Hello, and I hope that everyone is well and happy, and making preparations for celebrating the upcoming holiday festivities.
I wish I had good news to share. I don't.
As previously mentioned, I had one virtual meeting, facilitated by Councillor Morley, with members of the TRCA project team. Later I delivered the petition and your signatures to the TRCA. None of this has moved the needle. Through November I was checking regularly with the western office of the City's Forestry dept, to find out whether any decisions had been reached re granting the TRCA the forestry permits and waivers they'd requested. In particular, I was wondering how the TRCA could possibly get waivers on the minimum-required tree protection zones (TPZs) for the rows of mature trees that line the paved path. Without those waivers, that part of the path would be unavailable for trucking.
Well, I got an email Friday morning (Dec 6) from Forestry, announcing that the requested permits and waivers have been granted... and today (Dec 9) the TRCA contractors are busily throwing up fence along that path.
The email from Forestry provided a brief explanation for why they considered that the adjacent trees would be sufficiently protected by the paved path. The offered explanation seems to run counter to our own understanding of the path's ability to withstand 3+ years of daily pounding from heavy trucks. I intend to discuss this further with Forestry, and to try to find out how this waiver has been justified, but this will take time.
Not lying... I'm pretty discouraged right now. This through-the-park route, selected behind closed doors and with little opportunity for public input and discussion, is now a physical reality, and I don't currently see many options for reversing course here.
Do come down to the park and see this blight for yourself. You will no longer have to imagine how this is going to impact park use for three or more years. Maybe you'll have some new ideas for how to get the decision revised. I suspect the TRCA and Forestry are kind of sick of hearing from me, and perhaps I haven't been the most effective advocate here. Maybe some of you would have better luck than me in talking to the TRCA, the City, or the press.
Anyway.... This is a disappointment, but it's not the end of the world. Let's focus on our friends and family right now and have a great winter holiday.
Thanks again for the support and for the words of encouragement.
Ken Nelson
cssp@isotope.ca
PS - they've promised daily after-hours and weekend opening of the Waterfront Trail and other access points. Let's hold them to it.