Councillors in Gibsons are expected to make a final decision next week on the fate of five trees on Gower Point Road in front of Holland Park at Town Hall, but they’re likely to face the axe.
Town staff say the trees, which were originally planted in raised beds integrated with the sidewalk, have now grown big enough that their root systems are causing serious damage to the concrete.
When council voted last fall to add an electric vehicle charging station to that stretch of road, the work was to be done in combination with sidewalk repairs and staff recommended to the Jan. 23 committee of the whole meeting that removing the trees is the only way to make effective repairs.
“Any other strategy would be short-term,” said Dave Newman, director of engineering and infrastructure services. “The trees are planted close to the curb, so the curbing and asphalt could become compromised. We have run into that on one of our street trees [already].” Newman also said transplanting the trees elsewhere wouldn’t likely succeed, so they will be cut down and the stumps will be ground.
Newman said it’s common practice in some communities to remove “street trees” once they reach a certain age to avoid expensive damage to roads and sidewalks. The plan for Gower Point Road is to install planters in the spots where the trees are to be removed, and plant five new maple trees well back from the sidewalk.
Removing trees can be a controversial move, and Newman said the Town has already had a few comments from people expressing dismay.
Removing the trees, repairing the sidewalk and installing the new landscaping could cost an estimated $25,000 on top of the $15,000 already budgeted for the charging station.
