Pitt Meadows Launches Engagement for Urban Forest Strategy
Pitt Meadows Launches Engagement for Urban Forest Strategy
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The City of Pitt Meadows is embarking on a public engagement initiative aimed at crafting an Urban Forest Strategy. This strategy is designed to oversee the preservation, safeguarding, and expansion of the city's tree cover.
Mayor Nicole Macdonald emphasizes the significance of trees as a vital natural asset. She highlights how they enhance the city's aesthetic appeal, cool its streets, and provide a multitude of environmental benefits, including improved air quality, decreased rainwater runoff, erosion prevention, and noise pollution reduction. To ensure the Urban Forest Strategy is well-informed and conducive to the long-term protection, enhancement, and management of Pitt Meadows' forested areas, the city has enlisted the expertise of a professional consultant team.
The urban forest encompasses all trees, shrubs, and low-lying vegetation in both public and private spaces within the city, including residential yards, streets, embankments, and parks. The Urban Forest Strategy is expected to prioritize actions related to climate change adaptation and mitigation. This includes regulating temperatures, managing stormwater, drainage improvements, and planning for future storm events. The City has also taken measures to address the wildfire risk in forested areas by incorporating a Wildfire Hazard Development Permit Area into the new Official Community Plan. This measure mandates that new developments adhere to FireSmart principles to minimize wildfire risks to both people and structures.
The development of the Urban Forest Strategy will involve two engagement phases. These phases will encompass surveys, online mapping tools, and in-person engagement events, allowing the public to interact with the project team and provide input regarding areas that may require increased tree coverage or enhanced tree preservation. The first engagement phase will be active from September 5 to October 5, 2023, offering an online survey and in-person events. The second phase will resume in early 2024, with the final strategy expected to be ready by spring 2024.
Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts encourages residents to voice their opinions on various aspects of tree management in the community. This includes thoughts on expanding the tree population, enhancing forested area protection, or expressing concerns about existing trees in their neighborhoods. Residents are invited to participate by completing the online survey before October 5, 2023, accessible at haveyoursaypittmeadows.ca/urbanforest. For additional information and project updates, visit pittmeadows.ca/urbanforest.
