Trees Gone What Next?: Dialgue on Grove Heritage Park

Message Sent to Mayor and Council:
Residents in our area are really concerned with the trees that were
knocked down in Grove Heritage Park.  When we went to the open house

this was not mentioned.   Is there any way we can find out what is going on and try and have input?  We asked for input at the open house and it seemed that that would have happened.  Another Hamburger Hill.

Message sent in response to a message from the City Manager.

Will the re-vegitation include replanting the trees (with large trees not seedlings) behind the houses on Mohr Avenue to replace the ones that have been removed?  This is what residents are asking for.  See our blog post Trees Gone What Next?: Dialgue on Grove Heritage Park.  I suggest you post your response on the blog.  I can give you author privileges if you send me the email of the person(s) who will be posting.  Otherwise the City Staff can make a comment like anyone else.  

Dialogue:  We hope the City will enter into the dialogue with us see messages above.

The above issue has opened up a the concern that residents have had for some time.   That City Centre redevelopment is causing us to lose park space (first our ball diamond becomes a parking lot) and and now the trees in Grove Heritage Park.  The new pond is a step in the right direction but could have been done differently so that it did not impact residents backing on to the park and perhaps more of the water could have been released into the original wetland so it will not continue to dryout and more trees die in the future or be burned by fire. 

Do we want this to continue or do we want to keep our wetlands and parks?  If you are concerned contact the Mayor & Council (see Dave & Elinor's Letter below for information). If you email council please put your email in a comment to this post. 

Also see Central Area Planning Dialogue

Dave and Elinor's Letter

Attention Spruce Grove residents:

On February 10, 2009 the City of Spruce Grove had an open house regarding building some playgrounds around the Japanese school north of Main Street and Mohr Avenue. They also showed a plan to build a naturalized drainage pond in the meadow south-west of the Japanese School. I specifically asked how big the pond would be and I was told it would not be any larger than the existing meadow.

Once the engineering was complete they realized they needed more space and they decided to clear cut the forest behind our homes on Mohr Avenue without consulting the residents.

They placed construction notices in a few mailboxes the day they began destruction. We did not receive one.

The only way I think this can be corrected is to relocate the pond to the North away from homes and bring in trees to replace what they carelessly destroyed.

Attached are two drawings. The one with the small pond is the only plan which was presented to residents. There is also the current plan which involved removing about one block of natural forest in the Heritage Grove Park.

We feel they have made a huge blunder in planning and communication without considering the impact to citizens or their opinions. They went ahead and took action to clear a huge area of green space which will in turn affect our property values. I will be contacting a lawyer, if you are interested please contact us.

After I spoke to them on Friday, and was told they were finished, they then continued to clear even farther west into the forest.

The city is holding a public meeting regarding downtown developing at city hall on September 28^th at 6pm.

Please make your concerns known to the city:

City Manager Doug Lagore 962-7611

Mayor’s assistant Lorraine Read 962-7604

Other phone numbers and emails can be seen at: http://www.sprucegrove.org/mayor_council/elected_officials.htm

Dave Schepp/Elinor Tofin

201 Mohr Avenue

960-6067

Diagram and Pictures Click on Images to see them larger  

The Centre and eastern part of the shade area is where the original meadow was trees were cut on the west North and South.  Residents don't know why cutting was necessary and if it was, why it could not have been done to the East and North. 

MDP Statements:

Goal 3 Spruce Grove shows environmental leadership through policy
development and implementation.
Goal 4 Spruce Grove engages residents and businesses in environmental
issues and promotes community and individual level stewardship.

Objective
4.4.1 Develop an integrated watershed management approach that will sustainably manage the impact of development on the watershed, conserve water use and improve water quality.
Policies
4.4.1.1 Manage water resources within our boundaries through a comprehensive naturalized stormwater management program that takes into account impacts on the watershed as a whole.
4.4.1.3 Restrict development in wetlands, riparian zones and flood-prone areas.

Objective
4.5.1 Protect and enhance the ecological integrity of the community‟s natural areas and designated park spaces.
Policies
4.5.1.2 Identify the community‟s natural areas, including tree stands, wetlands and permanent and ephemeral stream courses in area structure plans, redevelopment plans, and subdivision plans
4.5.1.3 Require an environmental sustainability study for any identified or potential change to a natural area before a subdivision plan is approved or development occurs, to ensure that sufficient area is protected and to reduce the negative impacts of development on the natural area.
4.5.1.4 Incorporate all significant natural areas as passive or low intensity recreational open space in area structure plans, redevelopment plans, and subdivision plans.

PARKS and  OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN

The majority of respondents rated Natural and; Semi-
Natural Green Space or Water Courses and Green
Corridors & Other Pathway Linkages as the open spaces
they value most.
4. The Majority of respondents rated Heritage Grove Park
as their favourite park and open space, followed by
Central Park.
5. A majority of 4:1 indicated that parks and open spaces
(e.g., squares, plazas, treed streets) in the downtown
are important to them.