Protecting Guelph’s Urban Forest – Candidates Respond… Or Not

As we’re sure you know, Municipal Election Day — Monday, October 25 — is less than a week away. Guelph Urban Forest Friends sent a questionnaire to each of the candidates, and asked them to reply by Monday, October 18.

Not all have answered, but we hope you will take a look at the responses before you cast your vote. You might also consider why a candidate might fail to respond to questions about how they value our trees. You can see samples of some of the comments below.

To see all of the responses, go to guffguelph.ca and click on “Election 2010” on the top menu.

The names of the candidates who responded are highlighted. If you click on the name, you will see the responses of that candidate.

Candidates who responded to the questions were:

Mayor:  Scott L. Nightingale

Ward 1: Bob Bell, Karolyne Pickett, Gary Walton, Linda Murphy
Ward 3: Craig Chamberlain, Mark Enchin
Ward 4: Cam Guthrie, Mike Salisbury
Ward 5: Leanne Piper

Candidates who did not answer the questions but sent in general comments were: Karen Farbridge, Ian Findlay, Karl Wettstein and David Birtwistle.

We hope candidates’ answers will help voters understand their views on funding for initiatives to maintain our urban forest and to educate the public on the many benefits of trees.

There is also excellent information for voters on issues such as growth, trees, taxes and development, etc. at:

www.voteguelph.ca
www.guelphcivicleague.ca

Sample responses:

“I will support requiring the evaluation of the ecological value of trees that developers (whether private or the municipality itself) are proposing to remove”

“How far in your pocket or in your backyard do you want your City Council?”

“New developments and infrastructure replacement should be designed and built with shade as a mandatory requirement.”

“I tend to lean more towards property rights of the individual than for government interfering with trees on that person’s property.”

“We need to add protection for trees as part of our building permit process.”

“Our public trees are assets and long term investments.”

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 8-10 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm in Guelph. Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live, you can always pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, a day or so later.

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Royal City Rag, October 9 – Municipal Election Issues Part 1

We were pleased to welcome Norah Chaloner (from the Council of Canadians, Guelph Chapter and Guelph Urban Forest Friends) and Judy Martin (Sierra Club and Guelph Urban Forest Friends) back to Royal City Rag on October 9.

Both Guelph Urban Forest Friends and the Council of Canadians, Guelph Chapter have sent questionnaires to candidates with respect to issues they see as very important for voters to consider before heading to the polls on October 25.

Tree Protection
Guelph Urban Forest Friends is a local group that advocates for better protection of urban trees and canopy. We make delegations to City Council, hold events to raise awareness about the importance of urban trees, and distribute information about the many benefits of trees, and the threats to trees, through our web site.

We have serious concerns about the continued loss of mature trees in our City and hear frequently from upset residents about tree removals. We are submitting these questions to candidates for City Council and respectfully request your response by October 18. The responses we receive will be posted on our web site and e-mailed to our list of some 500 supporters.

The responses from candidates to the questions from Guelph Urban Forest Friends regarding tree protection can be found here.

CETA, Cities and Water
With 80 per cent of Canadians now living in urban areas, our cities and towns are a foundation of the social economy, innovators of public policy, environmental first responders, and stewards of our shared waters. Across Canada, we need to support municipal leaders who will who understand that progressive economic and environmental policy should be fostered. We can’t let the future we want for our communities be threatened by international trade regimes and privatization.
 
In Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations, the EU is trying to restrict or ban municipalities from applying local preferences or local hiring conditions on public contracts, from directing projects to social enterprises and low-income communities, and from favoring the purchase of local foods in public buildings. Even the right to choose the public delivery of essential services such as water and electricity is threatened by CETA. For more information on CETA, see our website: http://www.canadians.org/CETA.
 
Because CETA and other new trade deals put public water at risk, the best way to protect water is for cities and towns to become “Blue Communities”. This happens when a community agrees to adopt water commons framework that:

• recognizes water as a human right
• promotes publicly financed, owned and operated water and wastewater services
• bans the sale of bottled water in public facilities and at municipal events

The responses from candidates to questions from the the Council of Canadians, Guelph Chapter regarding water protection and the proposed Canada European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) can be found here.

Listen to the Show:

Music:
Dave and Ken Hills, Pipeline Blues (Demo)

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 8-10 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm in Guelph. Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live, you can always pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, a day or so later.

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag… Guelph Studio Tour And Municipal Election Issues Part 1

Royal City Rag on Saturday October 9 should be known as the show we weren’t supposed to get as we thought we were going to be pre-empted for the annual 24 Hours of Spanish Programming on CFRU 93.3fm. The good news is that the 24 Hours of Spanish Programming goes ahead from 6.00 p.m. on Saturday so we are no longer pre-empted.

In the first hour (8-9 a.m.) we’ll be focusing on the Guelph Studio Tour and dusting off some interviews from 2008 with blacksmith Graeme Sheffield, painter and printmaker Margaret Peter and painter Josef Kratochvil. The Guelph studio tour takes place from October 15-17. For more information on the studio tour visit www.guelphstudiotour.ca.

In the second hour (9-10 a.m.) we’ll be heading back on the municipal election beat with the first of two issues-based discussions, this one focusing on water, trees, the natural heritage strategy, public-private partnerships (P3s) as well as the Canada European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).

Sounds like a lot to squeeze in, but this is information you need to have before you head to the polls on October 25. To help us navigate through all this, we’re pleased to welcome back to the show, Norah Chaloner (from the Council of Canadians, Guelph Chapter and Guelph Urban Forest Friends)  and Judy Martin (Sierra Club and Guelph Urban Forest Friends).

As always we’ll wrap it all up with some great music. You won’t want to miss it!

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 8-10 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm in Guelph. Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live, you can always pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, a day or so later.

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What Have Our Urban Trees Ever Done For Us?

The following article was on the BBC News website last week. It’s definitely worth repeating. Its clear that Guelph is not the only city dealing with a drastic decrease in its urban mature tree canopy.

Calls To Green The ‘Concrete Jungle’
Mark Kinver, Science and Environment Reporter, BBC News
June 30, 2010

Trees can play an essential role in improving the quality of life in UK towns and cities, a report has said.

The Woodland Trust says planting more trees has been shown to improve air quality, reduce ambient temperatures and benefit people’s health.The trend of declining tree cover in many areas needs to be reversed in order to improve access to green spaces in urban areas, the study adds. The trust is also launching a campaign to plant 20 million native trees each year.

“Towns and cities tend to put into sharp relief some of the key problems we are facing as a society,” said lead author Mike Townsend. “So they are a good place to start when try to illustrate just where green spaces can deliver significant improvements for relatively little cost.”

The issues outlined in the report included physical and mental health problems, childhood obesity, air pollution, soaring summer temperatures, flash flooding and diminishing wildlife.

The trust estimated that 80% of the UK population live in urban areas, yet less than 10% of people have access to local woodlands within 500m of their homes.

“If you look back over history, Victorian times saw a real move towards parks and street trees; some of the big street trees that you find in our cities today go back to these times,” explained Woodland Trust conservation policy expert Sian Atkinson.

“What we have seen more recently is that there has been reduction in the number of trees being planted, and there has also been a loss of the lovely Victorian trees with big canopies,” she told BBC News.

“We are starting to miss these from our towns and cities, and not enough thought has been given to replacements and to ensuring that there is going to be enough tree cover in the future.”

‘Slow the flow’
The report also highlighted the role urban trees could play in preventing flash floods.

Ms Atkinson said: “Hard surfaces in towns and cities have increased in recent years, and we are seeing more flooding. One of the problems is surface water drainage. It has been shown that trees and woods are key to help control this sort of flooding. As well as absorbing groundwater, tree canopies help reduce the volume of rainfall hitting the ground and relieve pressure on urban drainage systems.”

She called on civic planners to address the issues highlighted by the report.

“There is quite a lot of talk about green infrastructure,” she observed, “and our message is that we hope that trees and woods are a really big part of that.”

In its Programme for Government report, the coalition government announced that it would initiate a national tree planting campaign.

During a speech in May, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: “If any organism has demonstrated an ability to multi-task, it’s trees. They capture carbon and hold soils together, prevent flooding and help control our climate. They also add immeasurably to the quality of life of our towns and cities.”

She added that in some parts of inner London, it was calculated that each tree was deemed to be worth as much as £78,000 in terms of its benefits.

Ms Atkinson welcomed the government’s announcement: “The UK has very low woodland cover compared with the rest of Europe. We are actually looking for a doubling in native woodland cover. There are some areas that have more cover than others, but – overall – there is quite a big job to do in order to increase tree cover to a level that provides all the benefits outlined in the report.”

To coincide with the publication of the report, the Woodland Trust is also launching a More Trees More Good campaign, which will look to plant 20 million native trees across the UK for the next 50 years.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level  is 40%. Guelph citizens have now been waiting for a new stronger protective tree by-law for over 19 years. In the meantime we continue to lose canopy.

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have been advocating for our urban trees, including a strong protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

For more information, visit www.guffguelph.ca

Please contact Mayor and Council about this issue. Tell them that our mature urban trees need their help and support. Tell them to get the Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan completed and a strong and comprehensive protective bylaw passed.

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

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Royal City Rag, July 10 2010 – Protecting Our Natural Heritage With The Sierra Club’s Judy Martin

In the first hour of CFRU93.3fm’s Royal City Rag on July 10, Judy Martin from Sierra Club Canada joined us with an update on some important environmental issues affecting the city.

1291 Gordon  Street is a proposal for a condo development at the corner of Edinburgh Road and Gordon Street, and impinging on a provincial significant wetland that forms part of the Hanlon Creek Watershed Complex.

