Tree cutting denied, water course re-location approved
by Michelle Minnoch

Solicitor Marvin Geist made a delegation to council Wednesday night regarding a Tree Cutting Request for the Alcona Downs development Phases II and III.

The development is located where the former golf course was on Innisfil Beach Road.

Geist said they need a place to re-locate the top soil; the earth from Phase II and III would be moved to Phase I, and that is why he said he needs the tree cutting permit "immediately".

"The Alcona Downs draft plan was approved for 178 lots for Phase I," Geist said. "Phase I is really the back nine of the (former) golf course."

He said the tree cutting plan was approved in March, and the County of Simcoe approved a tree cutting permit in April.

He stated Phase II includes 103 homes, and the Town has been required by the county to hold a public meeting regarding Phases II and III.

"I was told the public meeting would not be held until September."

Geist said the Alcona Downs plan does not affect the owners in the Wallace Mills sub division at all.

He asked why there would have to be a public meeting with regards to the draft plan if the tree's were being cut.

"The Planning Act does not require a draft plan prior to cutting trees," he said.

Councilor Pring said he would like to see a friendly amendment to let Phase II go ahead, as it would help to get Webster Boulevard completed at an earlier date.

"I'm afraid of going down this path," said Councilor Dollin, "having trees cut down before a public meeting."

She said it made good political sense for them to wait and see what the people in the community say.

Councilor Van Berkel also said it was "a slippery slope".

"Everyone else has a public meeting," he said.

Mayor Brian Jackson said there would be no question, it would be precedent setting.

He said he emailed other municipalities in the county regarding the issue, and that other municipalities do not approve a tree clearing before draft plan approvals.

CAO Larry Allison said the County requested the town have a public meeting regarding the issue.

In Committee of the Whole and the committee did not support the issuance of a Tree Cutting Permit due to the fact a Public Meeting was not held under the Planning Act, and the Town has not yet approved a Tree Preservation Plan for Phases II and III.

On Friday, Geist made a deputation to the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority regarding the re-location of a watercourse on the Alcona Downs property.

Director of Watershed Management Mike Walters said the proposal met the Conservation Authority's standards.

"I'm happy to say it does meet out criteria," he said. "We had five conditions that the proponent agreed to."

Geist outlined how the relocation will improve the watercourse;

-a new naturally vegetated channel with associated fish habitat structure is proposed to be constructed through and Open Space block, and will continue to convey seasonal flow to downstream reaches

- a planting plan will substantially improve riparian conditions and serve to contribute more organic matter to downstream reaches

-the new channel will continue the conveyance function and is likely to be more productive in terms of organic matter contributions downstream fish habitat areas than the present system

He said given the historic conditions and management techniques associated with the existing system under the previous golf course system, future conditions of the system will be improved.

While there is a pond on the property, it was a dug pond used as part of the golf course and Geist said it was not part of the watercourse.

Walters said he did a site visit and the pond in question was so full of weeds, you could almost walk on it.