Greenlands Centre Wellington Community Visions Workshop

What is your vision for greening the urban areas of TCW?

Trees – systematic planting and maintenance plan for TCW and a tree protection by-law to replace the existing tree policy
Wetland and small woodlot protection
An environmental ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ in each subdivision
Education – a culture that values greenspace; encourage more public greening and make tree planting mandatory on private property; use real estate agents to create a green fact sheet on the properties they sell; use the schools; teach citizens that their lawn mowers scrapping bark kills trees; create a TCW position of Greening Officer responsible to Council to identify areas to be protected and enhanced: this would be a staff voice as a counter to the engineering department and works department voices; this Greening Officer could hand out pamphlets to prospective buyers
Copy good models: Elora Arts Centre, Station Square , Thunder Bay, Toronto , Kanata, Guelph
Promote sustainable developments
TCW should protect enough farmland so the Township can feed itself: work with farmers through incentives

Where would you protect and/or expand green areas?

County Road 7 in Elora and Highway 6 south of Fergus: developers and owners should plant trees and flowers to beautify the property – this should be a part of our development policy
Older areas – restrict monster homes – establish a maximum footprint on lots; recycle existing buildings to reduce urban sprawl – consider growing up – as in vertical - as a means to maintain existing greenspaces
Parks - raise parkland allocation from 5 to 10%; in the past parks were located on bleak land; need strong new guidelines to make parks treed and welcoming; parkettes need to be enhanced: start by inventorying them; invite neighbours and students to give in-put on parks; see parks as community use facilities
School grounds and storm water retention areas
Urban agricultural community gardens
Greening of popular ‘hangouts’ – Tim Horton’s and video stores
Recycle old buildings and lots to reduce sprawl and preserve greenspace
Preserve small town atmosphere – memories of our youth – no building higher than three storeys
New subdivisions must be greened – both developers and property owners have obligations; greenspaces must be accessible to the public in subdivisions
Need trees, greenspace and boulevards even on postage stamp lots
Educate the public on areas needing protection

What steps do we need to take to green the urban areas of TCW?

Restrictions so folks can’t just cut a 50+ year old tree; protection of small urban woodlots; developers’ plan around existing greenspace; rural lot minimum size 10 acres to protect existing agricultural land within TCW urban boundaries. Are these restrictions on both public and private property? People would have to know restrictions exist before buying.
Economic incentives for farms within TCW urban boundary: presently there is tax relief for preserving wetlands ; this tax relief should be in a real estate green fact sheet and passed on to new owners; subsidized rural tree plantings that create natural snow fences and reduce tax on land taken out of production to plant trees/hedgerows
Education: trees have many benefits in an urban setting but few citizens know what they are
Real estate representatives should be one of John Sewell’s “key 15” who meet with Greenlands
Link parklands between subdivisions
Public Works must be part of the solution – their snow ploughing and salting affect trees; but remember engineering standards drive Public Works’ decisions

How does the community benefit from greening our urban areas?

Other questions and ideas

What regulations/by-laws exist to protect greenspaces and trees?
Who gives Public Works permission to remove trees?
Many 100-year-old sugar maples are dying. Does TCW have a replacement plan? The County does. Needs to be a rural tree-planting plan.
Citizens are not aware of the big picture – we only become concerned about our local area
How can we change the thinking of those who don’t value greenspace? Educate the public to request greenspace in the community and in subdivisions. Greening should be seen as a way to build community; encourage pride in even small gardens/hedges – bring back from the past this tradition of pride