New updated content: 2021-05-31 15:04:36
Tewin Expansion
The decision on the location of urban expansion lands in January 2021 included 445 ha in south eastern Ottawa, destined to host a new suburban community dubbed Tewin by the proponents, a partnership between Taggart Investments and Algonquins of Ontario. These rural lands are covered by some agricultural lands but also woodlands and large wetland areas. Our guest at the meeting is a local resident who is very concerned about the impact of this planned expansion, a concern shared by the GA. While reversing this expansion is very unlikely in the current context, every effort should be made to limit its scope and minimize the impact on the natural features in this area. It was agreed to create a campaign focused on this goal working with local residents and others to safeguard greenspace in this area.
New updated content: 2023-03-20 12:07:24
Tewin deforestation
On February 23, the GA was alerted by a member of some tree cutting happening in or near the Tewin urban expansion area, on the southeastern edge of Ottawa’s urban area. We reported it immediately to City staff, who were already aware and investigating it. It became apparent that a massive clear cut was ongoing, which made for front page news on March 1. We wrote to Mayor and Council on March 2 and set about to enlist the support of other organizations to fight this deforestation. Ecology Ottawa was already on board and many other POP members joined in. Paul did an interview with the CBC on March 7 and also live on Ottawa Morning on March 8. By now, local residents had organized and joined forces with us, forming a very representative working group. Together we decided to organize a rally to protest the deforestation, to be held in the community, near Carlsbad Springs, on Sunday March 12. It was organized in the space of a few days. It was well attended, with about 80 local residents and activists present, good speakers and music coming together outdoor in a local park partially plowed by a local. <pictures>. There was a lot of media present and the event was well covered by several outlets. We engaged with a number of City Councillors and the issue was put on the agenda of the meeting of the Environment and Climate Change Committee to be held on March 21. The working group collaborated to develop coherent and comprehensive positions that would be presented by delegations to the Committee.
New updated content: 2023-04-17 12:18:14
Tewin deforestation
The Tewin deforestation issue was put on the agenda of the meeting of the Environment and Climate Change Committee of March 21. The GA collaborated with partners and developed coherent and comprehensive positions that were presented by delegations to the Committee.
The deforestation prompted a detailed discussion at Committee. Many in Ottawa were shocked that the Tree Protection Bylaw did not prevent the clear cutting of 25,000 trees just outside the urban boundary in an area covered by the Tree Protection bylaw. The following directions were given to staff by the Committee and supported by full Council on April 12.
– Direct staff to investigate and report back on potential changes to Exemption 82 (7) of the City’s Tree Protection By-law to require landowners obtain a formal exemption with evidence provided and communicate with neighbours, the local city councillor and City staff prior to tree removals including where a permit is not required by By-law (e.g. where the activity is exempt from the provisions of By-law).
– That the tree cutting incident near Tewin lands be referred to the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board.
GA asked that staff look closely at how and why the Tree Protection By-law failed to prevent this deforestation. The reference to the Normal Farm Practices Board, established under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act, would explicitly address whether the City’s interpretation of the exemption for agriculture in its tree bylaw was consistent with that Act. We also called for action on how the community will be compensated for this massive loss of greenspace. Policy 4.8.1.5 in the new Official Plan specifies that the City shall take a no net loss approach with respect to evaluated wetlands deemed not provincially significant and forest cover outside the urban area and designated villages.
As regards avoiding any such deforestations in the future, GA urged the City to accelerate the work on tree protection in the periurban area (lands adjacent to the new urban boundary), which is already in staff’s approved work plan.
New updated content: 2023-05-29 12:21:11
There was a brief update and general discussion on the status of the Tewin deforestation and measures to prevent future recurrences of such events. Continuing to work with the rural based conservation groups to which we have been introduced was strongly supported.
New updated content: 2023-10-16 12:44:24
The Chair of the GA and the Executive Directors of Ecology Ottawa and CAFEs were invited by the Taggart Group to a meeting on the Tewin development. Although intended as an information session, it turned into quite a frank two-way discussion on the positions taken by the various parties and expectations on the way forward. For our purposes, the commitment to establish a 600-hectare conservation land trust was confirmed. This is a commitment we would want to see through. There is an opportunity for further engagement on this matter.
Action: Paul to circulate meeting notes.
New updated content: 2023-11-20 12:54:08
The proponents of the Tewin development, Taggart and Algonquins of Ontario, held an open house on October 26. Slides can found . There was nothing new beyond what we had learned in the prior meeting with Taggart, on which we reported in the minutes of the October 16 general meeting.
