Those eager to learn about the legal ramifications relating to trees being removed from the David Dunlap Observatory site will have to wait a little longer.
The court case against Corsica Development Inc. was remanded to March 9 for a preliminary hearing. In November, a number of trees on the site were removed and this was deemed a violation of the town’s Tree Preservation By-law.
Under the by-law, the maximum fine for each offense is $10,000.
“I think this action by the town will send a message to developers in Richmond Hill that egregious violations of by-laws will not be tolerated,” said Karen Cilevitz, of the David Dunlap Observatory Defenders.
While not able to speak to the specifics of the charges, Ana Bassios, commissioner of planning and development, said “the prosecutors have the town’s backing to prosecute to the fullest extent of our by-law.”
While the message is good, it isn’t strong enough, Cilevitz said. “Unfortunately, I think Corsica is going to get away with the destruction of that southwest field very, very leniently,” she said.