Concern over loss of wetlands and wildlife habitat brought a number of local residents to a 91原创 Township council public hearing Monday, June 12.

The council is considering a proposal by the Beedie Group to develop about 40 per cent of the remaining portion of what is often known as the 鈥済olf course lands鈥� in the middle of the Gloucester Industrial Park in north Aldergrove.

After the Gloucester lands were removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), there were plans to turn a portion of the area into a golf course, which also would have preserved some green space, habitat, wetlands, and allowed for stormwater runoff.

But the golf course was never built, and parts of the former golf course lands have been developed over the years.

The application, if approved, would remove 36.79 acres (14.89 hectares) from the previous zonings and turn it into more industrial land. The remaining 55.13 acres (22.3 hectares would be protected environmentally sensitive areas, as well as expanded stormwater collection ponds.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe we鈥檙e still having to say, 鈥楶lease protect 91原创鈥檚 natural assets,鈥欌�� said Lisa Dreves, president of the 91原创 Field Naturalists.

She compared aerial photos of the present, showing the number of fish-bearing streams in the area, as well as how the entire area was largely forested in the 1970s, before it was removed from the ALR. Dreves raised issues such as impacts the changes to the wetland will have on farmers downstream, as well as the ecological habitats.

In the 1990s, she noted that Gloucester did not have to do off-site environmental mitigation efforts because the planned golf course was supposed to include those.

Cheryl Wiens noted that even if the development doesn鈥檛 remove the core of the wetlands, it can damage them.

鈥淲hen you develop closer and closer to a wetland, you start to starve it of the water it needs to be a wetland,鈥� Wiens said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e already encroaching on those boundaries,鈥� she added.

Ian White of Envirowest Consultants spoke on behalf of the developer, and answered a number of questions from Township councillors.

He said that it is the least ecologically sensitive areas that are to be developed for industrial uses. The remaining 60 per cent of the land in question would become Township-owned afterwards.

The plan is also to enhance the remaining areas, while also expanding stormwater detention ponds. Most ponds would be preserved in their present condition, he said. Those that will be filled in are ones that are not connected to fish-bearing streams, or that dry up for parts of the year.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 preserve everything, but we鈥檙e saving the highest value,鈥� White said.

Councillor Tim Baillie raised issues about what previous plans and owners have said about the fate of the property.

鈥淚 want to get some more information on what kind of promises were made on this land,鈥� he said.

Township council will consider the matter at its next regular council meeting, scheduled for Monday, June 26 starting at 1:30 p.m. in the Township Civic Facility.

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