An Area Structure Plan for Fort Saskatchewan's newest neighbourhood, Pointe Aux Pins, was approved by City Council last week despite some disagreement over trees.

Three of the seven members of City Council objected to the plan. Councillor Brian Kelly and Councillor Gordon Harris said they were not happy that the plan kept a 1.4 hectare tree stand.

This tree stand originally surrounded a farmhouse.

"The tree stand I consider a waste of time and energy," Kelly said. "Anybody  who has had squirrels in their house will understand you don't need squirrels next to any residential or commercial structure. They are extremely damaging."

The plan already calls for preserving the forest in the river valley at Pointe Aux Pins creek, Harris said. "We probably have one of the most significant forest canopies of any community in the area."

Keeping the tree stand in the upper area of the plan which is intended to residential and commercial development is a waste of land, Harris said. 

Councillor Patrick Noyen objected to the plan, saying the stormwater system may damage Pointe Aux Pins creek.

The new neighbourhood will be the first to be developed in the area annexed by the City of Fort Saskatchewan in 2019. The Pointe Aux Pins neighbourhood is located west of Highway 21 and north of Partridge Hill Road, which is the new southern boundary of Fort Saskatchewan.