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Safety concerns behind decision to remove trees

Safety was the primary concern behind council’s decision Monday night to approve the immediate removal of 13 trees deemed to be
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A number of trees along 60 St. will be removed due to safety concerns.

Safety was the primary concern behind council’s decision Monday night to approve the immediate removal of 13 trees deemed to be in irreparable decline along 60 St. on the west side of Fieldstone Way.

An Evaluation of Tree Health and Structural Integrity Report found that 13 of the 43 trees evaluated needed to be removed immediately.

Mayor Sean McIntyre said the trees are located along a property line, and he expressed concerns with shared liability between homeowners and the town.

“The trees are legally our responsibility and property of both the homeowner and the town ... but they also share liability, so clearly something needs to be done,” he said. “In the name of safety, which we value highly, those 13 trees need to be removed.”

In a separate motion, council agreed to enter into enter into agreements with affected homeowners in the area, some of whom spoke as a delegation at the meeting.

Agreements were to address the removal, replacement and pruning of remaining trees.

Nearby resident Hope Jensen said she was pleased with the motion approved.

“There was a spirit of co-operation that was really felt between both parties, making it much more favourable moving forward,” she said.

The trees, she added, are “majestic” when they’re in full bloom, and she said she was glad to know they wouldn’t be lost entirely.