Saving Trees
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Submitted by David R Gildea on Tue, 31/07/2007 - 6:10am.
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Posts: 61
Joined: 11-05-2006 |
I am appealing for support on an issue that I feel very strongly about, it is ironic that I supported the new proposed developement at the old Ridgemont school site and many hikers and bikers have gone past and still go past my home on the corner of the cementary road, 33 years ago, my wife and I bought our land and discovered there was a partial lot on the city maps and that the city had put the road over part of it,we could not afford to buy the property and indeed I do not beleive it was for sale,so we asked the council of the day if we graded , cleaned up and planted grass and trees on that property and maintained it, would it be ok ? , they said yes and even supplied top soil to help out and for 33 years I have watched those trees grow to be fine, healthy mature trees. Now, we were advised yesterday by the developers consultant, that probably two of the trees will have to be cut down to accomodate a road widening, apparently dictated by the City, we cannot understand why the road at that point cannot be widened, if it has to be? on the other side, there is lots of room, whilst I realize that we do not legally own the property and as such cannot really force anything upon the developer or the City, surely common sense could prevail and these beautiful trees can be saved, God know, we lose so many trees and land to developement, concrete and blacktop these days, I ask the question, does the city or the developer really need that extra 2 feet that the trees in question occupy.We have asked Councillor Burke for assistance on this matter and he has agreed to bring the subject up at a meeting this morning at City Hall.
David R Gildea |
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Joined: 04-06-2006
Save the Trees! That road is plenty wide up there.
Dave, you should chain yourself to the trees if they try to cut them down! You've got my support.
Joined: 11-05-2006
Thanks Ryland, I will chain myself to the trees if I have to, for the sake of a few lousy feet, and I am talking about 2 feet, thats all that would have to change to save 33 year trees in perfect health.
David R Gildea
Joined: 10-06-2007
keep us posted and i,ll join you , i,ve always wanted to do that
cheers
Joined: 06-07-2006
would you be able to post a map so you can show exactly what is being proposed? I'm not familiar with the area you are talking about. Am definately in favour of saving trees! Don't see why the developers need to cut them down, what reason are they using for putting the road where the trees are instead of 2 feet to the other side, where you say the extra road width could go?
Joined: 11-05-2006
I am afraid that I am not that computer competent but I did pick up all the relavent maps from city hall and apparently the road alignement changed in 1994, it appears withour any public input or notification to the residents.When I bought my property it was legally a lot #131 next to me, if anything I would have at that time expected another house not a super highway.
Not sure why they want to widen the road at that point, measuring off from property pegs using the citys sizes the road could be installed a few feet over without any real problem, truthfully, I have not had any real answers over this so far, from either the city or the developer, I have emailed the developer twice now and received no response, maybe he is away, maybe he is waiting for the city, who knows? it would just be nice if they could bend the rules and the road a little bit to save the trees.
Just one more point, that also instead of making that road a super highway it would be nice to see them do something like on 5th ave, where they went around the trees and also maybe something like what is done in Australia and Europe, were they narrow the road down for a small section, which acts as a speed deterrent, this could be done right at the trees in question and be a win, win situation for all concerned.
David R Gildea
Joined: 09-08-2007
Lately Fernie has been bragging that it is going green. hmmm. I ride by your place frequently and have noticed the signs on the trees. Is there a petition that concerned citizens could sign?
Joined: 13-08-2007
Please phone City Hall and lodge a complaint!
Joined: 11-05-2006
I have just received a mail out advising me that the City is having an "Informal" Hearing during the council meeting on Oct 22nd to discuss a proposal to decrease the road width of St Margerets road from 11 metres to 8.5 metres, I hope that this means that our trees will be saved by some good old common sense, I want to thank everyone who supported me on this issue, we would not of even come this far without public pressure, I can only hope that it all works out though I also hope that some form of speed reuction/speed bumps are also discussed, if not, sooner or later there will be a nasty accident on this road between speeding vechicles and mountain bikes.
David R Gildea
Joined: 11-05-2006
Just a short note to thank everybody who stopped to ask, phoned and even wrote to City hall to show support for our effort to save our trees, I have now been informed by city council that indeed the trees will be saved, thankyou all once again.
David and Dorothy Gildea.
David R Gildea