Trees and Birds

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Surrealism in Municipal Politics":

If the tree is taken down without a permit, what would the bylaw or the neighbour be able to do about that!? What is done is done!

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The current tree bylaw permits  removal of up to three trees without a permit.

The average urban lot is unlikely to be affected.

A new bylaw has been written but not  adopted .

It's  more rrestrictive.  Application  fees can be paid. Staff can carry out the process . Approval can be recommended. Council can still deny the permit. 

You don't get your money back. 

Fines  under the bylawfor trees removed without a permit  are  horrendous.

It's  the new puritanism. 

If they could the tree huggers would still be burning witches at the stake. 

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It was a former  heritage planner who rejected a design because she didn't like it,.

The account served to make the point. 

A restrictive bylaw registered against title of  ptoperty may be intended as merely a guide.

There is no guarantee.

A heritage planner may be appointed.  Academic credentials  may be the best.

A question of judgement remains to be seen

Appointments are  initially for a six month probationary period.

If the person recommending confirmation  at the end of  probation  does not exercise judgement, the outcome may not be good.

A comment  last week  noted how much worse misjudgements  are at higher levels of government  and how much greater the cost.

It's true. We see it every day.

It's why local government  was  always most satisfactory.

Then they introduced  four year terms  of office.

Accountability is not the same any more.