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Trees come down in Tottenham
May 24, 2013 · 1 Comments
25 mature trees have been cut down in Tottenham to make room for lane widening on Mill Street East, to accommodate the Ballymore development. The Town of New Tecumseth was compensated $102,594 for the trees in keeping with the Town’s Development Application and Tree Preservation and Compensation By-law 2008–123. A peer-reviewed report on the trees was undertaken by arborists prior to the trees removal. The arborists also set the compensation amount for the trees and the funds, collected from the developer, are being directed to the Tree Reserve Fund. The Town is looking at updating Mill Street from a two lane road to meet provincial standards. This may include adding turning lanes and sidewalks between The Boulevards and the east limit of Tottenham and a rural section to 10th Sideroad. A detailed design is currently being developed, which will include a traffic study. The project, if approved, will be paid for by Development Charges.
Photo by Wendy Soloduik
Readers Comments (1)
I find it quite unacceptable when those in charge wish to preserve or stampout an something that the final outcome comes right down to if you pay, as in this case the Town and the developer can “sin” by cutting down 25 mature trees in Tottenham.
I have not heard as much as a tweet or a twitter out Ms. MacKay of the New Tecumseth fame as a tree hugging and preservationist regarding the many such old [mautre] trees hit the ground as in this particular sad event.
Perhaps the Town, if they really do have a “save the tree” policy may have through the Town planning department assisted to negotiated with the developer, Ballymore Developments to have spent their $102,594.00 to purchase the necessary land from the oposite side of Mill St. East and thereby retained the 25 Matured trees for perhaps another 25 years.
To put this in perspective,I am reminded of a request by a senior club of the Ontario Rugby Union proposing to its AGM that instead of suspending a player for penalties in volving foul play the player or the club would pay a fine of ever increasing proportions to the number of such infractions and the player could effectively stay on the field.
“Tree Preservation and Compensation By-law 2008–123. A peer-reviewed report on the trees was undertaken by arborists prior to the trees removal.”
It would seem our Council in implementing the above might well have been at the same meeting. And, of course the arborist will be at the front of the line when a tender is asked for to provide twenty-five new young trees, their fee and a sale all at the same time. Not a bad deal if you can get it!
Save our tree cover. Think before approving to cut. There is almost always an alternative solution, equally acceptable to all partys.