Holly Demaine.
A Golf Course Road property owner told Huntsville’s Planning Committee on May 4 that residents along what she described as a quiet country road are shocked at the clear cutting that has taken place on that side of the Settler’s Ridge development.
Holly Demaine owns property along the road and told committee she was there on behalf of herself and two other neighbours.
It’s been a lovely buffer of trees that’s been left on the Muskoka Road 3 corridor where all this new subdivision is taking place and yet you come down Golf Course Road, which is a smaller artery, it’s a very narrow little country road that’s been very quiet and now all of a sudden it’s shocking. There isn’t one tree left standing. We’re just astounded that that was even allowed to take place. Golf Course Road Resident Holly Demaine
Wayne Simpson, planner for the subdivision’s developer, HLD Corporation, was before committee seeking approval for a zoning amendment related to the remaining lots of the subdivision on the Golf Course Road side of the development. The amendment, according to a report to committee by Huntsville’s Manager of Planning Kirstin Maxwell, would “reflect the location of the parkland blocks and the redesigned lot layout. Another change is a request to reduce the frontage requirement of seven lots from 17m to 14.8m.”
Demaine questioned how many more houses would be created on that side, given the further narrowing of lots. She also said the entrance to the subdivision off Golf Course Road is of major concern as the headlights of vehicles coming out of the subdivision would shine directly on a house across the subdivision’s entrance way. She said the road will now be extremely congested and said it could’ve been planned better.
“Basically the whole site was cleared for the purposes of grading it to make the grade plan work,” said Simpson.
It looks like a war zone right now but frankly I agree. It’s a marked change from what was there but it’s in the process of being developed. It’ll be reshaped, proper draining swales constructed, the roads constructed, homes and landscaping added, so it will look markedly different hopefully sooner than later. Planner Wayne Simpson of Wayne Simpson and Associates
Simpson said the initial proposal in 2014 called for 82 homes on that end of the property but it’s been reduced to 78 as part of the area will now be dedicated to a storm pond as well as a sewage pump station. He also said the access road comes out between two dwellings across Golf Course Road, rather than in front of one of the homes and there is a requirement for the developer to widen the road another three meters along that side.
Simpson said it is the expectation that most of the traffic in the subdivision will head out through Muskoka Road 3.
Councillor Karin Terziano asked Simpson whether there is a plan to put a buffer in place. He said the developer will be returning to the municipality with a subdivision agreement which is currently in draft form and said there will be an opportunity at that point for the Town to request some tree planting. He also noted that landscaping is definitely planned.
Planning chair Councillor Nancy Alcock said she has also heard complaints from other people about the removal of trees and asked staff to make a note of it.
Committee approved the zoning amendment request, to be forwarded to Council, without further comment.
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Devonleigh & Wayne Simpson + HLD should be allocating so-called “affordable housing” into all present & future developments. This development is adjacent to the so called “Canada Trail”. We look forward to the “rehabilitation” efforts which will offset habitat loss. The per person “footprint” including paved areas is massive for 2016 & promotes heavily, the dominance of the automobile. Carbon Tax initiatives must be examined carefully for such developments going forward. The town of Huntsville must examine its planning, approval boards & decision making process. Is Huntsville character slowly eroding?
I hate to see wild /natural grown bushes and trees replaced with manicured city lots. Golf Course Road WAS a lovely road to run on. LOL!
“there will be an opportunity to ask for some tree planting”. Huh? Are the inmates running the asylum now? The Town can make extensive tree planting a condition of approving the subdivision agreement. With respect, are we so desperate for development that Mr. Simpson can effect such a blasé attitude, and that Mr. Cassie is so eager to be his apologist?
You know, ALL TREES DO DIE ON THEIR OWN in the end.
I can see both views here, but surely the “plan” should have all been done and agreed upon and approved, BEFORE the heavy equipment was sent in should it not?
Oh, of course, silly me, this is municipal planning we are talking about here, sorry for expecting logic!
Take down trees so they can put up fences! Sounds like a city developer.
Devonleigh is in excellent hands with Wayne Simpson and HLD. Granted, nobody likes the removal of trees but storm water management and appropriate infrastructure for the future homes require the removal of existing trees. Indeed, the process creates an ugly landscape but only for a short period of time. Simpson and HLD will have beautiful landscaping, berms, parkland and healthy trees growing in what now looks like a moonscape. Keep in mind that many of the trees removed for the subdivision are scrub trees that will simply die on their own when the required infrastructure is installed. This group will do everything possible to re-habilitate the entire area with beautiful landscaping that will be the envy of other communities. Let’s give these developers the benefit of the doubt: they have an exceptional track record of professional and responsible property development.
This is a sad situation. “the developer will be returning to the municipality” (ie. they are dissociated from it), “there will be an opportunity at that point for the Town to request some tree planting”. Request tree planting? Head shaking here. Why does the town not try to preserve elements that make this place what it is? It is so discouraging.