These elm trees growing into a bike lane are the kinds of vegetation property owners are supposed to keep under control.

(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA - Bylaw officers won’t have to stand on the roofs of their trucks to chop down one of the most offensive vegetation blights in the city. And they won’t have to bill the property owner for that work either since it’s on city property.

A news release from the City of Kelowna was sent out recently to remind homeowners that it’s their responsibility to keep shrubs and trees “trimmed and tidy and don’t block the view of traffic signs, pedestrians or other vehicles.”

There have been 36 calls complaining of such obstructions so far this year, according to the city’s bylaw services manager David Gazley.

When complaints are received, property owners are given 15 days to clear the brush. If they don't, the city’s parks department will do the work and bill the homeowner, although Gazley doesn’t recall the last time anyone has been billed.

“I said to my fellows, jokingly, the other day ‘not only do you have bolt cutters, but we need to get some tree trimmers and throw them in our trucks too,’” Gazley said. “We could deal with this a lot easier if we happen to see it, just jump on the truck roof, trim it away. Move on. Done.”

At what point should this tree be trimmed before it totally blocks the stop sign?

(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)

Of course, that would violate WorkSafeBC rules and was only in jest.

When contacted by iNFOnews.ca, Darren Schlamp, president of the Kelowna Area Cycling Coalition, pointed to a much more down-to-earth concern.

It’s along Gordon Drive, heading north from Mission Creek where the bike lane and sidewalk run next to a chain-link fence, separating the bike path from another fence along an agricultural property.

This is likely city-owned land where a number of young elm tree branches block the bike lane. He commutes to work along that route and has to swing into the pedestrian portion of the pathway every morning.

“It pushes you even further into where pedestrians would be,” Schlamp said. “It’s quiet enough along there so it’s not a big deal. You run into two people along there if it’s a busy day. But it’s kind of annoying.”

That may be annoying but trees or shrubs obscuring street signs or sightlines are more of a safety concern and, Gazley said, those issues do trigger prompt action from the city.

While property owners are responsible for keeping their street frontage and adjacent boulevards tidy and safe, it’s the city’s responsibility to maintain any trees it has planted in those boulevards.

Anyone with a concern about landscaping blocking views can call the city bylaw department at 250-469-8686.

Or you can let iNFOnews.ca know about your pet landscaping peeve in the comments below.

Attached to the stop sign, above, is the street name (Mappin). Should the tree be trimmed so the sign is easier to see?

(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)

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