January 15, 1998

TORONTO

To: Toronto Community Council

Origin: Commissioner of Community Services

Subject: 300, 304 St. Clair Avenue West and 345 Spadina Road, Toronto -

Application to Remove Four Trees and Injure One Tree Situated on Private Property (Midtown)

Purpose:

This report is before Toronto Community Council given that an application for a permit to injure and destroy trees on private property has been filed to the City in accordance with the provisions of City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 331, Trees, Article III. The application is requesting the issuance of a permit to remove four trees and injure one tree, all trees situated on private property, in order to facilitate the construction of seven (7) residential townhouse units at 304 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

That if Toronto Community Council approves the request for the removal of the four trees and the injury of one tree, all trees noted below, that such approval be conditional on:

1. the trees in question not being removed or injured until permitted demolition and construction related activities in accordance with plans approved under Site Plan Approval Application No. 397111 commence which warrant the removal of the trees; and

2. the applicant planting a minimum of one hundred and five (105) new trees (seventy-seven (77) of which are cedars to be planted as hedging), in accordance with the Landscape Plan prepared by Terraplan Landscape Architects, dated stamped as received on December 8, 1997 by Urban Development Services, red-lined on December 19, 1997 and on file with the Commissioner of Urban Development Services.

Comments:

I have received a request from Mr. Geoffrey Belchetz of 1158528 Ontario Limited., 435 Spadina Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5P 2W3, owner of the subject development property (304 St. Clair Avenue West), that the City consider the removal of four trees and the injury of one other, all trees situated on the

private properties noted above. The request forms part of Site Plan Approval Application No. 397111 for the purpose of facilitating the construction of seven residential townhouse units on the above noted property.

Three of the five trees which are the subject of this application are situated on the private properties of 300 St. Clair Avenue West and 345 Spadina Road which are adjacent to the development site. The owners of these two adjacent properties have provided written consent to permit the injury and/or destruction of the trees on their properties. The remaining two trees are situated on the private property of the development site, 304 St. Clair Avenue West.

As required under Section 331-13.B. of Municipal Code Chapter 331, Trees, Article III, a ‘Notice’ of application sign was posted on the property for the minimum 14 day posting period. Nine letters have been received in response to the notice of application to remove and injure the trees in question. At the time of writing this report, one of the nine written objections had been formally withdrawn by the objector.

The five trees in question are as follows:

(Application for a permit has been filed to remove trees # 1 to 4 noted below and injure tree #5)

All five trees require a permit and the consent of City Council to remove or injure.

The proposed development in its present form precludes the retention of the five trees noted above due to the size and scale of the development.

The landscape plan which forms part of the Site Plan Approval application indicates the planting of one hundred and five (105) new trees (seventy-seven (77) of which are cedars to be planted as hedging) throughout the development site including ten (10) trees within the City street allowances adjacent to the development site. Eleven (11) of the total number of trees proposed for planting are large growing shade tree species.

Should the Community Council recommend that the request to remove and injure the trees in question be approved, such approval should meet the conditions outlined above in my recommendation.

Contact Name: Gary R. Le Blanc

Susan Richardson

Director

Development and Support

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