A lone protest vote by Coun. Chris Johnston wasn’t enough to save the two large spruce trees in the community centre parking lot, which council scheduled for an appointment with a chainsaw to make way for a new bus stop.
A staff report outlined plans for the new bus stop requested by the Revelstoke Senior Citizens’ Association, which will include new plants and trees. It also said the spruces were outgrowing their current location and were damaging pavement and possibly the sewer.
“I just get the sense that this is a foregone conclusion from staff,” Johnston told his fellow councillors of his objection. “There hasn’t been a great deal of consultation.”
Parks committee representative Gary Starling said the trees “would probably have to come out regardless” because they are overgrown.
The city’s environmental advisory committee and the North Columbia Environmental Society had objected to the removals.