Readers say trees should not be destroyed to pave way for development

To the Editor:
RE: “Downtown landowner upset neighbouring developer plans to destroy 100-year-old trees”

Developers do not care about trees, no matter how old they are. Trees have no value in their eyes; in fact, trees are a cost to them. The only thing they see are dollar signs.

There is an alternative, but this developer won’t accept the changes, even though it is doubtful it will cost him more money.

Replacing these trees with six small trees is a joke. Sad to see what development has done to our beautiful forests.

Barb Bennett
Paisley
 

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To the Editor:

I fully support the property owner, David Brown. It is ridiculous that a developer can remove, or in anyway disturb, another property owner's trees or for that matter, put footings onto another owner’s property. Where are the setbacks?

The footings will most likely kill these trees - 100-year-old healthy trees are precious and should be preserved. The Municipality of Kincardine has a project that it is fully supporting to preserve the older buildings on the main street so why is it not supporting the preservation of these trees?

This proposed development has been in the works for many years now, and the buildings have been an eyesore on the main street. The developer keeps wanting more and more - I wonder how this project ever got approved with so little parking already downtown?

Where are the tenants of the 20 residential apartments, that are going to be built above the commercial area, as well as the commercial employees and shoppers, going to park? With all of the offices in the downtown area, parking during the week is already an issue.

Monetary payment to “who, the municipality” in lieu of the 16 commercial parking spaces? There has to be some sort of investigation done - you pay “X” number of dollars and we ignore the 16 required commercial parking spaces?

I want, as I am sure many others do, to see this space developed but not at the expense of killing these trees, especially when there is an alternative by reversing the plan and having the driveway on the south side.

Something has to be done and soon. I sure hope a peaceful and respectful resolution can be attained. They are going to be neighbours and to start off like this, is only going to create a tense situation for years to come.

Judi Brown
Kincardine