipalities. Other municipalities are more focused, requiring a permit only to remove “distinctive trees”, with the definition of distinctive tree also varying among municipalities.  The by-law can be tailored to apply to:

 

·         Size of trees

·         Trees in a given area or neighbourhood of the city

·         Trees on a minimum property size

·         Trees defined as “distinctive”

 

A municipality may decide what trees it wishes to protect and enact a by-law to protect those trees. As a general approach, though, the by-laws provide exemptions for trees that are removed because they are dead or diseased, are to be used for personal use (e.g., firewood) in accordance with good forestry practices, or are cut in compliance with an approved plan for tree removal (i.e., a Tree Preservation and Protection Plan). 

 

A tree by-law could be incorporated into a larger suite of tools aimed at conserving trees in the urban area of the city. The possible suite of tools includes:

 

  1. Stewardship and Program Promotion
  2. Planning and Development Review
  3. Conservation of Distinctive Trees
  4. Tree Planting Compensation Program

 

1. Stewardship and Program Promotion

A public with an understanding of the value of trees in the city may result in a healthier and stronger urban forest. Increased stewardship, outreach, and the promotion of the Tree, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement (TREE) Program and other City tree programs will help to further educate the residents of Ottawa on the values and benefits of the urban forest. Since its inception, the TREE Program has been fully subscribed. The City could increase its partnerships with interested community associations, environmental groups, or other interested partners to undertake activities such as:

 

·         Development and distribution of materials on tree maintenance, invasive species detection and management, and other materials to help promote trees as green infrastructure in the city.

·         Events to raise public awareness of the importance of trees, such as neighbourhood tree tours and honour roll competitions.  Such events encourage people to nominate trees in their area for various reasons and those trees can be recognized in community newspapers and on subsequent tree tours.

·         Development and distribution of ‘Homeowner Environmental Awareness Packages’ to residents of new subdivisions, to describe the community’s forest and outline the homeowner’s role as a steward of that forest.  

 

However, stewardship and partnerships come at a cost.  The City has very limited resources for increasing its stewardship activities and community partners are often over-extended.  Neither the City nor its community partners may have the ability now to take on new responsibilities.

 

Questions for Discussion:

1.      Would your association or group be interested in partnering with the City on a tree conservation or stewardship project?

2.      If yes, what would that project look like?

 

2. Planning and Development Review

The City’s ability to enact a tree conservation by-law could be used to support the current development review and approval process for vacant land in greenfields and infill properties in the built city. In general, such a by-law would indicate that no tree cutting could occur on vacant, undeveloped lands unless a development application has been filed and a Tree Preservation and Protection Plan has been approved.  No new permits, plans, or processes would be required in addition to the current development review process.  The Tree Preservation and Protection Plan would be filed as part of the development application and approved through the development review process.  Where trees are cut and there is no approved Tree Preservation and Protection Plan, the property owner would be penalized for the removal of trees on the site.  

 

Concerned residents call the City when tree clearing begins in their community. A by-law to support the development review process would have the additional benefit of providing assurance to residents that a process is in place to consider tree conservation opportunities before trees are removed and that tree removal is part of an approved plan.

 

Questions for Discussion:

1.      Would you support a by-law that requires approval of a Tree Preservation and Protection Plan before development occurs on parcels of vacant land?

 

3. Conservation of Distinctive Trees

The preservation of singular, distinctive trees within the built city could also be promoted through a tree conservation by-law.  The first step would be to develop an Ottawa-specific definition of distinctive trees. Elements to consider include:

 

·         The rarity of a tree species in the Ottawa region

·         The age of a tree

·         Tree size

·         Trees with specific cultural, social, or historic value

 

If a by-law were put in place to protect distinctive trees, the removal of trees defined as distinctive may require a permit from the City. There would likely be a cost to obtain such a permit. The permit fee would likely not be sufficient to totally offset the cost of establishing and implementing the permit system. If the removal of a distinctive tree is a part of an approved Tree Preservation and Protection Plan, a permit may not be required.

