Community News

PROPERTY OWNER DONATES LAND PARCEL TO CRAMAHE TOWNSHIP

A St. Catharines man is donating a 5.5acre parcel of land he purchased in Cramahe several years ago back to the township. The land on his Ibbotson Road property has developed into a wetland since

Mark Charlton bought the property 22 years ago.

"When I bought the property in 2000, it was not a wetland," Charlton explained.

With a then-pending employment relocation to Oshawa, he had plans to build a residence on the property. But his job remained based in St. Catharines, so the building plans were nixed.

"The beavers moved in and created wetlands," Charlton said.

With the land now being declared as an environmentally-important wetland and residential land use is not permitted, Charlton proposed the municipality assume the property as an environmental asset.

"This wetland will be preserved, an important indication of how seriously Cramahe Township considers our natural ecological assets," said Cramahe Township Mayor Mandy Martin.

"We are very grateful and pleased to receive this generous legacy from Mark Charlton.

Victoria Heffernan, Cramahe Township planner, said wetlands have the highest concentration of habitat biodiversity.

Charlton said he suspects there are all kinds of waterfowl on the property, and he has seen deer and wild turkeys.

"I'm very happy the township is thrilled to assume ownership," he said. "I'm thrilled you are thrilled."

NEWS

en-ca

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281625308910583

Metroland Media Group Ltd.