Konik Estates development expected to destroy at least 700 trees

Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors have approved a rezoning as well as draft plans of subdivision and condominium for phase two of the Konik Estates development in Virgil, despite what one resident called “the destruction of a forest habitat” that will allow it to move forward. 

At a committee-of-the-whole planning meeting last week, three delegates spoke out about the importance of tree preservation at the site..  

The development is east of Concession 6 and north of Line 2, and comes with plans for 52 single, detached homes, 102 block townhouses and six street townhouse units, reads the report approved by the committee last week.  

There are about 800 trees on the property in what William Heikoop, a planner representing the developer, described as a “pine plantation,” and 700 of those trees are expected to be cut down, while it has been agreed that a row of about 100 trees could be saved along the subdivision’s perimeter.  

Pinot Trail resident Catherine Lowrey said she and others appreciate the agreement about that one row of trees, but asked if “there are some aspects that haven’t been fully considered,” such as additional rows of trees also being preserved.  

She said what is planned is the “destruction of a forest habitat,” and not just a simple act of tree removal.  

Ellen Qualls pointed to NOTL having the smallest tree coverage of any of Niagara’s municipalities, at about 25 per cent, which she said is an example of why efforts should be made to preserve as many trees as possible.  

Ken Burr also reiterated Lowery and Qualls’ comments about trees, but noted a couple of other concerns.  

He believes the proposal will create traffic congestion at Niagara Stone Road and Line 2, an area he says is already very busy. “I can only see that getting worse.”

Burr lives on a nearby private road and also expressed concerns about construction equipment accessing the site near his home, as well as it being parked and stored too close to nearby residents.  

“We want some assurances that won’t happen in the building process,” said Burr.  

Heikoop, speaking on behalf of Grey Forest Homes, said there is no criteria the developer needs to adhere to related to trees, as it is not a significant woodlot, which the town’s planning director Kirsten McCauley concurred with later in the meeting.  

Coun. Sandra O’Connor pitched an amendment, that instead of cash in lieu for parkland dedication, a common practice between municipalities and developers, a “treed area” be kept.  

This idea was not supported by the majority of the committee.  

According to the report on the planning meeting agenda, staff are requesting that the owner provide five per cent cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication for the subdivision rather than land within the development.  

The town’s existing park to the northeast on Homestead Drive is planned to be expanded as development proceeds in the area. 

A larger, centralized park will serve the entire neighbourhood, and parkettes are “not desired within the proposal,” as the Homestead Park is located within walking distance of the development, about 200 metres to the northwest, reads the report.  

Coun. Wendy Cheropita also stressed the importance of preserving trees, and asked about the possibility of saving more of them.

McCauley said “staff did push back” during a “long discussion” with the developer about trees, resulting in the plan to keep about 100.  

If a study determines those trees are not healthy enough, they will need to be replaced with mature trees, she said.  

The development being built around already-existing trees on the property “may be difficult” due to the needs of servicing homes and lot requirements, McCauley added.

However, she assured residents, there is a condition that construction equipment can't be stored adjacent to residents.

Voting against the plans to move ahead were Couns. O’Connor and Gary Burroughs.