City of Powell River Council will be voting to amend a tree cutting bylaw in the hopes that it alleviates concern that it could be used to stop timber harvesting within the city.
“There is an agreement to buy the trees in Millennium Park, but we haven’t finalized the details of the contract yet,” said Councillor Russell Brewer.
Money has not changed hands and will only do so once the contract has been signed, Brewer said.
Island Timberlands (IT) and the city have agreed on the price of the trees, $1.125 million, but for the past five months negotiation on the final details of the contract has been continuing between IT and the city’s lawyers. The deal would divide payment into two parts, the first half when the contract is signed and the remaining part on the anniversary of the signing.
The city bought the 37 hectares of Millennium Park land five years ago but the timber rights remained with IT.
The Vancouver Island-based forestry company also owns timber rights to the trees on two PRSC parcels adjacent to Millennium Park. Those parcels of land are owned in partnership between the city and Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation, with Catalyst Paper Corporation having been one of the original partners.
Council is amending the tree protection bylaw for clarity as it does not apply to land where there are existing tree farm licences or timber reservations, like the PRSC land, which pre-date the tree protection bylaw.
Brewer said the city has no regulatory authority over private managed forest lands, parcels which are subject only to provincial forestry regulations.
Council gave first, second and third readings to the tree protection bylaw 2403 amendment at its March 18 council meeting and will consider the adoption of the amendment bylaw at its Thursday, April 2, meeting.