 

Such a by-law could apply to trees throughout the urban area, including individual residential properties or it could be enacted to apply only to non-residential lands. A by-law could also be enacted only in selected neighbourhoods. If residential properties are included, concerns will likely be raised about increased regulation on private property and impositions on property rights. These concerns need to be balanced against the need for tree conservation in the urban area of Ottawa.

 

Questions for Discussion:

1.      Which way do you think the City should go regarding the cutting of distinctive trees on private property?

a.       People should be free to cut any tree on property they own; no by-law should be adopted for the removal of distinctive trees;

b.      A distinctive tree by-law should be drafted that specifies the characteristics of the distinctive trees to be protected and the by-law should apply to all properties in the urban area;

c.       A distinctive tree by-law should be drafted that specifies the characteristics of the distinctive trees to be protected and the by-law should apply to specific neighbourhoods in the urban area;

d.      A permit should be required to cut any tree within the city.

2.      How would you define distinctive trees in Ottawa?

3.      Which neighbourhoods in Ottawa require a distinctive tree by-law?

 

4. Tree Planting Compensation Program

In addition to identifying trees to be retained and trees that must be removed, the Tree Preservation and Protection Plan required for new developments and infill developments identifies new trees to be planted as compensation for the trees lost on a given site.  There are now no guidelines or requirements for the level of compensation to be provided for trees lost to development on private property. As well, it is not always the case that there is room on a given site to accommodate all the new trees required as compensation for trees lost. 

 

A Tree Planting Compensation Program would outline the level of compensation required for the removal of a given tree.  The compensation value would either be in the form of a number of trees of a standard planting stock, or the monetary replacement value of the tree as set out in the International Society of Arboriculture Guide for Plant Appraisal, which is widely used in North America for this purpose.  If compensation is based on re-planting and there is insufficient room on a site to plant the number of trees required, the property owner would work with City staff and the community to identify other planting locations. These locations could include other property in the same community, or local community greenspace.  In the case of monetary compensation, the dollar value of the trees lost would be provided to the City to be put in a Tree Compensation fund and used to plant trees within the community or elsewhere.  The structure and requirements of the Tree Compensation Program would be outlined in the recommended by‑law and enforced as such.

 

Questions for Discussion:

 

1.      Do you support development of a Tree Compensation Program within Ottawa?

2.      How would you like to see the program work?

 

How to provide input:

 

·         Email your comments to urbantree@ottawa.ca.

 

·         Attend a Workshop. Please see ottawa.ca/urbantree for workshop dates after October 9th, 2008.

 

·         Complete the Questionnaire available at ottawa.ca/urbantree after October 9th, 2008.

 

·         Invite City staff to meet your organization and discuss this paper.

 

·         Contact City staff directly:

Martha Copestake

Forester, Environmental Sustainability Division

City of Ottawa

613-580-2424 ext. 17922

martha.copestake@ottawa.ca

 

Please provide comments by November 19th, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

1.        Cote, Marc. Dictionary of Forestry. Ordres des ingenieurs forestier du Quebec, 2003.

2.        Coder, Dr. Kim D. “Identified Benefits of Community Trees and Forests", University of Georgia, 1996, http://www.treelink.org/linx/?navSubCatRef=56. Accessed 6 August 2008.

3.        Heisler, G.M. "Energy savings with trees." Journal of Arboriculture 12, 1986, pp. 113-125.

4.        Tree Canada. “Benefits of Urban Trees”, http://www.treecanada.ca/publications/trivia.htm. Accessed 6 August 2008.



[1] Tree canopy is the cover of branches and foliage formed by the crowns of trees (Cote 2003).

[2] Greenfield areas are within the boundaries of the urban area in the Official Plan. They are currently undeveloped, usually in a natural state, and will hold future urban development. 

[3]  The by-law drafted in 2004 applied to the entire city, both the urban and rural areas. City staff is now taking a fresh look at tree conservation issues with a focus on the urban area of the city. Consultations at the Rural Summits showed that there is currently very little support for introducing regulations on tree cutting in the rural area.