Owner of tree-cutting property in Markham appears in court

YorkRegion.com
Feb. 9, 2017
Tim Kelly

The owner of the Unionville home charged with several tree bylaw infractions made a first appearance in Richmond Hill provincial court Thursday morning.

Jayling Wu, who is listed as the owner of 47/51 Gainesville Avenue in Unionville, asked for and was granted a one-month adjournment to consult counsel.

Wu is due back in court to face charges at 9 a.m. on March 9 at 50 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill.

The Gainesville Avenue property has spurred an outcry from neighbours after three mature trees were cut down on the property. City of Markham bylaw officers were called to the property and laid several bylaw charges against the owner.

Residents have called on the city to hasten a planned review of the 2008 tree preservation bylaw in the hopes of strengthening it and preventing property owners from cutting down trees, paying small fines and reaping profits after redeveloping the properties for much higher values.

The current fine for cutting down a tree without a permit is $500 to $100,000 a tree, but proponents of a bylaw review would like to see the fines increased.