Sarnia Council will discuss how to better protect mature trees in the city when it meets Monday.
It's recommended council direct staff to prepare a work plan for the development of a proposed Urban Forest Management Plan for consideration by council in 2017.
Council is also being asked to direct staff to prepare a draft tree bylaw, and initiate community consultation on the draft this fall.
Mayor Mike Bradley says each year the city receives complaints about the clear-cutting of woodlands, as well as the destruction of large-stature trees in urban neighbourhoods.
"Many communities have adopted a tree preservation bylaw that brings some control to the cutting of trees on private property," he says."I'm very balanced on that because I also respect private property rights but, I think its important that we do because we do have some examples where a lot of trees were cut down and there is nothing to protect the public interest."
