Some endangered birds may be on the move as part of a developer’s efforts to satisfy requirements for protecting their habitat.
Glenaviland Development is seeking approvals to create a nine hole golf course, along with a residential subdivision on a 122-acre parcel of land on Concession 10, in former Maryborough township. The land is behind the existing phase one of Glenaviland subdivision at the north entrance to Drayton, on the west side of County Road 8.
Wellington County’s planning committee has recommended approval of an official plan amendment to allow the development. However, concerns from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) over the existence of bobolink habitat on the property have held up the process.
Yet clerk Patty Sinnamon advised council at its July 10 meeting the MNR has amended the endangered species protocol and relaxed requirements regarding bobolink habitat.
Glenaviland is requesting the use of one-acre of land owned by Mapleton at the wastewater lagoon site on Sideroad 15. The developer would lease the land for five years, to offset the current seven-acre bobolink habitat which is inside an urban boundary in the proposed development. The ministry has deemed such habitats may be offset by a parcel equivalent to 10 per cent elsewhere in the vicinity of the habitat.
The relaxed protocol also requires only that the habitat has to be in place for five years. The land would have to be planted with hay and restricted to one cutting per year. The remaining lands at the lagoon site could continue to be leased out until the township has other uses for it.
Glenaviland has also submitted an application to the MNR to reallocate 20 acres of the habitat within the rural portion (golf course) of the development to another location. The developer has approached the Grand River Conservation Authority about arrangements to use authority-owned land within Mapleton.
The GRCA stated in a letter to the developer they will consider hosting the compensatory bobolink habitat, possibly at the Conestogo Lake Conservation Area.
“Specifically at Conestogo we have over 100 acres designated as grassland habitat, but which has been heavily invaded by hawthorns,” terrestrial resources supervisor Martin Neumann said in a letter.
“GRCA would be amenable to removing the still-small hawthorns and maintaining the grassland in favour of bobolinks and other grasslands wildlife.”
Neumann, also noted the authority would require full cost recovery for any expense incurred by the GRCA in any agreement.
Sinnamon recommended in her report that council issue letters of support to Glenaviland and prepare a draft agreement for the use of the one-acre of township land.
As part of the final submission to the MNR, Glenaviland requires an agreement with the landowners (GRCA and Mapleton) for the use of the land, as well as the finalization of the draft approval of subdivision. Sinnamon reported the county is working on the draft approval, which should be completed shortly.
Sinnamon suggested the agreement should require Glenaviland to be responsible for any costs associated with relocating the habitat and also for any monitoring or reporting requirements.