This development is very significant for the community because it will give us the first indication of how seriously the city will protect our natural areas, as it comes to terms with the huge amount of growth that Guelph will experience under the provincial growth plan Places to Grow. By 2031, under Places To Grow, which mandates intensification within current city limits in an attempt to curb sprawl, Guelph’s population will grow from 105,000 to 165,000.

As Judy pointed out in her elegant address to the council planning meeting on July 5… this development proposal provides inadequate wetland buffers and is contrary to the Provincial Policy Statement in that it does not show that there will be “no negative impact” on the provincially significant wetland.

Indeed although the report prepared by city staff states that the 30-metre wetland buffer is appropriate for the site and that wetland function will not be impacted by this development… the (city prepared) Hanlon Creek Watershed Plan recommended 120 metre — not 30 metre– buffers for this wetland stating that this is “an area of rare plants & aquatic vegetation sensitive to disturbance.  Wide buffer required to protect vegetation from influx of salts and nutrients.  The buffer should include upland open area next to road to provide upland habitat for wildlife.”

Simply put, 30 metre buffers will not protect wildlife habitat. Wood frogs and spring peepers have been found in this wetland.  These frogs spend most of their lives on land, not in the water.

Fortunately, when this development file came to a planning meeting on July 5, council had the fortitude to send the proposal back to staff with a request for more information on the environmental impact of this development.

Although intensification and infill development are important to make sure that the city does not sprawl uncontrollably, the question is at what price?

According to Judy, adequate buffers (minimum 100 metres according to Environment Canada) are essential if we are to retain our natural areas, greenspace and biodiversity.

It is for this reason that the final arbiter on development with the province, the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), recommends a buffer of 120 metres.

That legislation is governed by ‘the precautionary principle’ which states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is harmful, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking the action.

The intent is to protect… all of the biodiversity, all of the functions of our valuable remaining wetlands.   If this means 100 metre buffers or more,  and puts some areas off limits for development, that is the imperative.

Even the Places to Grow Act recognizes that the environment should take priority:

“if there is a conflict between a direction in a growth plan and a direction in a plan or policy . . . relating to the natural environment or human health, the direction that provides more protection to the natural environment or human health prevails.”

Unfortunately you have to question what the priority is here.

Read the full text of Judy Martin’s address to City Council HERE (right click to download)

You may also want to check out Royal City Rag contributor Bob Gordon’s article on using buffers to minimize the environmental impact of development.

The City of Guelph Natural Heritage Strategy comes back to city council on July 27.

Our conversation with Judy Martin was not restricted to the 1291 Gordon St. development proposal. Judy also outlined why it is important that city council pass a stronger tree bylaw. Many municipalities have stronger and more comprehensive tree bylaws than Guelph.

Guelph citizens have been waiting for a stronger tree bylaw for more than 20 years. In the meantime, the city continues to lose canopy. Currently Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level is 40%.

Clearcutting on the Carson Reid Property, June 2009

Unfortunately the current tree bylaw, from 1986 (view), states that it is an offence to injure or destroy any living tree in the City of Guelph but does very little to actually protect them.

The new bylaw (view the current draft) will be a significant improvement  however it is in danger of being weakened by intensive lobbying from the development community.

As Judy pointed out, the city’s intent is not to prevent homeowners from removing problem trees, but, rather,  to bring our bylaw in line with municipalities, such as Toronto and Richmond Hill, that are using best practices to protect their mature urban trees.

City Staff will be bringing an updated draft of ther proposed bylaw to the Community Development and Environmental Services (CDES) committee on July 19.

For more on this very important issue please visit Guelph Urban Forest Friends at www.guffguelph.ca.

If you missed the interview with Judy, you can find it via the link below. Its well worth a listen. If it inspires you then please speak out. Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will thank you for it.

Listen:

Download (Right click and save)

Music:
The Unthanks, Because He Was A Bonny Lad from Here’s The Tender Coming
Loudon Wainright III, High Wide And Handsome from High Wide And Handsome, The Charlie Poole Project
Danny And The Champions Of The World, Henry The Van from Streets Of Our Time

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Lets Make Sure Guelph’s Updated Tree Bylaw Befits Our Green Credentials!

Clearcutting on the Carson Reid Property, June 2009

Like to prevent developers clearcutting trees whenever they feel like it? Like to ensure that people have a better understanding of all the important benefits mature trees provide for our health and community?

Then you need to help ensure that the City of Guelph drafts as strong a bylaw as possible.

Guelph citizens have now been waiting for a new stronger protective tree bylaw for over 20 years. In the meantime we continue to lose canopy. Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level  is 40%.

Unfortunately the 1986 tree bylaw (view) said it was an offence to injure or destroy any living tree in the City of Guelph but did very little to actually protect them.

Like to make sure that this one actually protects urban trees?

The new bylaw (view the draft) has to be much better, but it still needs public input to make sure that it is truly protective.

The City of Guelph has held one workshop  (June 3) on the new tree bylaw and has another planned  for June 8. The workshop takes place at City Hall, 1 Carden St. in Meeting Room C from 7–9 p.m. Following a presentation by city staff, participants will have an opportunity to discuss issues and provide feedback. Remember that even if you can’t attend the sessions, you can still comment. Comments will be received until June 18. To ensure that the decision makers are aware of your concerns, comments should be sent to city council as well as staff.

View the draft Tree By-law

The following message is from Guelph Urban Forest Friends and concerns the draft version of the updated tree bylaw.

Hello GUFF supporters,

The City has drafted a tree bylaw and is holding workshops for discussion and input:  The next workshop is on June 8, from 7-9 p.m. in Conference Room C at City Hall. We urge you to attend or provide written comments by June 18.

Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) has reviewed the draft tree bylaw.  It is an improvement over the existing 25-year-old bylaw and requires that permits be obtained for destroying trees over 20 cm in diameter on small properties and trees over 10 cm in diameter on large properties.  Even so, it is still much weaker than some other tree by-laws in Ontario.  There are a number of areas that need to be stronger:

1. The foundation of the bylaw should be that healthy trees of a certain size should be protected.  The City of Toronto bylaw states this clearly:  “The Commissioner shall not issue a permit for the injury or destruction of trees where trees are healthy.”  813-15C.

Admittedly, the Toronto bylaw does allow exemptions for the destruction of healthy trees under certain circumstances–such as when they are within the building envelope of a proposed building.  But the importance of an affirmative policy protecting healthy trees cannot be underestimated.

2. The draft Guelph bylaw gives too much discretion in deciding whether to issue a permit to destroy trees.   A city inspector would have to “consider” such things as whether the tree is an endangered species, the condition and location of the tree, whether it is important for erosion and flood control, whether there are breeding birds present. Instead, the by-law should contain a section entitled “PERMIT REFUSED” that itemizes reasons for which a permit must be denied.

Those reasons should include:  that the tree is an endangered or threatened species; that the tree is healthy; that environmentally sensitive areas will not be adequately protected; that erosion or flood control will be negatively impacted; that significant vistas will not be protected and preserved; that the tree is a heritage tree; that removing the tree would violate the Migratory Bird Act.  Such language is consistent with the Toronto and Richmond Hill tree bylaws.

3. Guelph’s tree bylaw should include mandatory parameters for issuing permits for destroying trees.  As in #2 above, the draft by-law gives too much discretion in imposing the conditions on the permit.  The by-law only requires that the “inspector may make the Permit subject to such conditions as the Inspector may consider necessary. “The Inspector “may” require replacement trees; the inspector “may” require cash in lieu of tree replacement; the inspector “may” require that specific measures be implemented to mitigate effects on nearby trees, land, water bodies or natural areas.”

The Toronto tree bylaw, in contrast, states that “A permit to destroy trees SHALL be subject to the following terms and conditions:”  Those conditions include such things as tree replacement and cash in lieu.

4. Guelph’s draft tree bylaw should require that whenever trees are proposed to be removed, impacts to surrounding properties (such as loss of shade, vistas or privacy) have to be considered.  This is consistent with a provision in the Richmond Hill tree bylaw.

To summarize, the draft bylaw should:

• state that, except for certain exemptions, permits shall not be issued to destroy healthy trees over 20 cm in diameter (10 cm on large properties)
• itemize reasons for which permits must be denied (e.g. trees are healthy, endangered, of heritage quality, etc.)
• establish mandatory conditions for obtaining a permit to destroy trees (e.g. replacement trees must be planted)
• require that impacts on adjoining properties be considered (e.g. loss of shade, privacy)

Thanks from GUFF

About the draft Tree Bylaw
In addition to regulating trees 10 centimetres at breast height on lots larger than 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres), the updated draft bylaw proposes to regulate damage or removal of larger trees on smaller properties; trees 20 centimetres in diameter at breast height on lots less than 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres). The updated draft also includes a permit process, a list of exemptions, entry and inspection powers, enforcement measures and increased fines.

Following a presentation, participants will have an opportunity to discuss issues and provide feedback. Even if you can’t attend the sessions, you can still comment. Comments will be received until June 18.

Suzanne Young, Environmental Planner
519-837-5616 x 2356
suzanne.young@guelph.ca

Jessica McEachren, Environmental Planner
519-837-5616 x 2563
jessica.mceachren@guelph.ca

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

For more on Guelph Urban Forest Friends, please visit www.guffguelph.ca.

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Royal City Rag, June 5 – Doug Larson, M.A.S.H. Mondays And Guelph’s New Tree Bylaw

Doug Larson with the Guelph Guitar

The first hour of Royal City Rag on June 5 was devoted to M.A.S.H. Mondays, a new collaboration between Manhattans Music Club and the Hillside Festival.

University of Guelph Emeritus Professor, musician, luthier (creator of the Guelph Guitar) Doug Larson, joined us in the studio with Thomas Aldridge from Manhattans to talk about the monthly event. We also had the opportunity to hear Doug play a few songs live for us in the studio.

