In January 2012 the County bylaw enforcement stepped in stop tree cutting that was undertaken without permission. Butternut is protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) was also involved.”The owner subsequently retained a forestry consultant and a plan to address impacts to the endangered species was prepared and approved by the MNR, and a Special Permit application was submitted to the County to remove certain woodlands on the property,” according to the County report. “Due to potential impacts to water features, an Environmental Impact Study was required by the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA), the completion of which led to further refinements to the original application to ensure adequate protection of stream corridors and steep slopes. The Town of New Tecumseth, County Planning Department, and NVCA have no objection to the application in its current form.”

The Tecumseth Estates property was excluded from the Beeton Secondary Plan (BSP) in 2005, and a subsequent appeal to the OMB was abandoned by the Rizzardo’s in 2007. The long term goal was approximately 900 new homes. Previous to that the site was the preferred supply of the fill required for their subdivision in Alliston.

‘No opportunity to change back what we have done’

Posted February 18, 2015

As a resident of Beeton for the last 30 years I have spent a great amount of time walking through and enjoying the lovely forests that are about to be destroyed.

I am deeply saddened to hear we are replacing fresh air, beautiful trees, flowers and a home to an uncountable amount of creatures for what sounds like more soy beans. Because as everyone in New Tecumseth knows, we need more soy beans.

When do we hear of any good environmental news coming out of this area? Forests are being cleared and replaced by subdivisions with maybe one or two small sterile parks.

Forests don’t give us any money or add to our towns’ economic growth in any way unless they’re processed, but they do provide us with something far more valuable that we all take for granted: clean air, filtered water, a place for pollinators, other creatures and a chance to clear our head.

There is so much research on the benefits of including more nature in our lives.
– Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing) has been studied extensively in Japan and has been shown to greatly reduce levels of cortisol and increase blood flow to the brain similar to someone in a meditative state.
– Evergreen and broad leaf trees secrete phytoncides that have been proven to increase the amount of Natural Killer Cells in our body, cells that are extremely protective against cancer.
– Other compounds released from trees such as alpha, beta and gamma pineen have been shown to improve cellular communication and increase IQ; and
– Look at any of the work done by Diana Beresford-Kroeger.

It’s so upsetting that such poor decisions like this can be made with little or no thought into the consequences involved. Once the decision has been made to destroy a peaceful place such as the one being purposed, there will be no opportunity to change back what we have done, it will be forever lost.

A replanting area is not a replacement. You have just replaced a living breathing complex ecosystem with a tree nursery.

There’s an old Cree saying, “When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.”

Jared Cox,
Beeton

‘First, the gravel stripped and then the houses start’

Posted February 18, 2015

Regarding the special permit granted by Simcoe County to clear 35 acres of woodland on the 9th Line in Beeton, we all know the outcome once the trees are gone.

First, the gravel stripped and then the houses start .We do not need more houses scattered about Beeton in the form of a subdivision. I for one am totally against this.

Richard Coleman,
9th Line, Beeton