I’m pleased to share with you this message from Peter Riedel.

If you have an answer to his question, please let us know:

Question

Hello,

It is my understanding that Developers are responsible for hosing down top soil areas that produce constant dust clouds.

I have seen incessant dust clouds on the Lakeshore/Park Lawn stretch for the entire summer. I pass through that area almost daily.

Worse yet are the clouds of dust that move over and coat the Butterfly Gardens of Humber Bay Shores.

With one of the driest summers on record I do NOT need to exaggerate the almost constant plumes and clouds of dust that hover and coat anything inside them.

It’s no wonder that I saw fewer butterflies this year in those “Butterfly Dust Gardens”

If the builders/developers are not responsible for wetting the top soil then who is? Who is held to account?

Peter Riedel

Update

Based on what I have learned, it’s my understanding that developers are indeed responsible for containment of dust clouds that emanate from their construction sites.

Just what form the containment takes, I don’t know.

Would materials creating dust be swept up and disposed of? Would there be a capture procedure in place? Whatever action is to be taken, as I understand, it would be the developer’s responsibility to attend to the issue.

Possibly the local Councillor’s office may be able to provide definitive information.

***************************

As well, I’ve received a further comment:

Yes, the developer is responsible.  Approach the developer, if no results complain to the city, then city staff then local councillor.

Further comment from Peter Riedel

(Oct. 1, 2012)

To Whom this may concern,

You may think this email an exaggeration but it is not.

Instead it is merely pointing out that Developers can usually get away with breaking city bylaws that the average citizen could not get away with.

In this case I speak directly to one of the driest summers on record and the subsequent dust clouds that continually sweep up and down the areas of Park Lawn and Lakeshore area in S.Etobicoke.

It is my understanding that Developers are responsible for hosing down top soil areas that produce constant dust clouds.

I have seen incessant dust clouds on the Lakeshore/Park Lawn stretch for the entire summer. I pass through that area almost daily.

Worse yet are the clouds of dust that move over and coat the Butterfly Gardens of Humber Bay Shores.

With one of the driest summers on record I do NOT need to exaggerate the almost constant plumes and clouds of dust that hover and coat anything inside them.

It’s no wonder that I saw fewer butterflies this year in those “Butterfly Dust Gardens”

If the builders/developers are not responsible for wetting the top soil then who is? Who is held to account?

Peter Riedel

Response from Councillor Mark Grimes’ office

First – Just Friendly reminder that the correct legal spelling of the street name is Lake Shore , not Lakeshore.. And yes it is important if you ever call from a cell phone for emergency assistance.

The builder is responsible to keep the surrounding area clean.

During the summer months along Park Lawn and Lake Shore , while there was excavation going on the builders had a street sweeper going up and down  the street  all day long  When the dust was high as it was very dry, the street sweeper was joined by a water truck that sprayed the street to keep the dust down.

There was a similar sweeper along Marine Parade Drive.

In Long Branch during the excavation of the  Building at the corner of Long Branch and Lake Shore Blvd there was also a street sweeper.

The walls put up (boards) rather than fences are to minimize dust on the street during the build.

The City also has a requirement for water being pumped out of the wholes being dug to be filtered and attached to the sewer system to minimize the dirt on the road and going into the storm wat

Councillor Grimes office had transportation by law officers out there everyday to investigate the complaints because of the hot dry summer we had earlier in the summer.

Dry hot days, many on end without rain and hotter than normal make all of the earth drier and dustier.

We have not had a single complaint or concern  from the Humber Bay Butterfly Habitat Stewardship group or the TRCA that the Butterfly area was being adversely affected or we would have had it investigated.

Office of Councillor Mark Grimes

Additional comment from another community observer (Oct. 1, 2012)

developers are responsible.
call 311, write 311, complain daily.
It takes a year for the City to respond.
pestering is the only way  to get action.
Health Department contact, environmental order by Ontario Min Environment.
Demand Stop Work Order.
If no action call the Star

Comment from still another community observer (Oct. 2, 2012)

Thanks for posting this, Jaan.  I too saw the dust clouds and while I also saw the sweepers and water truck , their ability to manage the dust on those hot dry summer days was virtually nil.

Good information to have in the community.