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Trouble for the trees

June 1, 2013   ·   0 Comments

Dear editor:

I cannot abide by such by-laws that are in effect written to protect some, trees in this particular case and where there is an escape way out of the intent and the purpose of, as in our Town’s case the Tree Preservation [Compensation] by-law 2008–123.

In effect, to hell with the trees, he, they or we can proceed to cut them down and pay for our sin later in cash.

It would be abundantly clear to those who are familiar with Tottenham and the new housing development being under taken on Mill St. East. What did or may have happened is that in the growing stages of the quaint little Town of Tottenham the headman in charge of planning of Tottenham mentioned, “We have plans to widen our Mill Street E.”

To the best of my knowledge it was not common knowledge of a good many people of Town or perhaps they had not given it a thought as to where the extra land needed for this massive road upgrade was going to come from, either from the North or from the South side of Mill St. East

However, in due course along come a very noble gentleman and his good friends known as “ developers” and they purchase the property on the North side of the Mill St. East.

Now my quandary is did our Planner of Tottenham ask the Developer if he would like to topple down some 25 real big trees from his development or did the Developer ask the Town’s Planner if they could chop down the said trees.

What seems to have confused the Tottenham Planner in his thinking is the conundrum, should I widen my street from the South side or the North side?

Not should I save or not the existing 25 mature trees providing a much-appreciated canopy

Now enters the issues of Tree Preservation Compensation By-law 2008–123 that was written to offer guidance and direction in such matters as the developer’s 25 mature trees along the south side of his property line, of course on the said development project to widen Mill St. East.

Now, going back I have asked myself once again, who wanted them down and who wanted the new Mill St., East widened on its North side.

The people of Tottenham may well have said through their Council’s actions of passing By-law 2008–123 that their intent is to save the trees.

But, has the developer said no to the planning department or did they tell the planners of Tottenham, that they wanted to cut down the trees and that the planners said “go ahead” and at the same time pay the Town of Tottenham $102,594.00 for the privilege.

My major concern with this situation is threefold. One was it the Town’s original intention to widen the Mill St., E. from the North property line that would have resulted in the taking down of the trees by the Town

Or, can we make an unsubstantiated guess that the developer did initiate the cutting down of the trees. And, where would the people of our Town feel where our Planning department’s primary responsibilities lie. With the very essence of the Tree Preservation [Compensation] By-law 2008 – 123 that I have to assume is for the preservation of the Town’s tree canopy is of prime importance.

Therefore, the destruction of this feature of small rural towns in Ontario should only be sanctioned as a last and desperate position, if no reasonable alternative solution such as saving the trees and moving the proposed widening of the said Mill St. E., to the South side of the street.

It is somewhat ironic that one developer has named his proposed subdivision “Talltrees” where no such feature of mature trees exists. In this case of a different development they have decided and implemented a decision by whomever and saw fit to destroy at least 25 years of growth that might well have gone on to provide Tottenham and the Ballymore Development with a magnificent tree canopy overlooking its face on to Mill St. East for a further 25 years.

Gordon McInnes

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