M.A.S.H. (Music, Art, Science, & History) Mondays will feature interviews and performance from special guests while in conversation with Professor Larson about their many interests.

Guests lined up for the series include:

• Craig Norris(host of CBC R3-30, lead singer of the Kramdens)
• Mike Ford:(musical historian, Canada in Song / Moxy Früvous)
• Bob McDonald:(host CBC’s Quirks and Quarks)
• Samir Baijal:(artistic director, Hillside Festival / musician)
• Alan Wildeman: (President, University of Windsor)
• Jay Ingram: (host, Daily Planet, best selling author)
• Mark Stutman & Matty Cooper: (instrument builder and teacher)

The shows will be held at Manhattans, 951 Gordon St., Guelph and run from 8.30 – 10.30 p.m. The shows start on Sept. 13, 2010 to be followed on the first Monday of every month (Oct.4, Nov.1, Dec.6, Jan.10, Feb.7, Mar.7, Apr.4).  Seating is limited to 85 places. Tickets: $10, $30 (with dinner).  Reservations will be handled through Manhattans at 519-767-2440.

Listen to Hour 1:
Download (right click and save)

Construction Damage - Will this tree be there in 5 years?

In the second hour, Judy Martin from Sierra Club Canada and Norah Chaloner from Guelph Urban Forest Friends joined us to talk about the City of Guelph’s proposed new tree bylaw.

Guelph citizens have now been waiting for a new stronger protective tree bylaw for more than 19 years. In the meantime we continue to lose canopy. Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level  is 40%.

Unfortunately the 1986 tree bylaw (view) said it was an offence to injure or destroy any living tree in the City of Guelph but did very little to actually protect them.

The new draft bylaw (view the draft) still needs public input to make sure that it is truly protective. Among other issues, Judy and Norah expressed concerns that the current language in the draft bylaw is nowhere near firm enough, using words like should when words like shall and must would be more appropriate. They recommended that City Staff should be directed to take a look at municipalities that have strong and comprehensive bylaws such as Toronto and Richmond Hill.

The City of Guelph has held one workshop  (June 3) on the new tree bylaw and has another planned  for June 8. The workshop takes place at City Hall, 1 Carden St. in Meeting Room C from 7–9 p.m. Following a presentation by city staff, participants will have an opportunity to discuss issues and provide feedback.

Trees protect us against harmful UV radiation - They need our protection too.

Remember that even if you can’t attend the sessions, you can still comment. Comments will be received until June 18. To ensure that the decision makers are aware of your concerns, comments should be sent to city council as well as staff.

For more on this important issue please visit Guelph Urban Forest Friends at www.guffguelph.ca.

Listen to Hour 2:
Download (right click and save)

Music:
Doug Larson, Little Bird from Nightmares And Dreamers (Live In The Studio)
Doug Larson, Enemy Within from Nightmares And Dreamers (Live In The Studio)
Doug Larson, Whatever Happened To The North End Variety Store (Live In The Studio, demo)
Doug Larson, Who? What? When? Why? (Live In The Studio)
Doug Larson, Recollection from Complete Metamorphosis (Live In The Studio)
James Gordon, Whistlewing from My Stars Your Eyes
Gwen Swick, Grand River from A Pebble Of Mercy
Dave and Ken Sills, Lake Erie Pipeline Blues (Demo)
Bluegrass Patriots, Why Do You Weep Dear Willow? from Springtime In The Rockies
Bruce Cockburn, If A Tree Falls from Anything Anytime Anywhere

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag… Doug Larson, The Guelph Guitar and Guelph’s Tree Protection Bylaw

There will be a musical start to Royal City Rag on June 5; University of Guelph Emeritus Professor, musician, creator of the Guelph Guitar Doug Larson, will be joining us in the first hour (8-9 a.m.) with Thomas Aldridge, owner of Manhattans to talk about M.A.S.H. Mondays, a new collaboration between Manhattans Music Club and the Hillside Festival. Doug will also be playing the Guelph Guitar live for us in the studio.

M.A.S.H. (Music, Art, Science, & History) Mondays will feature interviews and performance from special guests while in conversation with Professor Larson about their many interests.

The shows will be held at Manhattans, 951 Gordon St., Guelph and run from 8.30 – 10.30 p.m. The shows start on Sept. 13, 2010 to be followed on the first Monday of every month (Oct.4, Nov.1, Dec.6, Jan.10, Feb.7, Mar.7, Apr.4).

Guests lined up for the series include:

• Craig Norris(host of CBC R3-30, lead singer of the Kramdens)
• Mike Ford:(musical historian, Canada in Song / Moxy Früvous)
• Bob McDonald:(host CBC’s Quirks and Quarks)
• Samir Baijal:(artistic director, Hillside Festival / musician)
• Alan Wildeman: (President, University of Windsor)
• Jay Ingram: (host, Daily Planet, best selling author)
• Mark Stutman & Matty Cooper: (instrument builder and teacher)

Large Elm Tree

In the second hour, Judy Martin from the Sierra Club Canada and Norah Chaloner from Guelph Urban Forest Friends will join us to talk about the City of Guelph’s proposed new tree bylaw as well provide some follow-up on the city’s Natural Heritage Strategy and Official Plan deliberations.

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

Guelph citizens have now been waiting for a new stronger protective tree bylaw for more than 19 years. In the meantime we continue to lose canopy. Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level  is 40%.

Unfortunately the 1986 tree bylaw (view) said it was an offence to injure or destroy any living tree in the City of Guelph but did very little to actually protect them.

The new draft bylaw (view the draft) still needs public input to make sure that it is truly protective.

The City of Guelph has held one workshop  (June 3) and has another planned (June 8) to provide input on proposed changes.

The June 8 workshop take place at City Hall, 1 Carden St. in Meeting Room C from 7–9 p.m. Following a presentation, participants will have an opportunity to discuss issues and provide feedback.

About the draft Tree Bylaw
In addition to regulating trees 10 centimetres at breast height on lots larger than 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres), the updated draft bylaw proposes to regulate damage or removal of larger trees on smaller properties; trees 20 centimetres in diameter at breast height on lots less than 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres). The updated draft also includes a permit process, a list of exemptions, entry and inspection powers, enforcement measures and increased fines.

View the draft Tree By-law

Even if you can’t attend the sessions, you can still comment. Comments will be received until June 18.

Suzanne Young, Environmental Planner
519-837-5616 x 2356
suzanne.young@guelph.ca

Jessica McEachren, Environmental Planner
519-837-5616 x 2563
jessica.mceachren@guelph.ca

For more on Guelph Urban Forest Friends, please visit www.guffguelph.ca.

As always we’ll wrap the whole thing up with some great music. Should be fun. You won’t want to miss it!

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 8-10 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm in Guelph. Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live , you can always pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, a day or so later.

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City of Guelph Tree By-Law Workshops – June 3 And 8

Large Elm Tree

It seems that the City of Guelph is finally moving towards approval of a new tree bylaw.

Guelph citizens have now been waiting for a new stronger protective tree bylaw for over 19 years. In the meantime we continue to lose canopy. Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level  is 40%.

Unfortunately the 1986 tree bylaw (view) said it was an offence to injure or destroy any living tree in the City of Guelph  but did very little to actually protect them.

Like to make sure that this one actually protects urban trees?

The new bylaw (view the draft) has to be much better, but it still needs public input to make sure that it is truly protective.

Please arrange to attend one of two workshops the City of Guelph is holding to allow the community to provide input on proposed changes.

The workshops take place on Thursday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 8 in City Hall, 1 Carden St., Meeting Room C from 7–9 p.m.

About the draft Tree Bylaw
In addition to regulating trees 10 centimetres at breast height on lots larger than 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres), the updated draft bylaw proposes to regulate damage or removal of larger trees on smaller properties; trees 20 centimetres in diameter at breast height on lots less than 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres). The updated draft also includes a permit process, a list of exemptions, entry and inspection powers, enforcement measures and increased fines.

Following a presentation, participants will have an opportunity to discuss issues and provide feedback.

View the draft Tree By-law

Even if you can’t attend the sessions, you can still comment. Comments will be received until June 18.

Suzanne Young, Environmental Planner
519-837-5616 x 2356
suzanne.young@guelph.ca 

Jessica McEachren, Environmental Planner
519-837-5616 x 2563
jessica.mceachren@guelph.ca

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

For more on Guelph Urban Forest Friends, please visit www.guffguelph.ca.

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Royal City Rag, March 20 – World Water Day, Healthy Landscapes And Pollination Guelph

Royal City Rag on March 20 had a distinctly environmental flavour.

We started off the show with a three song set featuring Daniel Lanois, Johnny Cash and James Gordon in honour of World Water Day, March 22. 

Wellington Waterwatchers have a very special event taking place that day in the EL Fox Auditorium at John F Ross Collegiate from 7-10 p.m. At the event, high school students from Wellington County will showcase art and science projects created as part of the group’s Message in the Bottle campaign.

The evening will also feature the Guelph premiere of  Tapped, an as yet unreleased documentary, by the producers of Who Killed The Electric Car, that takes a behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated bottled water industry.

Spokenword artist Evalyn Parry and local band and Royal City Rag favourites Dancehall Free for All will also perform.

There will also a chance to learn about  Blue W ( www.bluew.org ), a not-for-profit program dedicated to promoting municipal tap water as a healthy and waste-conscious alternative to bottled drinks.

Tickets are just $5 and available at The Bookshelf, at 10 Carden on Mondays and Wednesdays, and at the door. Students who have created a submission get in for free. The show starts at 7:00 pm and runs till 10:00 pm, but the doors will open at 6:00 pm to showcase submissions.

