Regular users of a trail along the Mamquam River dyke in the North Yards were dismayed to find in early March that an area thick with trees is now barren.
According to 樱桃视频Environmental Conservation Society member Meg Fellowes, the tree clearing on the private lot, related to the new Edgewater townhouse development on Edgewater Crescent, has pressed the need for a municipal greenway strategy.
"The owners have got the right on the property to do a whole bunch of things. It's just that I think that we're really behind the times in terms of trying to guard buffers that we've got so that council actually has the tools to make some more enlightened decisions around what we can do with some of those important properties," said Fellowes.
The District of 樱桃视频reviewed plans and issued permits prior to construction, but the woodlot, which is on the other side of the rail tracks from the development, was not included in the footprint of development plans.
"It wasn't part of the development permit, so we didn't have any discussion on that piece of land. Clearly the communication from the developer to the district wasn't clear," said acting mayor Sonja Lebans, adding that an environmental bylaw anticipated before council in May will address these very issues.
"It points to the need for an environmental bylaw which will in the future create the opportunity to discuss tree clearing and how we should do it in ways that will make it environmentally healthy and will make it positive for all."
Council has been reviewing the bylaw in pieces to more effectively implement strategies to address tree clearing, streams, greenways and trails.
"That way there's always conversation and discussion with developers regarding how they are going to treat surrounding areas," said Lebans.
Property owner Bob Fast declined to comment on the removal of the woodlot.
Residents' complaints come at the same time as Edgewater's developers announced that B.C. Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (BCRMCA) chose the condos to be their 2005 "Home with a Difference". BCRMCA said the development is appealing to the "educated home buyer looking for environmental improvements" due to the use of insulating concrete forms.
Edgewater Projects will unveil their insulating concrete form homes Thursday (April 7) at 11:30 a.m. The homes will be open to the public starting Saturday, April 9 for the next four weekends.
