Kingston, Ont. environmental group granted ‘party status’ for Davis Tannery land appeal – Kingston | 24CA News

There was a small victory for a Kingston, Ont., environmental group on Tuesday.

Kingston metropolis council’s latest denial of a plan to redevelop the previous Davis Tannery website close to Belle Park is being appealed by the developer, and the group referred to as “No Clear Cuts Kingston” has been granted the fitting to participate within the attraction course of.

“It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity,” stated Kathleen O’Hara, certainly one of No Clear Cuts Kingston’s 5 administrators.

“It gives us credibility at the tribunal,” she added.

Tuesday, throughout a “pre-conference” assembly between all sides of the attraction, the chairperson made the choice to present the group social gathering standing after each side submitted arguments.

“This is just the important first step, there are many many more steps to take in this case,” stated Richard Lindgren, the lawyer representing No Clear Cuts Kingston.

Patry Developments needed to show the previous Davis Tannery land into 1,600 condominium models overlooking the Cataraqui River however was turned down by the town’s planning committee final summer time.

2:11Kingston Planning Committee rejects Davis Tannery housing proposal

As the developer’s legal professionals put together to attraction that denial, the environmental group’s participation might make issues extra sophisticated.

“I mean really the concern is what specifically No Clear Cuts Kingston wants to add to this hearing from an evidentiary perspective,” stated Roberto Aburto, authorized counsel for the developer.

Aburto argued towards giving No Clear Cuts Kingston social gathering standing, saying the group lacked readability on what proof they plan to current on the attraction.

“What are the exact issues that they want to deal with?” he stated.

Local environmental teams fiercely opposed the plan proper up till its denial final summer time.

“You don’t cut down 1,800 trees at this point in 2023. You don’t fill in a wetland, you don’t kill wildlife, because we have a biodiversity crisis,” O’Hara stated.

She instructed Global News that having social gathering standing “allows us to bring forth our expert witnesses, it allows us to cross-examine the developer’s witnesses, it allows us to make an opening statement.”

The subsequent time the events are anticipated to will meet is April 5.

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