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10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday December 2, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com One scarf can warm a whole community. Make a donation, receive an authentic ROOTS® scarf and help us keep our neighbours warm this winter. When you make a donation and receive an authentic ROOTS® scarf at any FirstOntario Credit Union branch, you'll not only have a great gift to warm loved ones this season, you'll be warming a whole community. All proceeds go to charities that help people in our community, including: Simcoe Caring Cupboard, Cayuga Branch Community Outreach Initiative, Oakville FareShare Food Bank, Burlington West Family Suppor t Network Food Bank, Tillsonburg Helping Hand Food Bank, Welland Hope Centre, Thorold Community Cares Food Bank, and Out Of The Cold Programs in Hamilton, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER NO SAFE HAVEN: A squirrel scampers up a tree while a tractor cuts down trees in the woodlot. Ward 4 councillors critical of reports Continued from page 4 This space generously donated by A community project supported by Your logo here pensate them for their overdedications. Following finalization of the Palermo West Secondary Plan, which was done at the OMB, the Town re-initiated the Secondary Plan for the Palermo Village. This included the Grand Oak Woodlot. The Secondary Plan was subject to time constraints given the OMB order related to the Palermo West Secondary Plan approval. Further study of the woodlot was not undertaken during this process, but rather the Secondary Plan policies identified the subject woodlot as a Natural Area Requiring Further Study. It was anticipated the subdivision planning process would provide opportunity for a further evaluation of the woodlot. Crystal Homes later submitted a subdivision application for a townhouse proposal on lands, which included the woodlot. Town Council considered a staff report in April 2004, which recommended that the approval of the proposal was premature until the study of the woodlot and the location of the proposed road was done. At the same time, Town Council considered a motion to require that the developer retain the entire woodlot. That motion was from Elgar and Sandelowsky and it lost. A study submitted by the applicant and reviewed by Town staff, concluded the woodlot did not meet any criteria set out in the Secondary Plan. Through review of the subdivision plan after the Council decision, the developer agreed to protect approximately 25 per cent of the woodlot, while the rest would be removed for townhouses. "The Conservation Authority, upon noting the planning and financial limitation on the Town, did not object to the proposal with the preservation of 25 per cent of the woodlot," said Courtemanche. Numerous subdivision conditions included a Town review to ensure grading, tree preservation plans and setbacks would allow the remaining woodlot to survive. "Town Council supported this approach through an approved Minutes of Settlement which was subsequently approved by the Ontario Municipal Board," said Courtemanche. According to Elgar and FoxDellaVedova, the subwatershed study was done by Philips Engineering and paid for by the developer. The Town staff and Conservation Halton staff were not in charge of the study, but instead were commenting parties, they said, noting in the plan the Grand Oak Woodlot was sized at 3.3 ha. In the Town Official Plan the Palermo Village Centre Community Land Use Plan showed Grand Oak Trail curving to the east of the woodlot and referred to the woodlot as a Natural Area Requiring Further Study. In August 2003 the developer hired Bird and Hale Ltd. to conduct an environmental evaluation of the woodlot. Elgar noted that its map put the woodlot at 1.8 ha. With the road going straight through, the woodlot's size would decrease by another .36 ha. In 2004 Council had to decide on the extension and location of Grand Oak Trail. Elgar and Sandelowsky motioned to follow the curving road, but lost. Elgar noted the result was the extension of Grand Oak Trail straight through the forest and the clear cutting of the woods for the townhouses. Some residents appealed the OMB decision, but lost since the Town and developers were agreeing the woodlot wasn't an issue, noted Elgar. At that time, Hamilton resident Paul O'Hara, ecologist, owner of Blue Oak Native Landscapes and Oakvillegreen supporter, said the woodlot contained several trees he estimated at more than 100 years old including bur oaks, a red ash, beech and a sugar maple. O'Hara, who said the bur oak now to be saved is only a quarter into its possible lifespan, stated, "The suggestion that this forest be destroyed indicates to me that there is lack of full awareness of the ecological processes taking place. I believe that any opinion stating that this forest has little to no ecological function is not only a slap in the face to Mother Nature and the public good, it is also appallingly irresponsible." Last May, homeowners in the new housing development that abuts Grand Oak Woods, including Fox-DellaVedova, asked about trees that had been tagged thinking they were protected, but found they were to be taken down. "After much investigation we learned of past proceedings and that of the two ha woodlot, less than 0.4 was to be preserved. Concerned residents rallied together and contacted Ward 4 Councillors Allan Elgar and Renee Sandelowsky, Mayor elect Rob Burton and ecologist Paul O'Hara to determine options. With Town Staff, we appealed to further protect a buffer zone, save selective trees as well as transplant. "To no avail, Crystal commenced its clear cutting Nov. 20," said Fox-DellaVedova . "The sight of rabbits being cornered by tractors, and squirrels clinging to the very tallest of branches as trees were cut and toppled, was absolutely cruel and hideous. With the dreadful buzzing of chainsaws and mulchers, Grand Oak Woods, a natural, significant, vital and beautiful forest was decimated. What took hundreds of years to grow, took only hours to destroy," she said.