As Chatham-Kent works toward creating a possible woodlot preservation bylaw, the big question out of the Natural Heritage Committee of the Whole meeting held last night in an online meeting is where do we go now.
The committee decided to move forward with a specific framework and ideas to bring to the community to discuss and modify in the upcoming months. The focus for the next steps forward will be on education, incentives and regulation.
The committee, which is made up of Chatham-Kent council members, has had a number of reports, surveys and deputations to help them form a woodlot bylaw over the past few months, but going into last night’s meeting they were still not close to creating a draft bylaw to bring to the community so they can give their thoughts through a consultation process.
Councillor Trevor Thompson said the committee hasn’t really moved forward yet and decided what to do, as well as giving the community options.
“We haven’t presented anything to the community because we haven’t made any decisions as a committee, …it feels like we’re at a point where we have to decide what to do,” Thompson said.
The next Natural Heritage Committee of the Whole meeting will be held on March 21.
Councillors said it is important to hear from the landowners in upcoming consultations as the committee moves forward.
