There has been a development sign posted on Finnerty Road (between the roundabout at McKenzie and Arbutus Rd.). There are plans to put in bike lanes and upgrades.
This sign has been up for quite some time (at least since the summer) and I have not paid much attention to it. It looked like they would be ‘greening’ things up. But then I began to think “where are those bike lanes going to go?”
There are mature trees on either side of the road, Douglas Fir, Arbutus and I believe London Plane Trees. So I decide to have a closer look at the sign. Down in the right hand corner is a little note that says between 8 -12 trees on Finnerty between McKenzie and Edgelow Street will be removed. Horror!
The sign also said that for every tree removed Saanich will plant two new trees within the project area or the nearby neighbourhood. We know that does not even begin to replace the carbon removal value of those mature trees.
For questions and concerns you may contact engineering@saanich.ca or visit saanich.ca for more information on the project. This development has to be redesigned so that not one tree is lost. I cannot believe this is happening to create bike lanes. Please tell Saanich to work around mature trees, not remove them.