Celebrate World Water Day with Wellington Waterwatchers
Where: E.L. Fox Auditorium (J.F. Ross), 21 Meyer Dr. Guelph
When: March 22 from 7-10 p.m.
Tickets: $5, from The Bookshelf, at 10 Carden on Mondays and Wednesdays, and at the door.

 

Healthy Landscapes

Later in the first hour, we welcomed Karen McKeown back to the show to talk about Healthy Landscapes  the City of Guelph program to help people develop their own healthy, environmentally-sustainable garden at their home or place of business. 

Developing beautiful, healthy landscapes does not always mean hours of maintenance and ritualistic pesticide use. In fact, through some proper landscape planning, proactive maintenance, and proper plant selection, you will significantly reduce your requirements for weeding, watering, continued maintenance and eliminate the need for pesticides.

If you would like a free 30 minute on-site Landscape Assessment at your home or business address you can contact Karen McKeown at 519-822-1260 Ext. 2109 or healthylandscapes@guelph.ca.

Listen to Hour 1:



Trees

We started off the second hour of the show with a three song set about trees featuring Bruce Cockburn, Bluegrass Patriots and Kidzone. 

Guelph citizens have been waiting for a new stronger protective tree by-law for over 19 years. In the meantime we continue to lose mature trees and canopy. Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level  is 40%.

Local activist group, Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) are advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

If you would like to help GUFF improve the lot of our urban trees, they can be contacted at guffguelph@gmail.com.

 

Pollination Guelph

Later in the second hour we were joined by Karen Landman, Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph to talk about Pollination Guelph.

Photo: City of Guelph

Pollination Guelph is a group dedicated to conserving and developing pollinator habitat. In partnership with the City of Guelph, they are developing Ontario’s first large-scale Pollinator Park on the site of the old East View landfill. Their annual symposium takes place on March 27 at the Orchard Park Centre at the Ignatius Centre, 5420 Hwy 6 North, Guelph. This year’s theme is “Pollinator Plantings, Great and Small” and will feature a number of speakers, a silent auction, pollination-related materials for sale and booths with information on pollination, pollinators, and other ecological topics. The cost is $30 for pre-registrants, or $35 at the door. Pre-registrations can be sent to pollinationguelph@gmail.com.

Download a copy of the symposium program

Download a copy of the plans for the Pollinator Park

Listen to Hour 2:

Music:
Daniel Lanois, Still Water from Acadie
Johnny Cash, Cool Water from American VI: Ain’t No Grave
James Gordon, Scam Of The Century from Just West Of Something Big
Bumblejums, Gardening from Meet The Bumblejums
Mo’ Kauffey, Dig It from Dig It
Bruce Cockburn, If A Tree Falls from Anything Anytime Anywhere
Bluegrass Patriots, Why Do You Weep Dear Willow? from Springtime In the Rockies
Kidzone, Plant A Tree from Reduce Reuse Recycle
Darren Archer, Pollination from Amnesia
Denim Dirt Farmers, Pollination Dance from Salad Days
Big Mama Thornton, Big Mama’s Bumblebee Blues from With The Muddy Waters Blues Band

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag – An Environmental Show, Healthy Landscapes And Pollination Guelph

Royal City Rag on March 20 will have a distinctly environmental flavour. As Spring is in the air, its time to think about how you will manage your garden this coming growing season.

In the first hour we’ll be talking about how you can develop your own healthy, environmentally-sustainable landscape at your home or place of business.

Developing beautiful, healthy landscapes does not always mean hours of maintenance and ritualistic pesticide use. In fact, through some proper landscape planning, proactive maintenance, and proper plant selection, you will significantly reduce your requirements for weeding, watering, continued maintenance and eliminate the need for pesticides.

We’ll be welcoming back to the show Karen McKeown, from the City of Guelph Healthy Landscapes  program to discuss why you should take advantage of a free Landscape Assessment this year.  She’ll also be updating us on some upcoming gardening events and lectures.

Pollinating Bee on a Dandelion (Photo courtesy: City of Guelph)

In the second hour of the show we will be joined by Councillor Vicki Beard from the City of Guelph and Landscape Architecture Professor at the University of Guelph Karen Landman to talk about the work of Pollination Guelph.

Pollination Guelph is a group dedicated to conserving and developing pollinator habitat. In partnership with the City of Guelph, they are developing Ontario’s first large-scale Pollinator Park on the site of the old East View landfill.  

Their annual Pollination Symposium takes place on March 27 at the Orchard ParkCentre at the Ignatius Centre, 5420 Hwy 6 North, Guelph. This year’s theme is “Pollinator Plantings, Great and Small” and will feature a number of speakers, a silent auction, pollination-related materials for sale and booths with information on pollination, pollinators, and other ecological topics.

The cost is $30 for pre-registrants, or $35 at the door. Pre-registrations can be sent to pollinationguelph@gmail.com.

Download a copy of the program

To top it all off, we’ll also be reminding you about Guelph Urban Forest Friends “Little Art for Big Trees” art show taking place at 10 Carden on March 2o from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Wellington Waterwatchers’ special event to “Celebrate World Water Day”taking place in the EL Fox Auditorium at John F Ross Collegiate on March 22 from 7-10 p.m.

As always there will be a lot of cool music thrown in for good measure. Sounds like a great show. You won’t want to miss it!

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 7-9 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus-Community Radio Station.

Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live on CFRU93.3fm, you can pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, the next day.

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Weird Numbers Part 2: The Natural Heritage Strategy Tree Replacement Equation or ‘Two Tens for a Five Anybody?’

Bob Gordon

Weird Numbers Part 2: The Natural Heritage Strategy Tree Replacement Equation or ‘Two Tens for a Five Anybody?’
Bob Gordon, Freelance Journalist/Royal City Rag Contributor

The Draft Natural Heritage Strategy includes a tree replacement policy that contains two components. The first compenent establishes that any trees removed must be replaced and introduces an equation to calculate the replacement value of a given tree. The second, introduces the concept of cash in lieu of trees.

Unfortunately, the first component is nonsensical while the second is meaningless.

The current draft policies require that if a tree is removed trees totaling an equal diameter must replace it. The example below will demonstrate the absurdity of this mathematical reasoning.

Consider first the removal of a tree of 40 centimeters diameter at breast height. The current policy would permit this tree to be considered replaced if 8 saplings of 5 centimeters diameter at breast height were to be planted.

Briefly consider the area of the tree removed (40 centimeters diameter at breast height). Area = πr2 = 3.14 x (20×20) = 1256 square centimeters.
The area of the 5cm diameter saplings replacing it will be πr2 x 8 = 3.14 x (2.5×2.5) x 8 = 157 square centimeters.

Thus, removal of one tree of 40 centimeters diameter at breast height can be compensated with its replacement by 8 saplings (of 5cm diameter) but only 12.5% of its area.

Now consider replacement of the tree by 16 saplings of 2.5 centimeters diameter at breast height.

The area of these trees will be πr2 x 16 = 3.14 x (1.25×1.25) x 16 = 78.5 square centimeters.

Half Dead Oak Sapling - Now you see me, now you don't!

Thus, removal of one tree of 40 centimeters diameter at breast height can be compensated with its replacement by 16 saplings (of 2.5cm diameter) but only 6.25% of its area.

Clearly, the proposed policy is inadequate.

Comparison of the areas of the crowns of the trees would reveal an even greater imbalance. Leaf Area Index or Canopy Cover is a much more accurate measure. Using this type of measure would significantly increase the number of replacement trees required.

At the very least basal area (area at ground level) should be employed as the replacement standard.

The draft Natural Heritage states, “Where planting either on or off site is not feasible, cash-in-lieu will be required equal to the value of the replacement trees and shrubs and including the cost of planting and maintaining the trees for a period of two years.”

While this proposal may sound wonderfully ‘green’ and hard on developers it is not, nor is it hard on the city. It is hard, only on the urban forest.

Consider, the cash value of a tree will be calculated based on the value of replacement trees. However, in light of the above noted formula the developer is receiving a kiss. Consider that the removal of a single tree may create a whole new building lot at the cost of only a handful of saplings. That is a great deal for a developer but hard on the urban forest.

As far as the city is concerned a cut down tree is a bargain at any price. No where does the policy hold the city to any commitment to spend the cash-in-lieu received on trees. It can go to anything from snow clearing at city hall to trips for councilors or catered meals before meetings. There is simply no guarantee that the money received in lieu of trees will be used for trees and not simply disappear into general revenue.

That is good for the city but not the urban forest.

Bob Gordon
bob34g@gmail.com

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

If you feel strongly about this issue, please contact Mayor and Council.

Tell them to get the Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan completed and a strong protective bylaw passed. Let them know that the protection and management of our urban forest will be an election issue this October.

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

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Worthing Repeating: How Are The Trees In Your Neighbourhood Being Treated?

On January 25, CBC Radio 1’s Ontario Today’s Gardening Phone-in with Ed Lawrence focused on the management of urban trees and the need for stronger by-laws to protect them.

Guelph activist Diane Hurst was not only able to call in to talk to Ed, she also managed to get us a copy of the audio to put up on the website.

Well done, Diane! 

Listen to the segment:

Large Elm Tree

Guelph citizens have now been waiting for a new stronger protective tree by-law for over 19 years. In the meantime we continue to lose canopy. Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level  is 40%.

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

If you feel strongly about this issue, please contact Mayor and Council.

Tell them to get the Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan completed and a strong protective bylaw passed. Let them know that the protection and management of our urban forest will be an election issue this October.

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

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Karen Farbridge, Backstabbing And Her Bid For Re-election

Jan Andrea Hall

Karen Farbridge, Backstabbing And Her Bid For Re-election
Jan Andrea Hall, Royal City Rag

Since Mayor Karen Farbridge announced her bid for re-election this past Thursday, February 24, one or two of her supporters have publicly alluded to the fact that the Mayor has been “stabbed in the back” by erstwhile supporters during her current term.

