Losing the back of my hand

OK, I'm exaggerating, nothing is being paved over, yet. It's been over a month since I last reported on this new development front, moving in on Wakefield, following the "telegraph road". I still don't know what's going on, so I went over a few times to check things out. I know the trails and wetlands back there like the back of my hand, so I stealthily snuck in for a closer look. The digger was filling up trucks from a hole it was digging but suddenly the mechanical beast swung around to knock over a few pesky spruce trees that were close to the edge of the pit, and me. Luckily, the falling tree just missed me and I took this as my cue to leave. Since then I have had a brunch meeting with our councilor, Louis Rompre and Phil and Glennis Cohen. Maybe more a party with good friends than a meeting but we did manage to talk a little about the development on the Dery land across the river among other pressing issues like the need to have an official PPU. Louis seems to share my concern about the wetlands and the need for special protection against encroachment but mentioned that a 15 metre buffer would be respected. I said that according to my understanding of environmental assessment, the buffer zone between any development (digging or cutting of trees) and significant water bodies is 30 metres. This seems reasonable that people can trim or cut trees around their homes but not to the extent that they clear all vegetation (like the Senator did) along the river or water body to afford a better view. I hope to get further clarification from our Council on the development plan itself, but also the up front rules on cutting trees close to water bodies.

I also want to discuss the issue of docks that may spring up along this wild stretch of the river but I realize this is a contentious issue (I don't want to start a dock wars, but they have sprouted up everywhere and have an obvious cumulative environmental impact. I have heard that there is a requirement for anyone who wants to put in a dock to provide details to Council, but how well is this followed or enforced is another question.

And finally, a piece of juicy gossip involving the ex-Senator, Raymond Lavigne I heard from a close neighbor. Seeing all the dump trucks parked near Lavigne's house, I was becoming concerned that he was somehow in on the whole development scheme. Turns out, when the trucks first started arriving for work, Lavigne closed his puny little gate on his very public road, and Mr. Dery had some stern words for Lavigne, something, like open that *#!^ gate, I own all this land around you including this road! Rumours have it that up to 15 homes will be built back there, could be nice I guess if done right. One thing for sure, I'll miss the back of my hand...