April 8, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Director of Development and Support - Toronto Parks & Recreation, City Hall Office
Subject:192 Glencairn Avenue, Toronto, Ward 22 (North Toronto) - Municipal Code, Chapter 331, Article III, Trees
Purpose:
The Toronto Community Council deferred consideration of the report (February 4, 1998) from the Director of
Development and Support - Toronto Parks & Recreation, in order for staff to consult with the owners of 192 and 198
Glencairn Avenue to investigate the possibility that the proposed development at 198 Glencairn Avenue could take place
without encroaching into the root zone of a red oak tree. The February 4, 1998, report from the Director of Development
and Support was the result of an application for a permit to remove a red oak tree on private property to provide space and
light for the establishment of mature pyramidal English oaks to provide screening and privacy between 192 Glencairn
Avenue and the new house to be built at 198 Glencairn Avenue. The application was filed by Ms. Jan Allin, owner of 192
Glencairn Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1N2.
Recommendations:
Either 1, 2 or 3 below.
1) Refuse to issue a permit to remove or injure the tree.
2) Issue a permit for tree removal conditional on the applicant agreeing to plant a replacement tree on the property to the
satisfaction of the Director of Development and Support.
3) Issue a permit for injury to the tree conditional on the owner of 198 Glencairn Avenue implementing the tree
preservation plan prepared by Davey Tree Expert Company of Canada, based on an application to construct a new house at
198 Glencairn Avenue, submitted by Axis Planning & Development Consultants, 10 Morrow Avenue, Suite 103, Toronto,
M6R 2J1, agent for the owner of 198 Glencairn Avenue.
Comments:
In March 1998, staff from Development and Support, Toronto Parks & Recreation, consulted with the property owner=s of
192 and 198 Glencairn Avenue. Based on site plan sketches provided to staff, the proposed development at 198 Glencairn
Avenue is still designed to encroach within the root zone of the 68 centimetre diameter red oak located at 192 Glencairn
Avenue. The owner=s of 198 Glencairn Avenue have hired an arborist who, on the basis of the proposed construction, has
prepared a tree preservation plan to minimize the impact of the new house construction on the health of the red oak tree.
Since the tree will incur root damage with the development in its present form, a permit for tree injury from City Council
will be required. The portion of the property at 198 Glencairn Avenue that is in close proximity to the oak tree and that is
proposed to be developed is open lawn space at present, and an ideal growing environment for the root system of the oak.
Any development in this open lawn area will encounter the root system of the oak but the effect of the construction on the
health of the tree can be reduced if the recommendations of the arborist from Davey Tree Expert are implemented.
The one storey rear portion of the proposed development will come to within 2.5 metres from the base of the tree. This
portion of the house will be cantilevered 45 centimetres above the ground, thereby reducing the amount of excavation
required in the root zone of the oak tree. The potential for injury to the tree arises from the amount of compaction that will
occur in the trees root zone and the fact that the cantilevered portion will reduce the amount of moisture and air circulation
that the tree presently receives. Red oaks are a significant native tree in Toronto=s urban forest and if City Council issues a
permit for injury to the tree it should be conditional on the owner of 198 Glencairn Avene implementing the tree
preservation plan prepared by Davey Tree Expert Company of Canada, dated October 21, 1997.
Contact Name:Richard Ubbens
Telephone:(416) 392-1894
Facsimile:(416) 392-6657
e-mail:rubbens@city.toronto.on.ca
(Signed by SR) PM
Susan Richardson
Director of Development and Support - Toronto Parks & Recreation,
City Hall Office
___AEP
bcc:Councillor Anne Johnston, Suite 205, Metro Hall
Councillor Michael Walker, Suite 12, Toronto City Hall
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