wow. no laws against that sort of thing? Here in the Pac. NW, schools, factories
and business complexes are built AROUND these sorts of things.
We have a frog pond near our house that 60 years ago boys chased frogs in.
When they scheduled to build the african american academy on that plot of land, we all grieved the loss. But instead, they left about an acre, fenced it all offbounds from people, and there are still frogs, rushes and birds there.

I am sorry to hear about that. very sad indeed. I just finished reading about the near demise of yet another butterfly for the same reason. they keep developing on "barren" land where wonderful little ecosystems once lived...