Dear Editor:
Re: Burnaby resident concerned about tree clearing, Burnaby NOW, Jan. 27.
I have lived directly across the street from 4657 Victory St. (the recent property to be clearcut) for the past 36 years.
We have endured many strong windstorms over the years (including the storm that destroyed many trees in Stanley Park recently).
Over the years, I can't even remember a branch coming down from those trees.
Never have I been fearful of those trees landing on my house.
When the two inspectors came by at two differ-ent times, they spent a grand total of about minutes each assessing the trees.
They told me they were dangerous because they were multi-stemmed. Do you know that in Surrey, multi-stemmed trees are protected and therefore not always considered dangerous?
Also, according to Burnaby's weak tree bylaw, you can't remove a tree three months prior to applying for a building permit. According to the bylaw, all these trees should have been protected and not been removed at the same time that the house came down.
What is the point of this weak bylaw if they don't even reinforce it? It sounds like a free-for-all in Burnaby.
Donna Polos, Burnaby
