Tree Removal - 165 Roxborough Street East (Midtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that:
(1)City Council refuse to issue a permit to remove the tree at 165 Roxborough Street
East, requiring the applicant to redesign his plans for construction of a new garage;
and
(2)the building permit for the new garage at 165 Roxborough Street East be granted
only if the utmost care is taken by the proponent to prevent injury to the tree.
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 one tree on private property in order to construct a
new garage has been filed by Mr. Stephen Kosa, 165 Roxborough Street East, Toronto,
Ontario, M4W 1V9, owner of 165 Roxborough Street East.
Recommendations:
Either 1 or 2 below.
(1)Refuse to issue a permit to remove the tree requiring the applicant to redesign his plans
for construction of a new garage.
(2)Issue a permit for removal of the tree conditional on i) the issuance of a building permit
for a new garage and ii) the applicant agreeing to plant a replacement tree to the satisfaction
of the Director of Development and Support.
Comments:
The tree in question is a forty-eight centimetre diameter horsechestnut in fair condition. The
report prepared by Bostock Tree Service that accompanies this application states that the
chestnut tree is healthy and viable in spite of being surrounded on three sides by asphalt and
concrete. The report states that the construction of a new garage is required due to a
Manitoba maple located at the rear of 157 Roxborough Street East that fell and crushed the
previous garage. The Manitoba maple also fell into the chestnut tree requiring extensive
corrective pruning on the west side of the chestnut. The report also states that if a new
garage is to be constructed on the same footprint as the old one, then the corner of the
concrete pad will be lifted along with the asphalt in the laneway by expansion of the tree's
root system, and the corner of the garage will have to allow for the expansion of the tree's
stem. The report concludes that one solution is the removal of the tree while another
involves an arborist working with an architect to save the tree during construction of a new
garage. The chestnut tree was able to coexist with the previous garage and if the plans for
the new garage are prepared with the thought of saving the tree, the tree could be preserved.
The requirements of the Buildings Division of Urban Planning and Development Services
will have to be considered prior to any proposed construction.
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. One written objection was received in response to the application to remove the
tree in question. A copy of this letter has 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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(A copy of the objection 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).
The following persons appeared before the Toronto Community Council in connection with
the foregoing matter:
-Mr. D. Mueller, Toronto, Ontario; and
-Mr. Stephen Kosa, Owner.
