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Big box developer forced to redo species-at-risk study
The site of a proposed development near Windsor=20 Raceway.
Photograph by: Scott Webster, Windsor Star = files, The=20 Windsor Star
Environmental activists are heralding a short-term victory in the = battle=20 against a big box store development near the Ojibway prairie in the = city's west=20 end.
Opponents and proponents of the project were scheduled to appear = before the=20 Ontario Municipal Board beginning Jan. 11, 2010 to reach a resolution in = the=20 dispute.
But the hearing has been postponed for six to eight months due to=20 deficiencies in the species-at-risk studies conducted for the developer, = Coco=20 Development Group.
"It brings hope. If hope is a victory, then that's a good thing," = said Nancy=20 Pancheshan, a member of Friends of Ojibway.
The group believes the 450,000-square-foot development slated for the = corner=20 of Sprucewood Avenue and Matchette Road will damage the ecosystem of the = adjacent Ojibway prairie and its populations of endangered and = threatened=20 species.
In a Dec. 22 letter from the Ministry of Natural Resources to the = developer's=20 lawyers, the MNR mentioned "information and data gaps" in the = developer's=20 species-at-risk report, and said an adjournment of the hearing will = allow=20 further study and consultation. Coco's species-at-risk study was = conducted by=20 Dillon Consulting.
Among the problems with the nature study, the province said the site = was=20 "grubbed," or cut, prior to Dillon's species-at-risk study.
The MNR said this could have resulted in lower species counts during = the=20 survey, and recommended a second study take place after the vegetation = has=20 recovered.
The province also disputed Dillon's study methods, which included = just one=20 site visit.
As part of its snake population study, Dillon placed asphalt shingles = on the=20 site to attract snakes, which are drawn to the heat underneath. But on = Aug. 15,=20 the temperature in Windsor was 25.7 C. The MNR said "it would not be = generally=20 expected" to find snakes resting in such hot areas.
Four species are of particular concern in the species-at-risk = studies,=20 including the eastern fox snake, which is labelled "endangered" and the=20 willowleaf aster, dense blazing star and Butler's garter snake, which = are deemed=20 "threatened."
Expert naturalists have identified all four species in the prairie = area,=20 which includes the Ojibway Prairie Grass Provincial Nature Reserve.
Pancheshan said she hopes to keep a closer eye on any future = species-at-risk=20 studies conducted by the developer. "Because Dillon's past reports were = so=20 flawed, I think that there needs to be another set of eyes."
As part of its snake population study, Dillon placed asphalt shingles = on the=20 site to attract snakes, which are drawn to the heat underneath. But on = Aug. 15,=20 the temperature in Windsor was 25.7 C. The MNR said "it would not be = generally=20 expected" to find snakes resting in such hot areas.
Four species are of particular concern in the species-at-risk = studies,=20 including the eastern fox snake, which is labelled "endangered" and the=20 willowleaf aster, dense blazing star and Butler's garter snake, which = are deemed=20 "threatened."
Expert naturalists have identified all four species in the prairie = area,=20 which includes the Ojibway Prairie Grass Provincial Nature Reserve.
Pancheshan said she hopes to keep a closer eye on any future = species-at-risk=20 studies conducted by the developer. "Because Dillon's past reports were = so=20 flawed, I think that there needs to be another set of eyes."
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The site of a proposed development near = Windsor=20 Raceway.
Photograph by: Scott Webster, Windsor = Star files,=20 The Windsor Star
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