They believe that, as many progressive Guelphites worked hard to get her re-elected in 2006, after a fairly dysfunctional term under Mayor Quarrie, we should not only be happy to have her back, but keep quiet and remain supportive, regardless of the decisions her council and administration choose to make.

Unfortunately not everyone can do that, and, for that reason, are shunted off into the “backstabbing” group of the disaffected.

I count myself in that category even though I am as progressive as they come.

As far as I’m concerned, Farbridge’s administration has been found wanting on all the ‘big decision items’ of the past three years… the upgrades to the Hanlon Expressway, the proposed Hanlon Creek Business Park and the Strategic Urban Forestry Master Plan (otherwise known as the urgent need for a much stronger protective by-law).

I call them the big decision items because they will have a huge effect on this city, for years to come. Progressive Guelphites choked over the previous council’s decision to support the Commercial Policy Review setting up four large shopping centre ‘nodes’ around the city. Yet, the Hanlon Expressway and Hanlon Creek Business Park decisions will have far more impact over the coming years.

Farbridge’s supporters may say that these are done deals; the Hanlon Expressway upgrades being ordained by the province through the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (colloquially known as the Ministry for Roads) and the Hanlon Creek Business Park (HCBP) by previous administrations.

But would it have hurt to question whether the right decisions were made or whether these proposed projects could have been improved upon, especially in the case of the HCBP, where the city is the primary developer?

Where was the leadership to resolve citizen environmental group concerns about Hanlon Creek?

Hanlon Creek Downstream In The Spring (Photo: Bob Gordon)

That Farbridge chose to remain silent at the Guelph Civic League convened public meeting in March about Hanlon Creek at Norfolk Street United Church suggests that she may not be cut out for high office in Guelph. Instead of offering a few words of welcome she instead chose to sit at the back with body language suggesting that she really wished she was somewhere else entirely.

The fact that council barely emitted a whimper with respect to the assumptions underlying the provincial growth plan Places To Grow, and the need for Guelph to grow from 105,000 to a whopping 165,000 people by 2031 raises questions about a serious deficit of leadership at City Hall.

The bullying tactics that have been employed to stifle opposition to the Hanlon Creek Business Park, including this week’s SLAPP suit, also raises questions about the direction the city is moving in. So much for community consultation.

We have now been waiting nineteen years for a new protective tree by-law. Farbridge talked about this as a priority in 2003 (more on this in a future commentary)yet we are still waiting. And in the meantime, we continue to lose our tree canopy.

Add to that, the fact that the City had a Transparency and Accountability Committee meet for two years to, amongst other things, discuss the important (but under the Municipal Act, currently discretionary) positions of Lobbyist Registrar, Auditor General, Ombudsmen and Integrity Commissioner only for the City’s Governance Committee to recommend against proceeding with these checks and balances until after the next election. This only raises further concerns about how truly accountable and transparent the current administration wants to be.

Is Mayor Farbridge the right Mayor for Guelph?

I went into the last municipal election in 2006 with high hopes that clearly haven’t been met. Farbridge is clearly strong on process (perhaps too strong?) but is she capable of taking the big decisions and making a stand.

I hope that if her re-election is successful she will turn back to her progressive roots and move in a truly sustainable direction. Enough of the spin and green-washing, please.

People need to consider what is best for Guelph for the next four years and beyond when they go to vote.

Mayor Farbridge may like the idea of being Guelph’s Hazel McCallion, but do we really have to look like Mississauga too?

Jan Andrea Hall
janhall@royalcityrag.ca

Royal City Rag will continue to focus on what is important for the common good as we move forward with the election. We will not shy from bringing forward issues. Expect many more commentaries on the record of the current council and hopes for the next council as we move towards the election.

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Little Art For Big Trees, 10 Carden on March 20 – Call For Submissions

Little Art... For A Big Elm Tree

Guelph Urban Forest Friends Art Show and Sale takes places at 10 Carden, Carden St., Guelph on March 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The art show showcases original art, photos or poetry celebrating big tree(s).

• All submissions must be backed or framed for hanging
• Maximum size for each work 10” excluding framing
• Limit of 2 pieces of work/artist
• Cost of entry $5.00 per work
• 25% of sale price to be retained by GUFF

Download an entry form here or pick one up at The Big Umbrella Community Information Table ( at the Farmer’s Market) on Saturday mornings.

Registration forms will be accepted at The Big Umbrella until March 19.

Please deliver art work to 10 Carden on March 19 between 7-9.30 p.m. for show on March 20.

Download the entry form

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Tree Removal In Royal City Park – A Child’s View

A young mom was visiting Royal City Park with her son, where 52 mature trees deemed to be unsafe by the City of Guelph are being removed. 

She sent this sensitive account to Guelph Urban Forest Friends, who gave us permission to publish it on Royal City Rag.

My son thought that the signs on the trees were because people were saying that they were cool trees and this one (pictured) had a built-in fort (the big one that has 3 trunks all together.)

I read the sign to him, and said that the ribbons were there because these trees were going to be cut down.

He said, “Why are they going to cut them down?”

I responded, “Because they are old.”

And his profound kid response was, “Why don’t they just let them fall down?”

I smiled, at how amazing it was that a 6 year old could be so smart, and then was sad.

Sometimes the answers are so clear, but then the world puts it all upside down.

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have long been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

If you feel strongly about this issue, please contact Mayor and Council. Please help us try and stop the tree removal in Royal City Park from happening elsewhere in the city.

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

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Royal City Park Trees Marked For Removal… Soon They Will Just Be A Memory

Condemned For Removal. Can We Not Do Better?

It seems that the 52 mature trees in Royal City Park condemned for removal have now been marked with bright orange “X”s indicating that they are to be cut down. The removal of the trees is expected to be commenced on January 18.

In the meantime local people, who love the trees in the park, have started attaching poems and stories to the condemned trees as an act of commemoration.

In early December, 35 people attended a vigil in the park to commemorate the trees and talk about how they will be personally affected by the avoidable loss of yet more of our green heritage.

You can listen to the powerful audio from the vigil here:

The removal of the trees will permanently alter the character and beauty of the park. 25% of the canopy of the park will disappear overnight.

You have to ask why so many trees need to be removed at the same time.

Royal City Park... Soon It Will Just Be A Memory

Have the trees in this park been managed appropriately by the city?

Are trees in other areas of the city also at risk?

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have long been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees. 

For more information on GUFF, visit their website at www.guffguelph.ca.

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

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City Council Approves Removal Of 54 Mature Trees In Royal City Park

On November 23, Guelph City Council approved an Operations Dept. plan to remove 54 mature trees from Royal City Park. Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) and Sierra Club Canada made delegations explaining why some of the trees should be retained. 

View the GUFF presentation

View the Sierra Club Canada presentation

At the council meeting, Councillor Piper requested that the citizens be encouraged to buy trees for planting in the park next spring. Our response is below.

If you have concerns about the reduction of our urban forest canopy, please contact  your councillors and request that some of our tax base go to maintenance and protection of our trees. The budget is being discussed December 8 at City Council.

Dear Councillor Piper:

Regarding your suggestion for GUFF to support citizen donations of trees for Royal City Park .

The goal of GUFF has always been to advocate for tree maintenance and protection, as well as increase, through having an urban forestry department with a forester. This person, as head of a separate, dedicated department could also coordinate the public education for the value of our mature canopy which is so necessary in the face of extreme climate events in our future. Of course, there would be a strong protective bylaw for delivery of this vital service.

That said, many Guffers do enjoy planting trees with the wonderful Speed River Project every year. Many also take part in the annual Rotary sponsored tree planting outside the city at Guelph Lake. Although the thousands of trees planted in the township contribute to our benefits of greening, we do need more trees inside the city to counter the heat island effect that comes from a busy city with its grey infrastructure and  transportation corridors. I wonder if Guelph Rotary would be interested in planting in the city next spring.

GUFF has listed many benefits of trees in our new powerpoint on Sustainable Guelph. We hope that you will look at it and pass it on…. and will support Guelph’s canopy with a strong protective tree bylaw, an urban forestry department and a forester.

Thanks for sharing GUFF’s concern for our ‘upstanding residents’, the trees.

Respectfully yours,

Guelph Urban Forest Friends

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

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Royal City Rag, November 14 – Urban Farming, Modern Dance And Hillside

Shannon Lee Stirling from Backyard Bounty joined us during the first hour of November 14 to talk about the Urban Agriculture symposium taking place at the Arboretum, University of Guelph on November 20.

Urban Agriculture: Opportunities for Action will bring together the movers and shakers in the Urban Agriculture scene.  The conference aims to not only inspire action but address key issues and provide connections that enable the Urban Agriculture movement to advance.
 
The symposium is presented in partnership with Guelph-Wellington Local Food Initiative, The City of Guelph’s Healthy Landscapes project, The Organic Conference and Chris Jess‘ Food School project.

Later in the first hour, we caught up with Norah Chaloner from Guelph Urban Forest Friends at The Big Umbrella community information table at the Guelph Farmers Market. The Ontario Urban Forest Council was in Guelph this past week for a very successful annual conference that focused on the importance of protecting trees during the developmental planning process.

Listen to Hour 1:

In the second hour of the show, Marie Zimmerman Royal City Rag’s culture vulture was back in the studio to chat about two summer festival related events, the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival (GCDF) Off-site series and Hillside Inside.  

The GCDF Off-site series performance takes place on November 17 at noon in the University Centre Courtyard and again at 7.00 p.m., in the Alma Gallery, Wyndham Street, Downtown Guelph.  Canada’s oldest modern dance company,  Canada’ oldest contemporary dance troupe, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (WCD). are the featured artists.

