Paradise threatened?

While I was away in Costa Rica a couple of retired Wakefield land barons that own land around Senator tobacco's ill-gotten mansion, were planning the next big development. The article in the Low Down to Hull & Back had ominous overtones for me, "Dery brothers eye more than 500 acres in Wakefield".  Laurent and his brother Dominique have co-owned the vast river front property at the end of Wakefield Heights Road since the 1970s. The two brothers are in the process of a land transaction that would consolidate one brother's holdings in Wakefield, and the other plans another large development project in Farm Point.  Dery said they had purchased the land for the old age and that "The demand for and lots in Wakefield was not that hot until a few years ago, speculating that the highway 5 construction completion in early 2014 had increased the area's popularity.
The Low Down surmises in a manner that smacks of "poetic justice" go on to say "A development might mean that former Senator Raymond Lavigne (who owns a house in the proposed development location), could lose his privacy. According to Laurent Dery, his brother Dominique was not yet ready to talk about his plans for his Wakefield property, as the land transaction is still in the works.

Not only will Lavigne lose his privacy but so will I and many other Wakefield residents who routinely walk or boat over to the pond inlets that dot this unique landscape. Even my old friend and Wakefield councilor Louis Rompre likes to visit his favorite pond by the old Cohen farm. I always suspected that more development would continue after the ex Senator's outrageous acts to circumvent the legal process.  I imagine Louis won't be able to do anything to stop this planned development but I'm concerned that this project may be initiated without due public diligence that is required in Farm Point. How will the ponds and wetland critters communicate if no one is listening? I know these wetlands like the back of my hand and I have made ecological maps to situate the changing wetlands in this area of proposed development (there are 6 permanent ponds in the area). This unique wetlands ecosystem is a jewel of Wakefield.

I and others, will be waiting for an opportunity for our input to ensure these wetlands are fully protected. Louis said to me once that he would like to see the ponds and buffer zones around them, protected from future development. Maybe this is why the Dery brothers chose to unveil this project now, right in the middle of unprecedented change in Wakefield that our Councilor and everyone can barely deal with.  I have a clear view from my backyard. If this terrible project proceeds, I will be watching closely and intervening if necessary, when even a single tree branch is cut within the 30 metre buffer zone that by law must be kept around all water bodies. If this project happens, Wakefield will lose another piece of their soul.