Boulevard tree or not, fees still apply under new procedure
December 4, 2025 at 3:29 AM
A boulevard tree without a boulevard is still worth having, in the eyes of the town.
Responding to a council request from earlier this fall, town staff put forward a report at the December 1 committee meeting that provides a procedure for how the municipality collects and spends money for so-called boulevard trees during the consent application process.
As part of a committee of adjustment consent approval, applicants may have to pay into a town fund that is used to plant trees, ideally a boulevard tree in front of the property in question. However, in some instances town staff have determined a boulevard tree isn’t suitable for the area due to soil, space or infrastructure concerns.
Monday’s report outlined a procedure aimed at clarifying how the money is to be collected, what the funds will be used for, how suitability of a boulevard tree is determined, and timelines for applicants.
Councillor Ann-Marie Noyes questioned the purpose of forcing applicants to pay for a tree that could end up getting planted in a completely different part of town. She said the initial point of the program was to create streetscapes with trees along the road.
“If the tree can’t be planted there, why are we charging them a fee for planting a tree on the boulevard?” she asked. “The person who is paying for that tree would have no benefit of that tree.”
While she supported the idea of growing the town’s tree canopy, Noyes said the idea of only charging people who apply through the consent application process didn’t make sense.
“If we’re going after the tree canopy all over the place, fine, charge everybody who creates a lot,” she said.
However, her amendment asking for the charge to be removed if staff determine a boulevard tree can’t be planted was voted down by her fellow councillors.
Mayor Wayne Redekop said in most cases a boulevard tree is possible, and in any event the town is working hard to revitalize its tree canopy.
“If a tree can’t be planted on the boulevard there should be a tree planted somewhere else in the community,” he said, adding the town’s tree policy has evolved over the years.
Councillor Tom Lewis acknowledged the potential for future issues, as provincial mandates are forcing towns like Fort Erie to approve smaller and smaller lots.
“I think we’re going to see more homes on smaller parcels of land where, good luck getting anything on the property,” he said.
The updated procedure says the funds are only to be used for tree planting, and staff will determine property suitability during the consent review. Where a tree isn’t suitable, “staff shall identify an alternate public planting location within the same geographic area, where possible,” the report said.
Staff set a target of planting the boulevard trees within two years of receiving the funds.
Two other amendments from Noyes did pass. The first said in cases where money is collected in an urban area where a boulevard tree isn’t possible, the alternate site be as close as possible to the property, and within the urban area.
Under the proposed procedure, town staff could plant a tree elsewhere in the community if the applicants didn’t provide building plans within two years of consent approval. Noyes’ final amendment extended that deadline to five years.
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About The Author
Luke Edwards
Luke Edwards is a longtime Niagara community journalist who has covered a variety of beats, including business, agriculture, the wine industry and politics. When not writing, there's a good chance he can be found at a baseball diamond or curling rink.
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