Tree Removal - Wychwood Park Pond and
Forest Rehabilitation (Midtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that City Council issue a permit for
removal of five trees at Wychwood Park, subject to the Wychwood Park Trustees
planting five replacement trees in the general neighbourhood, to the satisfaction of the
Director of Development and Support, Toronto Parks and Recreation.
The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council that it has
requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism (Parks and
Recreation Division) to write to the objectors and enclose a copy of the report (August 31,
1998) from the Director of Development and Support - Toronto Parks and Recreation.
The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (August 31, 1998) from
the Director of Development and Support, Toronto Parks and Recreation, City Hall
Office:
Purpose:
An application for a permit to remove five trees on private property in order to carry out
pond restoration and forest rehabilitation work has been filed by Marc Gacomelli, 81
Wychwood Park, Toronto, M6G 2V5, Wychwood Park Trustee.
Recommendations:
Either 1 or 2 below.
(1)Issue a permit for removal of the trees.
(2)Refuse to issue a permit for tree removal.
Comments:
The trees in question are a thirty-one centimetre diameter black locust, two thirty-five
centimetre diameter silver maples, a thirty-seven centimetre diameter white ash and a
thirty-two centimetre diameter Norway maple. The report prepared by Gartner Lee Limited,
Environmental Consultants states that the removal of the above trees is necessary to
establish vegetation along the pond shoreline. The report states that as part of the pond and
forest management, selective removal of trees along the shoreline should be conducted to
reduce the shade canopy over the pond and permit the shoreline planting's to become
established. The report also states that the purpose of the forest management would be to
enhance the aesthetics of the woods, permit the establishment of a healthy groundcover and
young vegetation, and promote a sustainable ecosystem consisting of more native species
representative of the Carolinian forest that used to cover the area.
The arborist report prepared by Thomson, Bruce and Associates, Consulting Arborists and
Foresters, identifies several reasons for removal of the trees described above, these include
trees within the limits of pond excavation, trees located within a critical storm outfall zone
identified for restoration, trees identified as a major source of organic debris which is
undesirable for water quality and a mature Norway maple, an invasive exotic species that
prevents the establishment of more desirable species. The arborist report also states that
every effort will be made to preserve as many trees as possible. The proposed pond
restoration and forest management proposed by the Wychwood Park Trustees demonstrates
ecological awareness and in the opinion of Urban Forestry staff, the loss of the five trees
described above is necessary to achieve the long term benefits which will result from this
management plan.
A notice of application sign was 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. Four written objections were received in response to the application to remove
the trees in question. Copies of these letters have been forwarded to the Community Council
Secretary for the Community Council to review.
Contact Name:
Richard Ubbens
Telephone:(416) 392-1894
Facsimile:(416) 392-6657
e-mail:rubbens@city.toronto.on.ca
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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:
-(September 15, 1998) from Ms. Marjorie Wilton, Chair, Wychwood Park Heritage
Advisory Committee;
-(September 14, 1998) from Mr. Donald C. Harrison, on behalf of the three Wychwood
Park Trustees.
The following persons appeared before the Toronto Community Council in connection with
the foregoing matter:
-Dr. Don Harrison, Trustee, Toronto Ontario;
-Mr. Ruedi Hofer, PMA Landscape Architects, Toronto, Ontario; and
-Mr. Ian Bruce, Arborist, Toronto, Ontario.
(A copy of the objections, referred to in the foregoing report was forwarded to all Members
of the Toronto Community Council with the agenda for its meeting on September 16, 1998,
and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk).