Courtenay鈥檚 mayor and two councillors went down swinging last week against final adoption of the city鈥檚 controversial new tree protection and management bylaw.

鈥淚鈥檓 not happy with the way this went 鈥� not looking at finding common ground. I鈥檓 very disappointed,鈥� said Counc. Erik Eriksson.

鈥淲e yielded to a special interest group,鈥� said Mayor Larry Jangula. 鈥淓very single homeowner will pay more for a house. I think we鈥檝e made a huge, huge mistake.鈥�

鈥淚 just do really think this has a significant impact on how we move forward. How can we move forward on a lose-lose situation,鈥� said Counc. Manno Theos.

The controversial new bylaw has been creating sparks since last year, pitting the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy group against the Comox Valley construction and developers鈥� association.

Finally, a select committee was struck late last year including city councillors, and a representative from each of the concerned groups.

No compromise was found on their concerns.

Counc. Doug Hillian, who chaired the select committee, said 鈥渨e鈥檙e not miracle workers.鈥�

鈥淭he fact we didn鈥檛 reach a consensus is not a great tragedy, but a fact of life,鈥� he said. 鈥淒evelopers will adjust as they do.鈥�

Counc. Bob Wells noted that a lot of time had been put into the bylaw.

鈥淚 truly do empathize that it might put a strain on development鈥�, he said, noting that developers will still have many ways to appeal for relief from some of the provisions, notably those requiring a set number of 鈥渟tems鈥� per hectare.