St. Thomas City Staff have admitted that the while the removal of 34 trees on the former Alma College property was procedurally correct, doing it without consulting City Council was premature.
This is an update to a story that myFM first informed you about in June where City Council was disappointed that the trees at 96 Moore Street were removed before they were notified.
A report to council on Monday night (June 15) states that Patriot Properties applied for the permit to remove the trees on March 14th and was issued the permit on April 25th.
City Manager Wendell Graves says in the report that the permit was given in line with the proper procedures. The issuance of the permit was however outside of a larger ongoing development process on the lands.
Graves says that staff will be working to ensure this miscommunication does not happen in the future.
Council’s understanding was that discussion on the removal of the trees was going to happen during the Site Plan approval process and thus Graves believes that issuing the permit before that took place was premature.
The Parks and Recreation Department has also agreed that issuing the permit was premature. $5,750 in fees were paid, 91 trees will be replanted on the grounds and 2 Colorado Spruce trees will be transplanted.
