A picture taken Wednesday shows a section of 12th Street E. with trees removed. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Call for consultation

Talk before you chop: Residents not happy about mass tree felling

Aug 27, 2020 | 5:53 PM

Prince Albert city council will consider mandating more consultation with residents before the removal of trees as part of construction projects. The move comes after an outcry over the removal of around 100 trees from a Midtown street this week.

The deforestation is part of a $1.9 million infrastructure upgrade that will replace the water main running below 12^th Street E. and widen the roadway. Residents received letters from the city about the project on Aug. 18. A meeting attended by around a dozen residents, the ward councillor and city staff occurred the same day. Work began six days later on Monday.

“To have the residents considered so little in such a large decision is really what grinds my gears,” Jay Anthony, a seven-year resident of 12th Street E. told paNOW.

Anthony explained he’s actually looking forward to having a wider road but feels communication on the project from the city has been lacking. Some of his neighbours, he explained, bought their homes on the street specifically because of the charming leafy canopy the trees provided. Though the city plans to plant new trees in the spring of 2021, it will take decades for them to grow to the size of some of those cut down this week.

A picture taken Aug. 20 shows 12th St. E. prior to the removal of trees. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

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Ward Coun. Evert Botha said his phone has been ringing off the hook with residents upset about the deforestation and he understands their concerns.

At Monday’s city council meeting he formally requested that council discuss requiring the exploration of all options to preserve community character and urban canopy during future utility digs and repaving. He also wants more notice given to residents when more than three trees are to be removed as part a project.

“It’s sad to have seen these trees go. I wish we could have done more to save these trees,” Botha said. “But let’s look to the future. Let’s hope there’s better options provided down the line that we can maintain this beautiful urban forest that we have in some of the older established communities in the city.”

Councillors will discuss Botha’s motion at the next city council meeting on Sept. 21.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom