Trend-Arlington Community Association in has made an effort to petition the City of Ottawa to protect the 100 year old white pine forest that surrounds the community in west end. The City has considered corner lot re-zoning for this outer urban area of Arlington Woods.
As James O'Grady, president of the Trend Arlington Community Association (TACA) writes,"Arlington Woods was carefully developed by Campeau in the early 1970’s under the eastern wing of a native white pine forest. The forest which boast many trees over a hundred years old, extends from Graham Creek through the Greenbelt and into Bells Corners. It grew out of the remains of the Great Fire of 1870 that destroyed much of what is now western Ottawa. Bells Corners and Stittsville were wiped out. For this reason the Trend-Arlington Community Association believes the white pine forest has tremendous heritage value to both the City of Ottawa and to the communities of the old City of Nepean."
The Emerald Ash Borer beetle has destroyed much of Ottawa’s ash trees therefore City Council has made trees a priority for their projects this year. Due to this, O'Grady believes it is a perfect time to petition the city to protect this heritage forest in Arlington Woods from the re-zoning inititave, which will not consider the natural environment in the community they are working . By dividing corner lots, much of the irreplacable white pines will have to be cut down.
Arlington Woods does not consider itself an urban community according to the TACA. Dividing corner lots does not seem to make any sense in a highly forested area. Furthermore, with the destruction of the Ash Borer Beetle already taking the ash trees to their grave, the argument the TACA makes is that there is no need to take down trees that are perfectly healthy.
To sign the peition to help the community protect the white pines, please go to:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/exempt-trend-arlington-from-infill-2-and-corner