Tree Removal at 165 Mineola Road West

We wanted to write this blog to make sure the residence of Mineola West were aware of the length the Designer, Roamy Design, and Builder, Harvis Barklay, went to for the preservation of trees on this property. When first designing the home we decided to build the home in the same area of the existing property. We changed the location of the house twice on our site plan after noticing we would have to remove several trees, at this time 9. We had originally had a covered porch on the East side of the home where the existing garage was but the foundation of this porch would mean that we would have to remove the two trees right up against the existing garage. We thought it over and removed the foundation under the porch to save these two trees. We also had originally wanted to leave the driveway as it is on the existing home but this also would mean that the larger tree at the front of the property that sides the existing driveway may get damaged during the process of construction and the re paving of the new driveway. So we moved the driveway to the west and at our expense will have to create a new culvert under the driveway and remove the old one. The majority of the trees we were going to have to remove were on the west side of the property and were all very close together. We had our aborist out to the site who had mentioned some of the trees were dead and could fall at anytime. We also agreed with the city to have our aborist out to the site to review the remaining trees' progress during construction. We went to great expense to put up fencing beyond the cities requirements. Then in a meeting on site with our arborist, our designer and several city employees I, the builder, decided after two months of back and forth discussions with the different departments at the city, after already passing the guide lines set out by the Heritage committee and after already obtaining a demolition permit, that I, the builder, had a idea. I agreed to replace at the end of construction 7, yes 7, trees. This means not only did we adjust our plans to save 3 other trees we now were going to replace, at our own expense, all the trees we removed. This brought the entire discussion with the City planning department to an end and an agreement by all parties.

Harvis Barklay owner Steve Greer has been building in this neighbourhood for 8 years and is a resident of the area. Steve Greer believes that the new homes are not the problem when it comes to this area. It is what we do as individuals to save this area. Each year more and more trees are removed by the City either because they are dead or infested with some type of bug. The trees in this area fall every time there is a big storm with a strong wind. We are losing higher number of trees from infestation and weather and just the age of the trees themselves than we will ever lose by the builders in the area. I suggest everyone take note on what the builder Harvis Barklay has agreed to do on this property by replacing trees that have been removed that will grow for the future and maintain the integrity of this area.

Please also take a few minutes to look at the pictures we have added to this site of the trees that were dying and would have come down on their own soon enough. We hope this sets everything straight with all concerned residence of the area and in the future when you see a Harvis Barklay sign you can be sure that with the removal of trees will also come the replanting of trees.