Hillside Inside, the iconic summer festival’s winter cousin taking place for the third time on Saturday February 6, 2010 at the Sleeman Centre, downtown Guelph. Performers confirmed to date include Ani DiFranco (her only Ontario appearance), Hawksley Workman, Martin Sexton, Final Fantasy, Basia Bulat, Bahamas, Woodhands and Delhi 2 Dublin. 

Check out the live version of Smiling Underneath by Ani DiFranco in the podcast  if you missed the show.

Hillside Inside will also feature local food and craft vendors and a selection of community organization booths. A wide range of volunteer opportunities are also available for Hillside Inside 2010.  Visit www.hillsidefestival.ca for more details.

Listen to Hour 2:

Music:
Terry Tufts, Dorval’s Descent from Six Strings North Of the Border Volume 2
Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band, Texas Eagle from The Mountain
Levon Helm, Growing Trade from Electric Dirt
Jean Elliott Manning, Family Farm In My Front Yard
Tegan and Sara, Our Trees from Under Feet Like Ours
Proclaimers, Sing All Our Cares Away from Notes and Rhymes
Stephen Fearing, One Flat Tire from Yellowjacket
Andrew McPherson, Phoenix At the Wheel from Lefty Singer
Ani Difranco, Smiling Underneath (Live) from Red Letter Year
Basia Bulat, My Heart Is A Warning from Friends In Bellwoods 2

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Developer’s Motives Questioned At Urban Forestry Forum – Guelph Mercury

Worth Repeating… if you are wondering why we need better protection for Guelph’s trees.

Developer’s Motives Questioned At Forum
Greg Layson, Guelph Mercury
November 12, 2009

A local developer recently and knowingly broke municipal law in an act of protest, City of Guelph environmental planner Suzanne Young told a delegation at the Ontario Urban Forest Council annual conference Thursday.

“Recently, we had a developer who wasn’t happy with our Natural Heritage Strategy, so he went in and did a bit of his own clearing up,” Young said, in a keynote presentation at the annual conference, staged this year at The Arboretum on the campus of the University of Guelph.

During an interview after her session, when specifically asked if she meant the developer cut trees on in an effort to intentionally break the city’s tree bylaw in an act of defiance, Young chose her words carefully.

During the interview she said she felt the cutting was done as a “pre-emptive” measure to the city’s pending Natural Heritage Strategy coming into effect.

The heritage strategy takes a tree inventory and protects environmentally significant lands from development and unnatural disturbance. Currently, it’s in the consultation stage. Young predicted its implementation could take effect by the end of next year.

“The sense was they weren’t happy with our Natural Heritage Strategy and this was done pre-emptive of it coming into effect,” Young said during the interview.

Young’s comments came 10 days after the city announced it had laid 151 charges in response to a tree-cutting this spring on land owned by developer Carson Reid, in the municipality’s southeast corner, at 2007 Victoria Rd. S.

The city evenly split the charges of “injuring or destroying a live tree in the City of Guelph without the written approval of the city engineer” among three companies. South Edge Ltd., allegedly owned and operated by Carson Reid, and Williams and Associates Forestry and Environmental Consultants Ltd., a Rockwood company owned by Pete Williams, each face 50 charges. O.T.S. Contracting Ltd. faces 51 charges.

City documents show Reid owns the land on which the cutting occurred at 2007 Victoria Road S.

A call for comment to Reid about Young’s comments Thursday afternoon was not returned Thursday. On Nov. 2, after the charges were announced, Reid said the trees were legally harvested according the terms of the city’s bylaws.

“We don’t have a protective tree bylaw,” Norah Chaloner of Guelph Urban Forest Friends told the audience. “We can’t do anything without a better bylaw and an urban forest department.

“I hope I live to see a bylaw that offers some better protection.”

During her presentation, Young readily admitted the city’s bylaw is inadequate.

“Unfortunately, there is a long list of exemptions,” she told the audience.

She also called having the city’s green infrastructure under the direction of the city’s engineering department “counterintuitive because (the city engineer) is not an arborist.”

“We definitely need an arborist and urban forest department,” Young said during a question-and-answer period.

“I get the feeling that Guelph is one clear-cut away from a new tree bylaw,” said Todd Irvine, during the question-and-answer session.

Young, Chaloner, Karen McKeown of the city’s environmental services department and Phillip van Wassenaer, a consulting arborist and president of Urban Forest Innovations, together presented a case study of Guelph.

Chaloner said Guelph’s current situation —with an outdated tree bylaw and no urban forest department — is a clear case of what cities ought not to do.

Since 1991, the city has commissioned or reviewed the Park Naturalization Policy, the Green Plan, the Tree Protection Report, the Urban Forest Plan, the Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan and the Natural Heritage Strategy.

Chaloner calls it “the timeline of inaction.”

“As it’s presented, not a lot has happened,” she said after her presentation. “Why isn’t anything happening?”

Young said high staff turnover and fallout from the Hanlon Creek Business Park protests have slowed the pace of updating the tree bylaw.

“I’m not saying it doesn’t need to be revamped. It definitely needs to be revamped,” Young said of the current tree bylaw during the interview.

“Hopefully, we’ll see that happen by the end of next year.”

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Royal City Rag – November 7, Trees And Transition

We devoted the whole of Royal City Rag on November 7 to environmental issues.

In the first hour we talked to Brenlee Robinson from The Ontario Urban Forest Council and Sean Fox, horticulturist at The Arboretum,  University of Guelph about the importance of Guelph’s urban forest.

Trees are increasingly regarded as beautiful and effective tonics to our polluted planet, with a long list of social, environmental and economic benefits.   Sadly, preserving trees or allocating adequate space for future planting is rarely considered in the development process.

The Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) will be holding their annual conference in Guelph this year.  The conference takes place on Thursday, November 12 at the University of Guelph Arboretum. The theme of this year’s conference is   “Tree Preservation and the Planning Process –Moving Ahead”.  Speakers will include city planners, environmental planners, politicians, development consultants and educators who will bring their professional experience and municipal perspectives to share ideas.  The City of Guelph and some of its real planning issues will be showcased to stimulate discussion of how best to protect our urban forests.

View the conference flyer

Later in the first hour we aired a special commentary from mother, grandmother, citizen of Guelph and taxpayer Eileen LaBerge about the by invitation only sod-turning for the Hanlon Creek Business Park held by the City of Guelph. The commentary had to be cut short because of time constraints. We are including the whole commentary here.

Listen to Hour 1:

Listen to Eileen LaBerge’s Commentary:

In the second half of the show, Sally and Chris from Transition Guelph joined us to chat about Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan’s visit to Guelph on Monday November 9.

Pat Murphy is executive director of the Institute for Community Solutions at Yellow Springs, Ohio, a nonprofit organization in devoted to small community living, and is also the author of Plan C: Community Survival Strategies for Peak Oil and Climate Change. He lectures widely across North America on energy, Peak Oil, geopolitics and lifestyle solutions, and on community resilience and long-term sustainability. His main interest is on the techniques and strategies for a steady reduction in the per capita use of fossil fuels in the years to come. Pat has been involved in community much of his life and sees it as the context within which sustainability can be reached.

Murphy is also a co-writer and co-producer of the award-winning documentary, The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.

Faith Morgan is the Director of The Power of Community, and also a co-writer.

An Evening with Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan takes place at St. Matthias Church, 171 Kortright Road West on Monday, November 9, beginning at 7 p.m. Musical guest Larry Nusbaum will open the evening.

Advance tickets are $10 waged and $5 student/senior/unwaged, available at Ground Floor Music, The Bookshelf, and The University of Guelph Landscape Architecture Building. Admission at the door is $15 and $7.

Music:
Lindisfarne, Think from Elvis Lives On The Moon
Platters, Trees from Magic Touch, Anthology
Pope High School, Marietta, Georgia, Trees from Songs From The Greyhound Greenhouse
James Gordon, How? from Youtube
Martyn Joseph, How did we end up here? from Deep Blue (Live version)
Bruce Cockburn, Beautiful Creatures from Life Short Call Now

And the song suggested by Chris we didn’t get time to play but with an inspiring video you really need to see…

Listen to Hour 2:

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Ontario Urban Forest Council, Tree Preservation And The Planning Process – November 12

Ontario Urban Forest Council’s Annual Conference “Tree Preservation and the Planning Process – Moving Ahead”

Trees are increasingly regarded as beautiful and effective tonics to our polluted planet, with a long list of social, environmental and economic benefits.   Sadly, preserving trees or allocating adequate space for future planting is rarely considered in the development process.

The Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) will be holding their annual conference in Guelph this year.  The conference takes place on Thursday, November 12 at the University of Guelph Arboretum. The theme of this year’s conference is   “Tree Preservation and the Planning Process –Moving Ahead”.  Speakers will include city planners, environmental planners, politicians, development consultants and educators who will bring their professional experience and municipal perspectives to share ideas.  The City of Guelph and some of its real planning issues will be showcased to stimulate discussion of how best to protect our urban forests.

On Wednesday, November 11 from 7 to 9 p.m., the OUFC will be holding their AGM at the Shakespeare Arms near the Campus Estates Plaza.  Well respected urban forest professor, Dr Andy Kenney will give a short presentation entitled  “Preserving Trees and the Planning Process:  Covering Your Assets”.

View the conference flyer

Update October 31: There is a reduced ticket price of $75 for those who work (employed or volunteer) for urban forest not for profit organizations such as Guelph Urban Forest Friends.

Visit www.oufc.org for complete conference details.

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag – Trees And Transition

We’re devoting the whole of Royal City Rag on November 7 to environmental issues.

