Nancy Grace, pictured on the right, was fined $4,000 by a judge for having eight protected trees illegally chopped down in front of the Nanaimo apartment complex she manages. (NanaimoNewsNOW file photo)

By Ian Holmes

Fine issued

Nanaimo apartment manager fined thousands for illegally removing trees

Oct 14, 2019 | 8:16 AM

NANAIMO — The manager of a Nanaimo apartment complex was fined several thousand dollars for illegally chopping down eight trees, bringing to an end a contentious court battle.

Nancy Grace was fined $4,000 on Friday, Oct. 11 after hiring an unknown contractor to remove a cluster of trees in late November, 2017. She argued removing the trees increased safety at the once-maligned 400 Third St. property.

The verdict wrapped up a testy legal battle in which Grace believed two City employees treated her unfairly.

During an early March trial, Grace said the City proceeded against her unfairly and she felt intimidated by City staff Kevin Brydges and Patrick Macintosh. She claimed they pressured her to reveal which contractor cut down the eight trees.

Judge Justine Saunders ruled the allegations of bullying and abuse of power were “unfounded.”

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Saunders noted Grace testified she would say who cut the trees down, but has since refused to share the information.

She also said Grace should have sought professional advice before having the trees toppled.

Grace was previously found guilty two weeks after her trial.

Grace was ordered to replant 16 trees and pay the fine to the City of Nanaimo by Jan. 1, 2021.

The City is agreeable to re-planting trees away from the front of the building, which Grace said used to provide cover for drug dealers and other illegal activity.

While the City’s minimum fine is $500 per illegally removed tree, penalties can reach as a high as $10,000 per tree in the courts.

Nanaimo property owners can legally remove up to four unprotected mature trees annually, while no protected trees can be cut down without a permit.

Several notable tree removal bylaw cases in Nanaimo have been resolved in court over the past year, generating extensive discussion from those both in favour and opposed to the City’s actions.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes