Carson Reids Clear Cut

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We now know that Carson Reid developments clear-cut approximately 65 acres of Paris-Galt moraine land, land that was identified as a core natural feature in the Hanlon Creek Subwatershed study and was in the draft City of Guelph Natural Heritage Strategy for protection as environmentally significant.
Shame on them.My business has me traveling to neighborhoods all around Guelph, many of those developed by Reids. 3 of the sites where Reid’s is currently building (Victoria and Woodlawn, Westminster Woods, and Heritage Estates), are only partially completed with hundreds of houses yet to be sold, and the areas to be built up have been clear cut months or years in advance of when they are developed. We see vast areas of dusty brown dirt covered with garbage from ongoing builds including insulation and sharp metal beams left lying around. This filth and garbage blows into natural areas and around family oriented neighborhoods covering lawns and cars, and then hilariously they tout the natural wonders of the site and its family friendly-ness in their advertising.

Seeing how Reid’s developments are planned and executed, I was sadly not surprised to hear what they have done, but I certainly am outraged.

The clear cutting of the Carson Reid property is in violation of City of Guelph bylaw (1986)-12229. As I understand it, any property over an acre in size must have written approval from the City to remove trees, and each tree over 4.5 m in height is a separate violation of the by-law
with a maximum fine of $2000 per tree.

I call on council to immediately and indefinitely stop any development work at this site and see to it that the maximum fine amount be levied
against Carson Reid. This is a large company and anything less than the most will be a laughable and worthwhile punishment. I suspect that this area was cut to expand Reids enclave of massive luxury homes, with price tags over $1 000 000. With this kind of resale value even $2000 a tree doesn’t seem to be enough to dissuade this company from ignoring our ordinances. If Reids continues to disregard local by-laws, they should have building permits suspended until they show respect to the city of Guelph, our citizens, and especially our natural spaces.AB

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