Heritage Tree Application

The use of the Ontario Heritage Tree Alliance evaluation charts is essential to ensure that a tree worthy of heritage status conforms to a set of standard criteria for the sake of consistency, validity, and data gathering. The standard criteria have been developed and tested by the Ontario Urban Forest Council and the Ontario Heritage Tree Alliance. The most current criteria (Heritage Tree Toolkit) is used as the benchmark to establish whether a tree(s) may be considered for “heritage” status.

A community heritage tree, an avenue of trees, a windrow of trees, a grove of trees, or a arboreal remnant could be rare, culturally or historically significant, a prominent landmark, unusual in this area, a particularly noteworthy specimen, and/or significantly large or old for its species. Ultimately, Council may designate any tree as a Heritage Tree, but it is essential that a nominated tree(s) be recognized under at least one of the following heritage tree categories:

• Outstanding because of size, age, shape or other distinctive feature (extraordinary, unique or unusual form or colour) and/or species rarity or genetic constitution;
• A tree having some outstanding qualities, together with being a distinctive community landmark located in a commanding community location;
• Associated with an event, a period, a structure, a noted person, or can be tree(s), groves or arboreal remnants of spiritual significance;
• Recognized by members of a community as deserving heritage recognition simply as “a treasured tree to the community”. It could be (but not necessarily so) rare or culturally or historically significant, a prominent landmark, unusual in the particular area, a particularly noteworthy specimen or significantly large size or age for its species;
• Representative of a crop tree grown by ancestors and their successors that is at risk of disappearing from cultivation; and/or
• Part of a group of trees or avenue of trees on a property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. 

The Heritage Tree Evaluation Chart is used to quantify and evaluate the candidacy of a tree for Heritage designation (Appendix 4). A tree that scores 4/4 in one chart, and achieves and overall total chart scoring of 75% or greater qualifies to be recommended to Council for Heritage Tree designation. Details on the nomination, process and evaluation are contained within Appendix 4.

Due to the maturity of a tree that would typically qualify as a Heritage Tree, it is likely to require regular inspection and maintenance activities. The International Society of Arboriculture Best Management Practices must be employed during inspection, maintenance and care of a Heritage Tree.

Heritage Trees on public property are maintained by City forestry crews, while a Heritage Tree on private property must be maintained by a certified Arborist.

By way of motion, City Council may remove a Heritage Tree’s status. However, should a tree that is designated by Council as a Heritage Tree die or otherwise be deemed hazardous by a qualified professional, it would require removal.

A formal written request to the City that includes the arborists report would be required to remove a Heritage Tree on private property. The City of Barrie’s Forestry Supervisor would be required to inspect and confirm the current health and condition of the tree (private or municipal property), and recommend that it be removed.

In the case of disagreement on the health and/or condition of the tree(s), a third-party professional would be hired by the owner of the tree to provide expert opinion and an arborist report to the City.

Notification of the change in status of the Heritage Tree would be provided to Council via staff memo prior to its removal. However, if the tree was deemed an immediate risk to public safety by the Forestry Supervisor, removal, partial removal or pruning would commence, and Council members would be notified in the most expedient manner, with a formal memo to council.

Any Heritage Tree removed from public property would be replanted during the next planting season by the City of Barrie, using the same species of tree (unless recommended by the Forestry Supervisor), and as close as possible to the same location where the original tree was removed.