City of Burlington lays charges after trees on property allegedly cut down without permit

Five parties, including the landowner and contractor, have been charged by the City of Burlington after trees on a development property were allegedly cut down without permission earlier this year.

In a news release on Tuesday, the city said the trees at 2155 Country Club Drive were cut between April and June.

Five parcels of land on the property, also called Millcroft Greens, are being developed for residential uses.

The developer, landowner and contractor are accused of violating the Private Tree By-Law for causing or permitting the injury or destruction without the required permits. The city added that the contractor is also facing charges under the Public Tree By-Law for allegedly removing and damaging trees.

It is unclear how many trees were cut down.

The city said it would not provide further comment, as the matter is now before the courts.

“The city understands how deeply people care about this neighbourhood, and we are committed to ongoing monitoring and transparency throughout the construction process,” its statement said.

Millcroft Greens denied the charges, saying in a statement to CP24 that they “look forward to the matter being cleared up in court.

According to the proposed development plan, a total of 90 single-detached dwellings are being constructed on four parcels of the property, while a six-storey apartment building is being built on the fifth parcel.

The city said it was informed this month that construction sites near Millcroft Park Drive and Country Club Drive would undergo site preparation work this fall.