Neighbours opposed to a residential development that would encroach a significant woodland -- have won their battle to save the trees.
Sarnia council refused an application to amend the official plan to allow a six-lot subdivision at 834 Lakeshore Road Monday.
Councillor Bev MacDougall said she couldn't support a project that fractured a woodland and upset the biodiversity.
"I'm going to support the staff recommendation that we leave it alone, and on a go forward basis -- as the city's parks and rec master plan comes back and the future council debates what they're going to do with it -- I think we need to respect the resting areas where we just have trees and we just let the biodiversity thrive," said MacDougall. "At the end of the day, sustainability of our natural environment is not aided and abetted when we pick away at things one lot, or two lots at a time."
Councillors Cindy Scholten and Matt Mitro voted against the recommendation, saying they would be in favour of trying to reach a compromise and allow some development.
"When we look at all the diagrams, you can see all the residential areas around this lot," said Scholten. "The city doesn't own the lot, and I always feel that we have no right to tell the owners what to do -- which is why I didn't support the tree bylaw. Even though I love trees, obviously I don't want to see this woodland destroyed and it sounds like a good portion of it would not be."
Scholten said council should be visionaries, by supporting the growth and development of the community and focus on growing the tax base.
"The residents that did come up and speak, and I feel for them, obviously trees went down to make their homes. I feel at this time, we should support in principle, allowing some lots."
The city's official plan contains policies that do not permit residential lot creation in significant natural areas.
