"Who did this?" asks one resident, pointing to a large stump outside Port Coquitlam city hall this week.
"This is a disaster," says another, watching as workers make quick work of several large trees around Veterans Park and Leigh Square.
The noise of the buzzing saws and tree chippers is distracting, and the city hall precinct looks bare without the trees.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, several large trees around the city hall were removed, along with fencing and some shrubs, to make way for a $5.8 million upgrade to the two gathering spaces.
The city says it needed to cut down 21 trees in Veterans Park and Leigh Square to make way for the large renovation and, when the project is finished, there will be 45 trees planted — a net gain of 24 trees, according to Joshua Frederick, director of engineering and public works.
TREES CUT DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR ENHANCED VIEWS
"During the very initial stages of the project, the city engaged with design and arborist consultants to inventory the trees and assess the condition of each. It was identified that some were in declining health and were recommended for removal," Frederick stated in an email to the Tri-City News.
The goal is to make a "a safe and welcoming space" and "create a cohesive public open space" connected by walkways and multi-use pathways, the city says.
But some residents say the city miscalculated when it took down so many trees without talking to the public first.
"I thought we were in an era of protecting older trees," said Susan Wong, who works in the area. "Without those trees it's not going to be as nice."
Other residents worry about the "heat island" effects of hot pavement: Without a large tree canopy, there will be no shade.
"The trees they are planting will take years to grow," said Caron Graham, who said she was "shocked" to see all the trees cut down this week.
She said the city should have consulted with residents specifically about tree removal before cutting the trees.
SLEEPLESS NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT TREES BEING CUT
"I had a a sleepless night worrying about it," said Graham, who lives nearby and walks her dog in the area.
She said she was surprised to see the trees being cut down.
Other residents noted that the park will be noisier without the trees blocking the sound from busy Shaughnessy Street.
Graham told the Tri-City News she could understand that the city was trying to make the place safer and more pleasant to visit and admitted people sometimes slept in the shrubs or used the area as an outdoor washroom.
But she said the city could have removed shrubs and left the tall deciduous trees intact.
The trees that were being removed Wednesday (March 16) were as high as 30 or 40 feet tall and were likely as much as 30 years old.
However, according to plans approved at the March 1 meeting of council, the trees had to be taken down quickly to avoid nesting season.
"As part of the project, it has been proposed to remove bordering trees to open up the plazas and provide expansive views and focus toward the centre. From the time that the original concept was envisioned to now, design iterations have resulted in significantly fewer trees being removed than originally anticipated," the plan states.
The city wants to finish the $1.3 million Veterans Square project in time for Remembrance Day activities.
When complete, the revitalized Veterans Square will have enhanced lighting, more seating and a better view of the cenotaph, which will be moved to the centre of the space.
Meanwhile, plans for Leigh Square have yet to be finalized.
