Coun. Deb Doherty doesn't want council putting the chainsaw before the site plan when it comes to developers asking for permission to chop down trees.
Sunbelt Rental development came before the Development and Operations Services Standing Committee on Monday to request a tree-cutting permit ahead of getting site plan approval for their property at 3 Greco Court and Doherty voiced her concerns.
“We should not be approving speculative removal of trees,” she said.
According to the staff report, the request is being made in advance of site plan approval to avoid any tree removal during bird breeding season (generally from mid-April to mid-August) and thus avoid any delay to the start of the project once approved.
The site plan application was submitted for land in May 2018 and is anticipated to come before council in April or May.
“It’s not customary for us to issue a tree-cutting permit when we don’t have the site plan approval, is that correct?” asked Doherty.
Director of planning Nancy Farrer clarified that if a developer has site plan approval, they don’t require an additional tree-cutting permit, as it would mean they already have all their permissions in place.
“I am a little uncomfortable approving this request. If site plan approval does not go through, then we have clear-cut lands for however long it will take,” said Doherty. “We have numerous examples around the community where we have clear-cut land, quite frankly, prematurely.”
Deputy Mayor Keith Hull asked if tree-cutting had already taken place on the property as he said he noticed on a recent drive that along the back already seemed clear cut.
“Clearing the trees for the road allowance and the turning circle has already been approved... so those trees have already been cleared,” said director of planning Nancy Farrer. “From what I recall, they were cleared so people could see what they were buying.”
“They are leaving all of the boundary trees because they have to be left unless they have the approval of the neighbour, but the rest of the trees are either being cleared or have already been cleared,” she said.
Mayor Brian Saunderson asked Farrer to confirm that the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority had granted their approval for the tree-cutting. She responded that they had.
The committee recommendation to approve the tree-cutting passed with only Coun. Doherty opposed. The recommendation will be forwarded to the next meeting of council on March 25.
