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Jarrek
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Manse Valley trees on chopping block Friday
Tree-cutting permits issued to make room for affordable housing
LISA QUEEN
Mar. 22, 2007
An environmentally sensitive Scarborough woodland goes on the chopping block as of today after the city's forestry division disregarded the protests of 1,200 residents.
"Damn," said Don York, chairperson of the Manse Valley Community Association, when told the city's forestry division will issue a permit Friday, March 23, allowing the developers of a controversial affordable housing project on the Manse Valley lands to cut down the trees.
"This is bad news. I don't know how they can ignore 1,200 neighbours. So much for (Mayor David) Miller's talk about listening to residents. So much for Miller's talk on the environment. So much for Miller's talk about neighbourhoods."
According to Ward 44 Councillor Ron Moeser (Scarborough East), who called forestry manager Donna Cormier yesterday, the forestry division is issuing the permit because council approved the development last year.
However, residents had been hoping to save the woodlot because 32 trees in it are protected under the city's tree bylaw. For the development to proceed, the land must be clear-cut of all the trees, including the 32 protected ones.
This month, about 1,200 residents flooded the forestry division demanding the woodland be saved.
"We will fight it until the last breath is drawn, I tell you," said resident Bruce Smith, adding the woodland is home to many species of wildlife.
But after news the permit to chop down the trees will be issued, York isn't sure what action residents can take now.
"I'm just livid over that. I can't believe they would do that," he said. "No discussion, no nothing. That is so wrong. I don't know what we can do."
The city is determined to build the development on that site over the protests of residents despite offers from two other councillors to build the project in their wards, York said.
Moeser also wanted to save the woodlot.
"I do want to see the trees retained. I know how hard the community worked," he said. "Certainly, the way they (the forestry division) pose this is 'We want your input'. They got input and it was substantial and it just gets ignored. I don't think that's the way it should be."
But despite the tree bylaw, Moeser said it appears the writing was on the wall after city council approved the development last April. He was not on last term's council.
The city has approved 60 affordable homes to be built on the land at Manse Road and Lawrence. The development is driven by Women's Religious Projects (WRP) Neighbourhood Housing and Habitat for Humanity.
Moeser pointed out council approved the project despite knowing about the protected trees on the property. He said the city may have left itself open to a lawsuit if it withdrew approval for the development.
A spokesperson for WRP could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, the voicemail of Cormier was too full this week to accept new messages. Another spokesperson from forestry could not be reached for comment.
The fate of the woodland is the latest round in a bitter fight over the development.
First conceived in 1999, Smith said residents were kept in the dark about the project until 2004. He had been hoping the battle over the trees would block the development.
"We're feeling upset they would have the nerve to consider removing that forest out of there," he said, dismissing suggestions the residents are using the environment as a ruse to block affordable housing in the area.
"We (already) have all kinds of affordable housing and there hasn't been one complaint of those things going in. I came from poverty. I can talk about it, it's not a good place to be. This situation has nothing to do with affordable housing and everything to do with the environment."
York said he believes the city sees Scarborough as an easy dumping ground for affordable housing projects even though the community has welcomed an abundance of such developments already.
Moeser agreed. "You look at that community, it's done its fair share for affordable housing."
Tree-cutting permits issued to make room for affordable housing
LISA QUEEN
Mar. 22, 2007
An environmentally sensitive Scarborough woodland goes on the chopping block as of today after the city's forestry division disregarded the protests of 1,200 residents.
"Damn," said Don York, chairperson of the Manse Valley Community Association, when told the city's forestry division will issue a permit Friday, March 23, allowing the developers of a controversial affordable housing project on the Manse Valley lands to cut down the trees.
"This is bad news. I don't know how they can ignore 1,200 neighbours. So much for (Mayor David) Miller's talk about listening to residents. So much for Miller's talk on the environment. So much for Miller's talk about neighbourhoods."
According to Ward 44 Councillor Ron Moeser (Scarborough East), who called forestry manager Donna Cormier yesterday, the forestry division is issuing the permit because council approved the development last year.
However, residents had been hoping to save the woodlot because 32 trees in it are protected under the city's tree bylaw. For the development to proceed, the land must be clear-cut of all the trees, including the 32 protected ones.
This month, about 1,200 residents flooded the forestry division demanding the woodland be saved.
"We will fight it until the last breath is drawn, I tell you," said resident Bruce Smith, adding the woodland is home to many species of wildlife.
But after news the permit to chop down the trees will be issued, York isn't sure what action residents can take now.
"I'm just livid over that. I can't believe they would do that," he said. "No discussion, no nothing. That is so wrong. I don't know what we can do."
The city is determined to build the development on that site over the protests of residents despite offers from two other councillors to build the project in their wards, York said.
Moeser also wanted to save the woodlot.
"I do want to see the trees retained. I know how hard the community worked," he said. "Certainly, the way they (the forestry division) pose this is 'We want your input'. They got input and it was substantial and it just gets ignored. I don't think that's the way it should be."
But despite the tree bylaw, Moeser said it appears the writing was on the wall after city council approved the development last April. He was not on last term's council.
The city has approved 60 affordable homes to be built on the land at Manse Road and Lawrence. The development is driven by Women's Religious Projects (WRP) Neighbourhood Housing and Habitat for Humanity.
Moeser pointed out council approved the project despite knowing about the protected trees on the property. He said the city may have left itself open to a lawsuit if it withdrew approval for the development.
A spokesperson for WRP could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, the voicemail of Cormier was too full this week to accept new messages. Another spokesperson from forestry could not be reached for comment.
The fate of the woodland is the latest round in a bitter fight over the development.
First conceived in 1999, Smith said residents were kept in the dark about the project until 2004. He had been hoping the battle over the trees would block the development.
"We're feeling upset they would have the nerve to consider removing that forest out of there," he said, dismissing suggestions the residents are using the environment as a ruse to block affordable housing in the area.
"We (already) have all kinds of affordable housing and there hasn't been one complaint of those things going in. I came from poverty. I can talk about it, it's not a good place to be. This situation has nothing to do with affordable housing and everything to do with the environment."
York said he believes the city sees Scarborough as an easy dumping ground for affordable housing projects even though the community has welcomed an abundance of such developments already.
Moeser agreed. "You look at that community, it's done its fair share for affordable housing."