Editor:
Re: No olive branch for city, April 1.
Walking along Buena Vista Avenue a few days ago, and glancing at the lovely sight of the bay, I thought about all the trees that both the city and vandals have been removing in the last year or so. Shameful. Loss of nature is giving White Rock an austere appearance.
Arriving home, the Peace Arch News had arrived, and I was dismayed to see the front-page photo and article on the removal of a flowering plum tree from city property near Royal Avenue. One wonders who the gutless person was who waited till late at night to saw down the tree.
I sort of pitied the city manager to have all the angry residents arriving at her doorstep, bearing the dying branches of a beautiful flowering plum tree. Loss of trees means loss of birds. I’m not overly impressed with the city’s tree bylaw, and the suggestion it will increase the tree canopy in the long term. Balderdash. The city has once again caved into the big developers. I’ve seen other areas where mature trees are removed; the trees that are eventually planted are the type that, while they grow rapidly, are of a spindly nature. The trees are spaced out and have no character.
I am shocked the city allowed the removal of trees as they were deemed to interfere with residents’ views of the bay. How long do these people sit and look at the bay?
Money sure does talk; these wealthy people in big homes and condos in that area have been heard and heeded by council: “Hey, I don’t like it, lop off its head!”
Hope the jerk standing on his balcony with his camera, shouting jeers at the pro-tree folk, was getting his kicks.
People who love nature can be passionate. And thank God there are plenty of them around. And I applaud Coun. Helen Fathers for her comments, specifically, “We have no obligation whatever to create a view for anyone.”
The owners of the large homes and condos would be far healthier if they got up early, listened to the birds chirping in the trees outside their homes, had a light breakfast, got the pooch ready for its early morning walk and spent the next 30 to 60 minutes walking down the street and admiring the bay from Marine Drive.
The view in the early hours is fantastic from there, and the mutt is happy also. Could be a win-win situation.
Ruth Carrier, White Rock
Valuable assets
Let me first express my sympathy and full support for the residents who tried in vain to prevent the two trees being cut down in the 15100-block of Royal Avenue, courtesy of the City of White Rock’s Policy 611.
To those who live on the north side of the street and supported such a move, not only has your view been improved but the value of your home has increased. With that should come in due course an increase in your property assessment notice from BC Assessment. Perhaps those who opposed the removal of the trees should notify BC Assessment of the new situation.
Presumably such a course of action would also be fully endorsed by the City of White Rock, as it will lead to an increase in tax revenues that they solely need.
Natural justice comes in many disguises.
Robin Harper, Surrey