The trees will still fall on two development sites in Brookswood, but seedlings will be planted elsewhere.
Langley Township council approved amendments on two projects, one for 10 homes and another for 72, that will require the developers to replace the trees they remove.
“Not on this site, necessarily,” said Councillor Angie Quaale, who proposed the motion.
Quaale’s motion will require replanting based on the number of significant trees removed from the sites. That would mean more than 370 from the smaller site, and more than 1,300 from the larger.
“I think that’s a good interim measure,” said Coun. Petrina Arnason.
Only Coun. Bob Long opposed the amendment.
“What are we going to do with all these trees?” he said.
The cost for planting new trees will fall to the developers.
The council will likely have to revisit the amendment at future Brookswood development votes.
Quaale decided not to put forward a blanket amendment, pending the completion of the new Brookswood official community plan, now in consultation and planning stages.
A replacement policy could become part of the new OCP, if and when it is approved next year.
The last attempt to create a new OCP failed in 2014 when a highly controversial plan was voted down.