Sarnia council has axed the proposed tree bylaw for now.
83% of residents surveyed during community consultations opposed the draft, which would have made homeowners seek out a permit or inspection before being allowed to cut down trees on their property.
"The message is clear that people want to be able to live their life on their own property the way they feel that they should," said Councillor Anne Marie Gillis. "They don't want to have to go to big brother to try to prune their trees or do anything with regard to roots around their sewer systems or in their driveways or all the other things that are problematic when trees get to a certain size."
Instead, council has agreed to shift its focus to the development of an Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) and has directed Parks and Recreation staff to prepare a report.
Councillor Cindy Scholten didn't support the recommendation.
"It clearly states that this plan might decide whether a tree bylaw could be an effective management tool and if so it would also provide the basis for the development of these provisions," said Scholten. "So to me, we're sending staff back using a lot of staff time, a lot of hours, a lot of energy to create this Urban Forest Management Plan that could actually prove that we need this tree bylaw which we know that 83% of residents don't want."
Planning staff have also been asked to prepare a site alteration bylaw and return both reports to council sometime next year.