In the first hour we will be talking about the importance of Guelph’s urban forest with Brenlee Robinson from The Ontario Urban Forest Council and Sean Fox, horticulturist at The Arboretum,  University of Guelph.

Trees are increasingly regarded as beautiful and effective tonics to our polluted planet, with a long list of social, environmental and economic benefits.   Sadly, preserving trees or allocating adequate space for future planting is rarely considered in the development process.

The Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) will be holding their annual conference in Guelph this year.  The conference takes place on Thursday, November 12 at the University of Guelph Arboretum. The theme of this year’s conference is   “Tree Preservation and the Planning Process –Moving Ahead”.  Speakers will include city planners, environmental planners, politicians, development consultants and educators who will bring their professional experience and municipal perspectives to share ideas.  The City of Guelph and some of its real planning issues will be showcased to stimulate discussion of how best to protect our urban forests.

On Wednesday, November 11 from 7 to 9 p.m., the OUFC will be holding their AGM at the Shakespeare Arms near the Campus Estates Plaza.  Well respected urban forest professor, Dr Andy Kenney will give a short presentation entitled  “Preserving Trees and the Planning Process:  Covering Your Assets”.

View the conference flyer

Later in the first hour we will be airing a special commentary from mother, grandmother, citizen of Guelph and taxpayer Eileen Laberge about the by invitation only sod-turning for the Hanlon Creek Business Park held by the City of Guelph. Anti-democratic… autocratic… you won’t want to miss what Eileen has to say!

In the second half of the show, Sally and Chris from Transition Guelph will be joining us to chat about Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan’s visit to Guelph on Monday November 9.

Pat Murphy is executive director of the Institute for Community Solutions at Yellow Springs, Ohio, a nonprofit organization in devoted to small community living, and is also the author of Plan C: Community Survival Strategies for Peak Oil and Climate Change. He lectures widely across North America on energy, Peak Oil, geopolitics and lifestyle solutions, and on community resilience and long-term sustainability. His main interest is on the techniques and strategies for a steady reduction in the per capita use of fossil fuels in the years to come. Pat has been involved in community much of his life and sees it as the context within which sustainability can be reached.

Murphy is also a co-writer and co-producer of the award-winning documentary, The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.

Faith Morgan is the Director of The Power of Community, and also a co-writer.

They will be in Hamilton to address city council and to present the 2009 Spirit of Red Hill Creek lecture, and they have graciously agreed to speak in several other local communities as part of their Southern Ontario visit.

An Evening with Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan takes place at St. Matthias Church, 171 Kortright Road West on Monday, November 9, beginning at 7 p.m. Musical guest Larry Nusbaum will open the evening.

Advance tickets are $10 waged and $5 student/senior/unwaged, available at Ground Floor Music, The Bookshelf, and The University of Guelph Landscape Architecture Building. Admission at the door is $15 and $7.

Royal City Rag, 7-9 a.m. on CFRU 93.3fm in Guelph. Don’t miss it!

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Hanlon Creek Business Park, “Third Way” Activists Ask The City For Dialogue… Again

Today, a formal letter was sent to Mayor Karen Farbridge, Guelph City Council and the City of Guelph’s Manager of Tourism and Economic Development, Peter Cartwright, that both recognizes the merits of the Hanlon Creek Business Park (HCBP) plan and calls for adjustments to help the project truly “meet the environmental side of the triple bottom line.”

The letter was extensively researched and is signed by several community groups (Council of Canadians, Guelph Urban Forest Friends and the Sierra Club) and prominent Guelph activists (James Gordon, Hugh Whiteley, Gail McCormack and Mike Darmon).

It recommends a number of “reasonable changes” to the HCBP plan that would help to ensure the health of provincially significant wetlands and wildlife, retain more mature native trees, reduce soil disruption to ensure the growth of new trees and shrubs, lessen the impact of roads on natural areas, and protect aquifer recharge areas that are important for our water supply. It also includes the recommendation that construction continue to be delayed until more is known about the habitat of species at risk in the project area.

Finally, the letter calls for increased investment in the reuse of existing buildings and the redevelopment of ‘brownfield’ sites.

View the text of the letter here.

Add Your Voice…

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map.

Expect to hear more about this issue on Royal City Rag,  Saturdays 7-9 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm. If it happens in Guelph, you’ll hear about it on Royal City Rag!

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Help The Environment – Plant A Tree

Want to do something to help the environment? Why not plant a tree?

The project, aptly named the “Cool Communities Residential Shade Tree Planting Program”, is aimed at encouraging homeowners to plant trees for energy conservation.  Shade trees planted on the southern and western sides of a home can save 25–40%, and reduce peak energy demand in summer by up to 30%, according to a study by the University of California Berkeley.   By planting a tree, homeowners also improve their neighbourhoods by cleaning the air, decreasing pollution, attracting pollinators, and increasing biodiversity.

The project is being launched as a pilot by Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF), an award-winning, Toronto-based urban forest non-profit organization well known for its successful Backyard Tree Planting Program.  LEAF has been working in close cooperation with local municipalities and green organizations to get the project off the ground. 

Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) is pleased to support this program which shares our emphasis on maintaining and increasing our tree canopy for a healthier, sustainable future. This also supports The City of Guelph’s Community Energy Plan. “Guelph will reduce the magnitude of the summer electrical peak by at least 40% by 2031 to avoid the need for investment in new electrical infrastructure to serve the growth of the city.” 

According to Michelle Bourdeau, LEAF’s Manager of Residential Planting Programs, Guelph was chosen specifically because of its positive track record in taking on new environmentally-conscious initiatives.  “Residents here tend to have a good understanding of environmental issues, and we want to assist them in greening their communities.  We’re offering financial incentives for residents who want to plant native trees and shrubs and increase Guelph’s tree canopy.”

The project is funded by the Ontario Power Authority’s Conservation Fund which funds conservation pilot projects that encourage homeowners to make cost-effective energy conservation decisions.   For more energy conservation initiatives, visit www.everykilowattcounts.ca.  For more information on the Cool Communities project, including a list of participating nurseries, visit www.yourleaf.org/coolcommunities.

The program runs from September 12-13 and September 19-20. To take advantage of the discount, and save up to $100, please visit one of the participating nurseries.

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Worth Repeating: We Must Act Now To Save Our Trees

We Must Act Now To Save Our Trees
Susan Ratcliffe
Guelph Mercury, June 19, 2009

HCBP Culvert At Present (Photo: Bob Gordon)

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a noise?

If a developer cuts down acres of trees and no one does anything about it, should we make some noise?

Along Gordon Street beyond the sprawling subdivisions and ugly strip malls, some beautiful natural areas remain — treasured by the families who have owned and loved them for many years, areas of rolling hills, towering trees, large ponds and abundant wildlife.

Sometime during the last week, Carson Reid Homes sent a diesel-powered machine called a feller-forwarder into one of those pristine areas. Looking like a huge praying mantis, it rumbled through the stands of large old maples and ironwoods, other hardwoods including cherry, elm, ash and century-old fruit trees, clear cutting approximately 30 hectares of woods on Paris Galt Moraine land in the Hanlon Creek watershed.

The trees, a combination of old-growth and secondary-growth forest — coniferous plantings by the Ministry of Natural Resources project as part of the Hall’s Pond wetland complex protection — were mowed down on development land between Clair and Maltby roads. The cutting was difficult to detect from most public vantage points as it was behind a wide, untouched buffer zone. An alert neighbour notified city bylaw officers about the work, who ordered the cutting stopped.

The affected area abuts a natural area and is essentially the only remaining east-west linkage between the Hanlon and Mill Creek subwatersheds — deemed key to protect in the 1993 Marshall Macklin Monaghan Hanlon Creek subwatershed study. It is also the only link between the Hanlon Creek subwatershed and a provincially significant area of natural and scientific interest (ANSI). The City of Guelph’s draft natural heritage strategy identified the area for protection, calling it “environmentally significant.”

But once it’s significantly cleared of its large trees, can anyone do anything about it?

The city is developing a natural heritage strategy to support its 2007 strategic plan goal for “a biodiverse city with the highest tree-canopy percentage among comparable municipalities.” This strategy would enhance the provincial policy that encourages “wise management of natural heritage resources.”

Guelph Urban Forest Friends has repeatedly called for immediate action on an interim protective tree bylaw, along with an independent urban-forestry department, a certified forester, and an urban-forest advisory committee. The group, along with city councillors Leanne Piper, Maggie Laidlaw and Mike Salisbury previously warned of the risk of pre-emptive work by developers opposed to the Heritage Strategy.

An investigation is warranted into whether Carson Reid has upheld Guelph’s tree bylaw. The bylaw states it is an offence to injure or destroy any live tree over 4.5 metres inside the city without written approval, and that every tree injured or destroyed on a property larger than an acre will be considered a separate offence. Each offence has a maximum fine of $2,000.

Also seemingly at issue is whether this development could be considered in concert with terms of the Migratory Birds Convention Act. That federal legislation prohibits the disturbance, destruction or taking of the nests or eggs of migratory birds by activities such as logging — and some migratory birds nest in June.

A question for investigators might be whether migratory bird habitat was impacted in this case.

Now, the trees have fallen. News of their felling should be trumpeted community-wide as a dirge to the loss of Guelph’s natural heritage to the interest of development.

It is time for citizens to take action.

I urge all who care about our city to take an interest in the followup of this affair. I hope city council refuses all future zoning change requests and building permits with the company linked to this cutting until the ravaged land is rehabilitated.

And I urge all of you to write to City Council (see below) and to the Ontario and federal governments asking for stronger laws to protect our remaining natural treasures for future generations.

Susan Ratcliffe’s column appears monthly. You can contact her at susarat@gmail.com.

 

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map.

