I PageP 4, Whltby Free Piress, Wednesday, Decemiber6,1995 Tollgher tree preservation inleasures adopte d By 111ik. owalski Whitby's new officiai plan willl prevent a repetftion of the manner in which several trees were recently cut down near the Lynde Creek Marsh. Tougher measures to protect Whitby's greenery from the developer's axe are contained in the Town's new planning 'Bible'1 members of the Save Lynde Marsh (SLM) citizens' group heard Monday. The more stringent regulations will give elected officiais greater control over the fate of woodlots and wilderness areas threatened by development, SLm represntatives were told. For the second Urne in two weeks, SLM members Tom Moore and Barbara North appeared before Town councilsa planning and development commlttee ln connection with the removal of 49 trees from municipal property near the marsh during the Oct. 21-22 weekend. The majority of the felled trees were on the Jeffrey Street road allowance as preliminary work got under way on the site of the Rose Corporation's ,545-unit' Lynde Shores housing development east of the environmentally sensitive wetlands. At the prevous meeting, councillors Joe Drumni and Don Mitchell stormed out of the council chambers in disgust over commenta Moore made about the Town's handling of the controversial issue.' Councillor Marcel Brunelle, the committee chair, was left without a quorum and as a resuit the planning departmeni9s repor-t on matters raised by SLM could not be discussed. On Monday, Moore agnain ommended planning director Bob Sh ort for the "thoroughness" of the report and suggested that SIM meet with.Town staff and council te, prevent future probleme. "We'd like te croate a botter relationship between Save Lynde Marsh and the Town," said Moore. "Ihere are stilli a number of issues we'recoencerned about and I thlnk this might resolve a lot of problems and avoid us colng te committee and council." Moore said SLM appreciates that a monitoring conimittee - comprised of citizen and government represontatives - is responsible for overseeing the development's impact on the marsh, but the group feels it'to can make a positive contribution. Referring specifically te 'the tree-cutting, Moore said SLM and council were caught "off guard" by the developer's decision te start work lImmediately upon receivlng approval from staff. 'Mue public is not made aware of what happens, prior te It taklng place," he sald. "We feel that if this had been done, it wouldbe better understood and accepted by the people of thls town." ,Moore and North were aiso upset that until the new officiai plan was drafted, Whitby; did not have a specific policy wit respect te tree preservation. (A document which serves a bluePrint to guide future growth in a municipality, Whitby's new official plan was adopted by council last year. It comes before Durham -Region council today for final approva.> As Short admitted, Whitby does flot currently have "base ternis of reference" for* a municipal tree preservation plan. He said staff makes its decisions in consultation with arboriets and that it can vary from development te developrnent. "We've deaIt with tree preservation plans on well over 20-to-25 subdivisions," said Short. "We look1 at a number of issue...size, type, where trees can and cannot be preered" After Moore said a' botter attempt should have been made to' save the Jeffrey Street trees, Mitchell becanie angry. "Are You suggesting that we replace qualified arborists and staff with this committee and you? Mtchell asked. "Would you like te bo a watéchdog on our staffT' Moore replied that council has that roi. and mentioned that the Rose Corp.'s contracter informed him üthawork was baited, for three, days on a similar project in Oakviile after that city's council had concerne about tree lose. "Is it enough in having an arboriet do it? Council should know ahead of Urne," said Moore. Although it was'too, late te affect the Rose project, Brunelle said the new officiai plan bas "more teeth in it." An acceptable tree preservation plan will be -a, mandatory requirement before new subdivisions are approved, he said. Despite this particular incident, Mayor Tom Edwards said Whitby's track record on preserving trees is a good one. Mfter promising the delegation that other issues raised during the. meeting will be answered in writing, committee reeommended that the staff report b. accepted. "I think it's obvious that couneil still doesn't want te know what's going on and for what reason I don't know,' Moore teld The Free Press later. "What's the point in askçing council anything when they won't deal with it? They didn't really want te hear us." Brunelie, however, claimed, that STURJIMO AGE 71???w For quotations on RRIF'S, ANNUITIES, GIC & RRSP C ail Scanga & Associates 728-6956 THE#io CHIP PIE- Fihad . pTaeu OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Food City Plaza, Ajax 683-1644- OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 465 BAYLY ST. W., AJAX (CORNER WESTNEY RD.) Breakfast 3 eggs, toast, homnefrie *S, ham Incudes: baconor sausage and coff ee BREAKFAST BREAKFAST BREAKFAST FRE N.1NO.2 NO.3 U 1'1I l'a C OOKIN ol. A PARTY AT CASEY'S GRILLHOUSE REALLY GETS YOU IN THE SPIRIT. ENJOY STEAKS AND SEAFOOD HOT OFF THE GRILL. PLUS PASTA AND TENDER ROTISSERIE CHICKEN, SALADS, DESSERTS AND MORE. 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