Tree Removal - 88 Lonsdale Road (Midtown)

 The Toronto Community Council recommends that City Council issue a permit for tree removal at 88 Lonsdale Road, conditional on the applicant agreeing to plant, at his expense, two red oaks replacement trees on the private property or the municipal property fronting 88 Lonsdale Road.

 The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (July 9, 1998) from the Director of Development and Support, Toronto Parks and Recreation, City Hall Office:

 Purpose:

 An application for a permit to remove one tree on private property to allow for the construction of a new house has been filed by Mr. Davide Carnevale, The Tree Specialists Inc., 1081 Manchester Crescent, Oakville, Ontario, L6M 1G2, agent for the owner of 88 Lonsdale Road.

 Recommendations:

 Either 1 or 2 below.

1)Issue a permit for tree removal conditional on the applicant agreeing to plant a red oak replacement tree on the property.

 2)Refuse to issue a permit to remove the tree requiring the applicant to abandon or redesign the plans for the proposed new house.

 Comments:

 The tree in question is a forty-eight centimetre diameter linden in fair condition. The arborist report prepared by The Tree Specialists Inc., that accompanies this application states that the linden tree is growing within the building envelope for the proposed new house and therefore not possible to preserve during construction. The applicant has indicated that he would be willing to plant two honey locust trees as replacement if approval is granted for the removal of the linden tree. In recent years this neighbourhood has seen the removal of several mature trees as a result of old age and the competition from development. It would be beneficial to the neighbourhood if a large growing shade tree such as a red oak were planted, instead of a honey locust, as a replacement if a permit is issued for the removal of the linden.

 A notice of application sign has been posted on the property for the required 14 day posting period, in order to notify the neighbourhood and provide an opportunity for objection to the application. The last day to receive written objections will be July 14, 1998, and if any written objections are received they will be forwarded to the Community Council Secretary for the Community Council to review at their July 22, 1998, meeting.

 Contact Name:

 Richard Ubbens

Telephone:(416) 392-1894

Facsimile:(416) 392-6657

e-mail:rubbens@city.toronto.on.ca

 The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter, the following communications, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk:

-Four letters of objection addressed to the Parks and Recreation Department

-(July 20, 1998) from Ms. Marlene Miller

 Mr. Dwight Chizen, Toronto, Ontario appeared before the Toronto Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter.