Council members approved removal of protected trees from Forbes Road property, raising questions about future development plans and environmental impact
SPRINGWATER — Simcoe County council has approved an exemption request that will allow the removal of woodland in Springwater Township currently protected under forest conservation.
The nearly 16-hectare (40-acre) property, located in Midhurst at 1895 Forbes Rd., is described as “mixed woodland,” with the remainder primarily used for agriculture.
The application was made to remove the remaining woodlands in order to expand productive acreage and allow for more efficient agricultural use of the property, according to a report presented to county council on Tuesday.
While staff recommended approving the request, they also proposed several conditions to ensure identified endangered species and a specific habitat feature are properly addressed.
The property is currently designated as “agricultural” — including the proposed woodland clearing area — and the area slated for clearing does not fall within a regulated zone mapped by the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA).
“As it relates to natural heritage features, there are two small areas of provincially mapped unevaluated wetlands located within the area proposed for tree removal,” stated the report.
County planning staff initially suggested a supporting environmental impact study (EIS) be considered to determine the impacts to any wetland features and their functions because of the proposed clearing, as well as considering whether the tree clearing should be directed away from these features to minimize any impact.
After a site inspection by county forestry staff, it was determined the woodland consists primarily of mature native hardwood trees, with a minor component of conifer species.
“The areas mapped as unevaluated wetland within the woodland were inspected, and it was confirmed that these areas were incorrectly mapped as they did not exhibit wetland conditions,” the report stated.
Forestry staff also reviewed the NVCA’s wetland mapping, which does not indicate any wetlands within the area proposed for clearing.
While staff did identify an endangered species and a wildlife habitat feature within the proposed clearing area during the site inspection — which is protected under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act — the legislation and its regulations do allow the removal of the species though an authorization or conditional exemption with specific conditions from the provincial Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP).
As a result, forestry officials consulted with staff from the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), who advised that no authorization is required under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act if clearing occurred when the habitat feature is not in use, or if an adequate buffer was retained around the feature.
Although staff did not recommend an EIS be completed, they did note that approving the request for an exemption will result in a significant loss of woodland cover.
According to the staff report, the township has already reviewed the proposed woodland clearing and has no concerns with the request.
Severn Deputy Mayor Judith Cox questioned how the land will be used and if the exemption was for expanding the property for agricultural purposes.
“I read an email from someone … stating it’s part of a future development and then when I was reading further on in the agenda … regarding implications of future boundary expansion, that (this) was also an area,” she said. “So is this going to be agricultural or is this going to be for future development?”
Rob Elliott, the county’s general manager of engineering, planning and environment, responded by reiterating that “at this point, the lands remain agricultural.”
“Any speculation or postulation for future use is for further consideration down the road,” he added.