Not out of the woods yet

Mon, October 23, 2006

Woodlot battle: Neighbours, groups hope the city can save this urban forest area

By JOE BELANGER, FREE PRESS CITY HALL REPORTER

City officials are negotiating with a London developer to save a major woodlot in the city's north end from being razed and replaced with a driving range. Citizen groups and residents across the city hope Southside Group will agree to a land swap with the city to save the forest west of Adelaide Street and north of Windermere Road. "This is a very significant woodlot," said Ward 2 Coun. Joni Baechler. "Especially given the fact we've lost so much forest cover over the last decade." Southside recently reached a deal to buy the land, but that transaction doesn't close until Dec. 1.

Jeff Fielding, the city's chief administrator, will update council on the issue at its meeting tonight. A meeting with local residents is set for Nov. 1. Baechler said she became aware of the issue when Southside submitted a site-plan application. Meanwhile, residents became concerned when surveyors began staking the property. "Certainly our neighbourhood is concerned, but it's spread across the city," said Ann Hutchison, whose property backs onto the woodlot and who raised the alarm. "Anyone who is interested in preserving our green spaces has jumped on board." Hutchison said she's hopeful the issue will be resolved by negotiations instead of a battling at council or through legal channels. "Our hope has always been that some solution will be reached that will make everybody happy, but whether that's achievable, we'll see," she said. Most of the land is on the Stoney Creek flood plain, which would be suitable for a driving range. The land would have to be rezoned. Southside also wants to use part of the land above the flood plain for a future long-term care facility. The city owns a large tract of undeveloped land, mostly flood plain with no woodlot, across the street. Fielding said on the weekend that Southside owner Vito Frijia has agreed to try to negotiate a solution and is "amenable" to a swap. Frijia couldn't be reached. "(The developer) has said they'd explore a land swap with us," Fielding said. "But it's going to take a little time to work through the details."

If a land swap is made, Fielding said Southside still plans to build a driving range. Fielding said concern about the woodlot is so widespread, he opted to provide council with a verbal update. Baechler said Southside also could be offered incentives, such as bonus zoning on another property. Or the city could buy the land. Baechler said she's optimistic a deal can be reached. "We feel we're on our way to saving this woodland," she said. "And we're pleased (Frijia) is willing to look at options that will allow him to accomplish his goal in addition to the broader goal of ecological protection." Controller Gord Hume and other council members have been inundated with calls. "We've been quietly trying to resolve this before it becomes a major issue and I think there's an opportunity to do that," Hume said.