So what exactly is this petition asking Chatham Kent Council to do?

Right now as it stands most of the Woodlands in Chatham Kent are zoned Agricultural. What this means is when all the trees are cut there is no usage change according to the Planning Act, and no process of review or public input.

Last year, 2019 Council amended our zoning bylaw to include the new category OS1-1480 through By-Law 121-2019

The permitted uses include, and are limited to, the following:
a) Single detached dwelling
b) Conservation
c) Buildings and structures accessory to a permitted conservation

It's a way of converting Significant Woodlands from an Agricultural category to a Conservation minded, mixed use category.
More in line with what the land actually is.

A lot of people live close to, or within Woodlands and many woodlands in Chatham Kent have small structures like sugar shacks in them. This zoning category would have no effect on them.

The vast majority of woodland owners are good land stewards and have no intention of harming ecosystems.

However, when property sells new owners may have other intentions.

The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority have already mapped Woodlands through aerial surveys.

Our Official Plan identifies Significant Woodlands but doesn't specify how they should be protected.

Several years ago an all-or-nothing by-law was attempted close to an election. Sadly, Council was offered the choice not to decide, and the clear cutting continued.

This proposal is more of a good old Canadian compromise.

When a landowner wants to clear-cut a forest, they will apply for a zoning variance to change the land use from Conservation to say, Agricultural.

This is no way hinders people from doing things on their land but provides a transparent process for review of major changes to the landscape.

It's something that really should have happened in 1998 when the municipality of Chatham-Kent first amalgamated. Leaving it undone for decades has been a mistake, but now there's a way to remedy this error.

Let's keep the momentum going

Thank you!