tree removal
 

anybody have experience with getting the city to cut a tree? it's the city of surrey but wouldn't mind hearing experiences from people in other cities as well just to get an idea of how to go about it.

we purchased a commercial property and there is a tree just on the other side of the fence. it's not on a shared property boundary, the main reason we don't want it is because the roots are just all over the place in our property, snaking around the foundation and also randomly everywhere. the other reason is because it's a cottonwood tree and that is damaging to our business given the nature of what we do, we can't have cottonwoods flying all over the place.. it's bad enough as it is without a giant cottonwood tree right on the boundary of our property.

I know the city is pretty strict about tree removal, is there a strategy to try to pursue to get them to approve the removal? i don't really want to mention the cottonwood issue because i'm assuming they aren't sensitive or sympathetic to this type of reasoning. I know that on the city's website they say that tree roots digging up a driveway are not good reasons for removing a tree. I still want to pursue this route of blaming the tree for being a risk to the foundation since the roots have pretty much snaked all alongside the building.

any advice here?

I've heard from my co worker that it costs thousands to get the permit. And you pay like $4000 if you don't replant the tree. This is for Burnaby

Can't chime in on getting the city to "removing" the tree aspect, but I have contacted the city about the tree in front of my house on the sidewalk before where the tree started to split, they came pretty quickly to cut down most of the dangerous branches. A few weeks later my neighbours tree across the street fell over, I'm glad I spotted the one in front of my house early.

Maybe try mentioning heavy winds may push over the tree and fall onto your building. I think there needs to be a safety aspect that becomes compromised before they even decide to do anything.

You can hire an Arborist, if they deem the tree is unhealthy they can convince the City to remove the tree. You can't tell the City yourself otherwise as the arborist is the Professional.

The City will also accept contributions towards any of their programs. (for new developments anyway)

Also usually for new developments tree replacement is at a 2:1 ratio but these are usually for trees on your site.

Pherio summed it up pretty well. I'm sure the City will have a Tree Removal Criteria List that you can ask the Arborist to consider in the report to ensure City approves the removal.

If the tree is on City right of way, you may need to obtain written consent from adjacent property owners (usually a one block radius)

Similarly, the City tree replacement criteria may be based on the diameter of the tree being cut (e.g. anything greater than 601mm will require 3 replacement tree)