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Worth Repeating: Hanlon Creek Business Park Threatens The Sustainability Of Guelph’s Water Supply

Hanlon Creek Downstream In The Spring (Photo: Bob Gordon)

This article was originally posted by Wellington Waterwatchers on their website on March 3, 2009.

I thought it would be a good idea to re-post it here to remind people why well-known and respected local organizations like Wellington Waterwatchers, the Guelph Chapter of the Council of Canadians, Guelph Urban Forest Friends and the Sierra Club have all expressed serious concerns about the current plans for the Hanlon Creek Business Park.

 

Hanlon Creek Business Park threatens the sustainability of Guelph’s Water Supply
Wellington Waterwatchers

We acknowledge the necessity for more economic development and additional opportunities for business growth in our community. We desire sustainability in such growth. The initial Hanlon Creek Business Park (HCBP) plan was envisioned originally as a ‘green’ initiative, with low impact development practices aimed at preserving provincially significant wetlands and old-growth trees found in the area between Downey Road and the Hanlon Expressway.

However the latest plans are not consistent with this ‘green’ plan.  It appears that cost-effectiveness has taken priority over low impact development goals.  In the SHORT term, the plan calls for over 500 acres to be affected, of which as much as 75% may be paved or built over. This plan would dramatically effect a water catchment area which is crucial to the Downey Well and the groundwater recharge of the Paris-Galt Moraine.  The Moraine is a critical source of municipal water supply for Guelph and surrounding area. The Guelph-Puslinch Groundwater Protection Study from 2005 states that increased industrial activity in this sensitive area raises the potential for toxic materials to seep into our drinking water.

There are over 1700  trees, 60 biodiverse hedgerows, plants and up to 4 ft. of topsoil.  Bulldozers and graders will entirely disrupt the soil integrity which will be mass graded for levelling high areas  to low areas. Included in this tree count is a remnant of old-growth forest that has been identified SINCE the development plan was approved in 2005. The Sierra Club of Canada has expressed serious concerns about grading this entire site before businesses have even agreed to locate there. Other communities with similar developments in uncertain economic times have been left with costly unused “Moonscapes”. We believe that more thought should be put into the scope and planning of the HCBP so that the wetland, recharge zones and old growth forest are preserved.

The Paris-Galt Moraine has not been fully mapped. Mayor Karen Farbridge and MPP Liz Sandals requested that the Minister of the Environment protect the Moraine as it overlies Guelph’s drinking water.  We have been questioning all along the wisdom of giving our water away to commercial water bottlers in our area without properly identifying whether our water supply can sustain us through the exponential growth predicted for our city. It is important not to threaten this high quality water supply more with this plan that seems out of step with our current awareness of its potential for environmental damage?

We believe that the City is missing a golden opportunity to be an effective leader in the province by planning a development that can be sensitive to the environment while at the same time provide a sustainable economic opportunity.

Along with a number of other citizens groups, we would like to be able to bring this issue to the City of Guelph Council to help address our concerns. We were surprised and disappointed to learn that there are no plans to bring this matter back to City Council except to examine the tenders offered for the construction of the business park.  This appears to be very premature considering the current economic times and lack of excess public funds.

To us, this does not appear to be within the spirit of the City of Guelph’s mandate for transparency and accountability.

We urge you to write to Mayor Farbridge and City of Guelph councilors to ask, based on the new economic and environmental climate, that the Hanlon Creek Business Park development plans be revisited.

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map.

Thanks as always for your ongoing support.

For more background information on the Hanlon Creek Business Park, please see this timeline.

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Royal City Rag – May 20

Royal City Rag on May 20 had a distinctly environmental slant.

We started off with a great interview with University of Guelph Arboretum manager Ric Jordan and Guelph Urban Forest Friends‘ Norah Chaloner and Judy Martin.

Trees in Guelph need far greater protection than afforded by the current city bylaw. Guelph has far less than the ideal 40% tree canopy cover recommended for cities. A strategic plan for Guelph’s urban forest has been in the works at city hall for over a decade now yet progress has been slow to say the least.

On March 30, Ric Jordan made a presentation to the Community Development and Environmental Services Committee of City Council on behalf of Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) to remind the city that the time for inaction on the Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan is now past.

GUFF’s Requests of the Committee:

• We need an interim protective tree bylaw now.
• We need an independent urban forestry department.
• We need a certified forester to direct tree, shade and water interconnection, public education and enforcement of tree maintenance and protection.
• We need an urban forest advisory committee to support this department.

In the meantime more and more trees are lost from our urban landscape. For more on this important issue, visit the Guelph Urban Forest Friends website at www.guffguelph.ca.

Please consider signing the GUFF petition.

Download and print the petition. Encourage your friends and neighbours to show their commitment to Guelph’s trees by signing it. Return complete petitions to GUFF, under the Big Umbrella, at the Guelph Farmers’ Market.

guff-by-law-petition-2008

Later in the show, Karen McKeown from the City of Guelph joined us to discuss the city’s Healthy Landscapes – Landscape Assessment program. The Healthy Landscapes program provides great information on how to develop and maintain a beautiful garden without hours of maintenance and ritualistic pesticide use.

For more information on the program, book an assessment or get your questions answered e-mail Karen at mckeown@guelph.ca or call 519-822-1260 Ext. 2109.

On Saturday June 20 from 9.00 a.m. – 2 p.m.,  Healthy Landscapes will be running a Lawn Care Day in the back parking lot at the West End Community Centre. This is your opportunity to learn all about lawn care with advice on weed and insect control. Representatives from local lawn care companies and businesses will be present. You can also bring in your old gas powered lawn mower and receive a rebate on a brand new SOLARIS – SP21HB – High Performance Self Propelled Cordless Electric Lawn Mower.

Another interesting event coming up, and one that ties both parts of the show together, is the A Bus Tour Of The Trees of Guelph on Sunday June 21 from 1.00 -3.00 p.m. The tour, featuring Sean Fox, forester at The Arboretum, will visit some of the outstanding trees in our city. You will also be able to learn what trees will work best in your yard, and how to look after them. Pre-registration is recommended as space on the bus in limited. Email healthylandscapes@guelph.ca or call 519-822-1260 Ext 2109.

Music:
Fiona Joy Hawkins, Prelude to a Landscape from Portrait of a Waterfall
Gregory Hoskins, Real Beauty Aches from Alone At The Mayor’s House, Almost

Listen to the show:

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag – Healthy Landscapes

We’ll be talking about Healthy Landscapes on Royal City Rag on May 20. Karen McKeown from the City of Guelph will join us to discuss the city’s Healthy Landscapes – Landscape Assessment program.

We’ll also be replaying a wonderful  interview with Ric Jordan, manager of The Arboretum at the University of Guelph about the plight of our urban trees, an important part of any healthy landscape.

Don’t miss the show. It promises to be a good one.

Wednesday, May 20 from 6-7 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus Community Radio Station.

Listen live on CFRU 93.3fm or after the fact via the website or CFRU archive.

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Grand River Environmental Network (GREN) Comes To Guelph – April 16

Grand River Environmental Network (GREN) Comes to Guelph

When: April 16 at 7.15 p.m.
Where: 10 Carden St.

GREN members from Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Brantford and Guelph have been meeting for over a year to network on similar environmental issues. Come and meet the neighbours!

Agenda:

• Overview of the Grand River Environmental Network and its Projects.
• Guelph response to Places to Grow growth as seen through development practices.
  Presentation on Low Impact Development by Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF)
• Moraine Protection – problems and possibilities
  The Waterloo Experience
  The Guelph-Wellington experience

More info at www.gren.ca

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Guelph Urban Forest Friends Request For A Protective Tree Bylaw – March 30

On March 30, Ric Jordan, Manager of the Arboretum at the University of Guelph, made a presentation to the Community Development and Environmental Services Committee of City Council on behalf of Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) to remind the city that the time for inaction on the Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan is now past.

Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level  is 40%. We need action on an interim tree protection bylaw NOW, before any more trees are lost.

GUFF’s Requests of  the Committee:

• We need an interim protective tree bylaw now.
• We need an independent urban forestry department.
• We need a certified forester to direct tree, shade and water interconnection, public education and enforcement of tree maintenance and protection.
• We need an urban forest advisory committee to support this department .

Listen to Ric Jordan’s presentation:

Listen to the whole discussion at committee:

Sign the Petition:

Download and print the petition. Encourage your friends and neighbours to show their commitment to Guelph’s trees by signing it: 

guff-by-law-petition-2008

Return complete petitions to GUFF, under the Big Umbrella, at the Guelph Farmers’ Market.

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Guelph Urban Forest Friends “Celebration of Trees” – November 15

Guelph Urban forest Friends will be announcing the results of Guelph’s Great Tree Hunt at their Celebration of Trees taking place at The Alma Gallery (133 Wyndham St. North – between Douglas St and Woolwich) on Saturday, November 15th at 2.00 p.m.

They plan to celebrate the nominated trees and give awards for “best tree” in several categories.

Come and see if your nominated tree will win an award!  Come to hear stories about our trees and see photos of them! 

Come share your enthusiasm for our urban canopy with others who will truly understand you!

This is a family-friendly event. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Norah Chaloner from GUFF on Royal City Rag on November 12th. We were only able to play an excerpt of the interview on the show.

You can listen to the full interview here:

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Why We Need A Better Policy for Urban Trees…

These images come from the Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) website. They really demonstrate the need for a better policy for urban trees.

Residents wait for years for trees to grow in areas of new development, yet too often the trees are pulled out by the developer because they are an inconvenience.

And developers wonder why they have a bad name amongst community activists?

Norah Chaloner from GUFF will join us on Royal City Rag next week, October 22 for an update on the group’s activities including The Great Tree Hunt.

A Heritage home on Victoria Road

BEFORE

AFTER

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