Neighbours upset over damaged century-old trees in Barrie's south end
Some residents in Barrie's south-end Allandale neighbourhood say they're frustrated over the lack of rules and regulations regarding building secondary suites on residential properties.
If you look through Arlene McCann’s backyard there is currently a giant hole where a second house is being built on her neighbour’s property.
"We had no notice of this. It started Monday with a survey crew coming in quickly followed by a bulldozer," she said.
The city issued the owner of the property a permit to build the secondary suite.
It's part of a strategy to create more affordable housing after the province loosened rules in 2019 around secondary suites as part of its More Homes, More Choice Act.
"City staff have been out, and the dwelling is being built as per the permit and the plans," said Jim Harris, Ward 8 city councillor.
But McCann says the excavation of the property has now jeopardized a century-old tree that borders the property.
"The structural integrity of the tree's roots has been severely compromised," McCann said. "The arborist has given his opinion that it is no longer safe and it will have to come down."
Her bordering tree is not the only one she says was damaged during excavation.
A walnut tree on the other side of the property owned by the St. George's Anglican Church will also have to be removed.
"It will be several thousand dollars to remove this tree, and that's a cost that we don't have in our budget," said Leonard Day, St. George's Anglican Church warden.
The neighbourhood association says several secondary suites are being built in the neighbourhood.
"This is also a city-wide problem. Ward one, ward two and ward three are also having issues as far as secondary suites being built," said Cathy Colebatch, co-chair of the Allandale Neighbourhood Association. "For the city staff and planning and council to throw their hands up in the air and say there is nothing we can do that's not good enough."
CTV News spoke with the property owner regarding the century-old trees, who says he wasn't aware the trees have to be removed.
He said he is willing to work with the neighbours.
But it's not just the trees; Harris says other issues have also been brought to light. "There's been a variety of concerns raised, I mean the size, the scale, the excavation, having a basement and the impact on bordering trees and neighbours."
Concerns the city is now trying to address.
"City staff have been reviewing the regulations and looking at bringing forward recommendations to consider in the fall," said Harris.
According to the city, 119 permits have been issued for second suites so far, with 16 applications for detached accessory dwellings.
"We are seeing more of these detached units being applied for, and the city is proposing updated zoning laws in order to balance the need for housing with the needs of existing neighbourhoods," said Andrea Miller, General Manager, Infrastructure and Growth Management in a statement to CTV News.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.