Markham tree cut spurs demand for higher fines; developer blames 'jealousy'

YorkRegion.com
Feb. 7, 2017
Tim Kelly

It's high time Markham revisited and strengthened its tree preservation bylaw, say some Unionville neighbours incensed that three mature trees were cut down on Gainseville Avenue.

And it seems they have agreement from some members of council, including Unionville Councillor Don Hamilton. "I think we need to look at it, I think increasing the fines for blatant illegal tree-cutting would be appropriate," Hamilton said after a packed Unionville Residents Association meeting Tuesday.

The property owner at 47/51 Gainseville Ave., in Unionville, will be in provincial court Feb. 9, charged with illegal tree-cutting by the City of Markham.

The current city fine per tree for cutting one down without a permit is $500 to $100,000 each.
That's not enough, say the Unionville residents who brought a petition — calling for the 2008 tree-preservation bylaw to be reviewed — that was received at committee on Monday.

"It's (the fine) not a deterrent at the lower end," said Julie Sellery, a Gainesville Avenue neighbour of the person charged with cutting down the trees.

"We're asking the city to accelerate the review of the tree-preservation bylaw. We need to do it sooner rather than later," she said.

John Lang, who lives across the street from the affected property, added, "the whole quality of the neighbourhood changes when the trees disappear."

Nobody is living in the home now, and that's not uncommon, Sellery said.

"On my street we have vacant homes, we have rental homes waiting for knock-downs, and it's been a big change in the last two years. What's happening in the neighbourhood is people are selling homes, and six months later it (home) will sell for $400,000 more. So there's a lot of churn and a lot of development," Sellery said.

That seems to be the plan at 47/51 Gainesville, with cutting down the trees a prelude to anticipated development.

A local Unionville developer who asked that his name not be used, said it's all about the money that can be made through redevelopment.

And he said a lot of the opposition to what's happening, including to the cutting down of the trees, comes down to jealousy.

"The neighbours here see people profiting from the houses and to be honest, if they can do it, they would do it as well. There is not just some (jealousy), there is a lot."

The developer, who has worked on several Unionville residential redevelopments and has several more on the go, said, "90 per cent of the money is coming from Asia. There is no way a Caucasian would pay $2.1 million for a bungalow, but they're happy (as a seller) that you just found an extra million dollars in your bank account," said the developer, who is Chinese.

Still, if the issue comes back to whether a homeowner cuts down mature trees without a proper permit in place, deputy mayor Jack Heath said he has no doubt what should happen.

"I don't want the trees to come down. To review it (tree bylaw) and strengthen it is something I would support."