At the Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday September 24, 2024, Council reviewed two tree preservation By-laws:

• City Tree Canopy Preservation By-law will protect trees on City property.

This newly passed by-law will only apply to City-owned property including road allowances (both improved and unimproved), shoreline road allowances, and vacant land like water access blocks. The by-law outlines the restrictions and permissions required in regards to damage and removal of trees on city-owned property.

Under the new by-law, no person may damage or remove a City-owned tree without a permit. If you need to do this for road construction, you will be required to complete an application form on the City’s website and provide the necessary information to the Tree By-law Administrator. This by-law was adopted and is now in effect.

For full details on the new City Tree Canopy Preservation By-law, view Appendix A of the Tree Preservation By-Laws report.

• The remainder of the report that was received by Council as printed, deals with the proposed Tree Preservation on Private Property By-law. It has been narrowed in scope to apply only to development applications pursuant to the Planning Act, and as a result of public feedback. A revised by-law will be presented to Council for its consideration by the end of December 2024.

Council adopted this additional motion: That the Tree Preservation on Private Property By-law be referred back to staff for review and consultation with Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee and Agricultural Advisory Committee, among others, to review additional tree protections related to shoreline properties.