Before it votes whether to recommend shutting down Malden Rd. to protect wildlife near Ojibway Park, it wants more information.
Traffic in the area is expected to increase now that the Ontario Municipal Board has approved zoning changes allowing a big-box development nearby. Preservationists have been fighting the development for years.
A report before Windsor's Environment, Heritage and Public Safety Standing Committee only addressed the process to create eco-passages or underpasses for wildlife, so Councillor Fred Francis asked for a report back spelling out other options.
"When it comes back to us, that will still be in front of us, and you'll also have options that can help us mitigate some of those wildlife losses in the area," says Francis.
The committee meets again August 24.
Nancy Pancheshan, who has been fighting to preserve the natural areas with her group Save Ojibway, is frustrated by the delay and says eco-passages are only the bare minimum to protect species.
"It's not going to protect the park," she says. "It might protect one or two species."
Conservation biologist Jonathan Choquette says eco-passages aren't new. He says other jurisdictions in Ontario and the Netherlands use them.
"We're actually testing one out right now on Malden Rd.," he says. "We don't know if that one will work because there's quite a bit of water in it but we'll put some trail cams in there and monitor it."
He says they can be used for a variety of wildlife from small toads to cougars.
Once the committee has a recommendation ready, it'll be debated at city council.
-- With files from Ricardo Veneza.
