The Mountain View County Municipal Planning Commission has approved a development permit application for tree clearing on a property in Division 2.
The move came during the commission’s recent meeting in council chambers.
The property involved is in the Fallen Timber neighbourhood approximately half a kilometre south of Twp. Rd. 304 on the east side of Rge. Rd. 55 at NW 20-30-5-5. The parcel is zoned agriculture and has an environmentally significant area level 2.
“The applicant is requesting approval for tree clearing on approximately 60 acres within their 79.15 acre parcel zoned agricultural district for enhancement of pasture land,” administration said in a briefing note to the commission.
“The proposed tree clearing area is part of a continuous stand of trees that are part of the Fallen Timber Creek environmentally significant area.”
The applicant has stated that only mature conifers will be harvested leaving other trees and shrubs intact to continue the survival of the existing ecosystem, members heard.
The marketable timber will be sold to a third party, the applicant said in a letter received by the commission.
“All other trees and shrubs, except those impacting fencing maintenance, will be left intact to enable continued survival of the existing ecosystem. The enhancement of pasture will include overseeding the area with native grass seed mix best suited to this area.”
One letter of objection was received from a nearby neighbour.
“I have to protest that new neighbours are coming in to the block and are saying that they have a professional forester who hasn’t scaled the trees or providing any sort of woodlot plan,” the writer stated.
“Does the neighbour not realize that if they cut down the mature conifers, the deciduous trees will fall on the pasture and the fence and that the cattle will harvest the existing shrubs and native plants ‘ecosystem’, and that the ecosystem will be out-competed by grasses?”
In a letter responding to the letter of objection, the applicant said, in part, that, “By selectively harvesting only the mature conifers we will be leaving most of the existing ecosystem intact. It can be scientifically argued that selective harvesting of mature trees is the best way to ensure the healthy continuance of an existing ecosystem.”
With the selective logging proposed, the parcel would retain its environmentally significant area designation, director of planning Margaretha Bloem told the commission.
Administration said it could support the proposal as it is “considered suitable for tree clearing for agricultural space gain.”
The approval came with a number of conditions, including that, “Timber, brush, stumps, logs or roots shall not be piled or buried outside of the area that is permitted for tree clearing.”
Clearing proposal defeated
Meanwhile, the commission defeated a separate development permit application for a tree clearing project in the Fallen Timber neighbourhood.
The move also came during the commission’s June 7 meeting.
The property involved is located approximately half a kilometre north of Twp. Rd. 305 on the west side of Rge. Rd. 53 at NE 28-30-5-5. The parcel is zoned agricultural and is designated environmentally significant area level 2.
“The applicant is requesting approval for tree clearing of approximately 117 acres within their 158.97 acre parcel zoned agricultural district for the sale of marketable timber,” administration said in a briefing note to the committee.
“The proposed tree clearing area is part of a continuous stand of trees that is a part of the Fallen Timber Creek environmentally sensitive area. The remaining area on the subject parcel is not treed however it supports pasture and/or bush.”
A letter submitted by the applicant describes the end land use to be improved pasture and in addition it will provide a reduced wildfire risk, members heard.
“The applicant anticipates a yield of approximately 90m3/acre and has stated that trash and stumps will be piled and burned onsite however some stumps will remain in certain areas.
“The applicant has stated that the understory (smaller growth) will be protected where practical. The proposed tree clearing areas are adjacent to lands currently used for similar agricultural purposes (pasture/hay land).”
Commission member Duncan Milne said he could not support the application because it did not involve selective logging.
Commission member Angela Aalbers said she believed the proposed tree clearing was not compatible with the environmentally significant area 2 designation.
Members defeated the development permit application motion by a 5-2 margin.
