Nelson Waterfront Walkway
Jakob Dulisse
FYI,
See below for some mixed messaging from the City regarding the rationale for the veg removal done near the airport walkway. The part about danger trees posing a risk to they public is a real stretch as I don't think there were any dead trees that large. But main message is: "don't worry, it will grow back."
Jakob
-------- Forwarded Message --------
| Subject: | Re: Online Form Submittal: City of Nelson Mayor and Council |
|---|---|
| Date: | Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:57:09 -0700 |
| From: | Jakob Dulisse <jdul...@netidea.com> |
| To: | Nelson Admin Office <Corpora...@nelson.ca> |
| CC: | Council <Nelson...@nelson.ca> |
Hello Emily,
Thanks for your response.
You'll forgive my confusion as this rationale contrasts sharply
to what Chris Johnson said in the Nelson Star. He said the work
was done mainly for esthetic reasons and did not mention public
safety at all.
I would be very surprised if there were any standing dead trees in the area large enough to pose a public health risk. By chance, did you have a qualified professional evaluate and measure these potential danger trees?
The "don't worry, it will grow back" messaging is perplexing to
me, especially when you mention the city is now committing to
increasing its canopy cover...
Again, thanks for your reply,
Jakob
Hi Jakob,
Thank you for contacting Mayor and Council about this issue. I passed your message along to our Climate and Energy team and the following is their response:
Thank you for sharing your concern about the recent brush and tree removal at the dog park and its potential impacts on wildlife and biodiversity.
This work was undertaken primarily to address public safety concerns. The area had become densely overgrown, limiting visibility and increasing risk due to standing deadfall—both of which present a liability if someone were to be injured. It’s worth noting that this area isn’t cleared annually and is expected to regenerate over time, creating a habitat that welcomes birds and other wildlife once again.
The City is committed to increasing its canopy cover, a goal reflected in our new Official Community Plan and supported by the 2024 Urban Forestry Scoping Report. As always, we balance the needs of multiple stakeholders, including public use and enjoyment of our spaces and stewarding of our natural environment.
Your feedback is valuable, and we’ll consider it as we refine our approach. Specifically, we’re working on updates to the Urban Tree Management Plan, where biodiversity and ecological connectivity are key themes we hope to strengthen.
Thanks again for reaching out.
Best regards,
Emily Mask (she/her), B.A. | Climate & Energy Strategist
Development Services & Climate Leadership
Suite 501-310 Ward St. Nelson, BC V1L 5S4
Tel: 250.352.8257 | Ex: 257
From: nor...@civicplus.com <nor...@civicplus.com>
Sent: April 8, 2025 7:04 PM
To: WebCouncil <webco...@nelson.ca>
Subject: Online Form Submittal: City of Nelson Mayor and Council
City of Nelson Mayor and Council
This form serves as a direct channel for you, the community, to share your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions with our local government leadership.
Upon submission, your message will be promptly distributed to each individual Council member as well as the Mayor for their review. Our dedicated staff will handle the processing of your submission and ensure that it receives the attention it deserves.
Your First Name
Jakob
Your Last Name
Dulisse
Your Email Address
Topic
Airport Waterfront Walkway Development
Message
This area is likely the most important migratory songbird habitat within the City. “Sanitizing” the area to look more like a manicured golf course does not improve the habitat quality for birds. The removal of most of the ground-covering shrubs, the lower branches of all trees and the removal of “deadfall” (AKA wildlife trees) has significantly impacted this habitat. Also, heavy equipment exposing large areas of mineral soil is not advisable in an area with so many invasive plants. Why?
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