Removal of Trees from the Sheppard Avenue
and Bayview Avenue Rights-of-Way.
The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of
the following report (August 17, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation:
Purpose:
To authorize the removal of trees in connection with the construction of the Sheppard
Subway, Bayview Station, and the reconstruction of the Bayview Avenue/Sheppard Avenue
intersection.
Funding Sources:
The costs associated with the Bayview Station construction are the responsibility of the
Toronto Transit Commission, and the funds for the reconstruction and widening of the
BayviewAvenue/Sheppard Avenue intersection are available in Account No. C-TR-023,
SheppardAvenue, Beecroft Road to Leslie Street.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that authority be granted for the removal of 42 trees from the Sheppard
Avenue and Bayview Avenue rights-of-way.
Discussion:
Metro By-law No. 211-74, Section 10, ss(I) and (ii), provides that, "no person shall injure,
destroy, or cut down any tree on a Metropolitan Road without the approval of Metropolitan
Council".
The Sheppard Subway Bayview Station will lie roughly below the centreline of Sheppard
Avenue, extending from the east side of Bayview Avenue to approximately 320 metres east
of BayviewAvenue. In conjunction with the station construction, the Toronto Transit
Commission (TTC) will be undertaking the reconstruction of the Sheppard Avenue and
Bayview Avenue intersection on behalf of the City of Toronto.
According to established procedure, the TTC has had an arborist assess the trees impacted
by the station construction and has established a replacement value for the trees that must be
removed. The TTC is responsible for the replacement value plus associated costs for all trees
which have to be removed as a result of its work. The station construction requires the
removal of twenty-one (21) trees, with an assessed value including associated costs of
$21,655.00. These funds, and other funds collected as the result of the Sheppard Subway
work, will be used for tree replacement in the Sheppard Avenue corridor, pursuant to
existing procedure and practice in consultation with the Councillors, adjoining property
owners, and the Community.
The improvements to the Sheppard Avenue/Bayview Avenue intersection were approved by
Metropolitan Toronto Council on November 8, 1995, to support the approved development
in the North York Centre area. The widening will improve the safety and traffic handling
capacity of the Sheppard Avenue/Bayview Avenue intersection. The design of the
streetscape associated with the road widening is based on the Streetscape Study for the
Sheppard Avenue Corridor, carried out by the former City of North York Planning
Department. This plan includes the planting of approximately ninety (90) new street trees
within the project limits.
City of Toronto staff have also reviewed the impact of the reconstruction of the intersection
on the existing trees. Site inspections have been carried out by staff to consider all possible
design modifications to lane width, sidewalk layout, and boulevard treatment that can be
made to minimize the impact on the 60 existing trees within the construction zone. As part
of this review process, 39trees have been identified for protective measures and six trees
have been identified as potential transplant candidates. The proximity to underground plant,
utilities, or site conditions may preclude the transplanting of all six trees identified as
potential candidates, in which case these would be removed. In addition, 15 trees could not
be protected on site due to conflicts with the proposed road works and are scheduled for
removal, making a total of 21 trees identified for removal.
Notwithstanding the tree removals resulting from the subway and road construction, the total
number of trees in this area will increase by 48 upon completion of the construction project.
Conclusion:
In order to facilitate the construction of the Sheppard Subway, Bayview Station, it is
recommended that approval be granted to remove 42 trees.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Mr. David Butler, Manager, Sheppard Subway Traffic Operations, 392-5285.
(A copy of the location plans, which were appended to the foregoing report, has been
forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the September 8, 1998 meeting of
the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof is also on file in
the office of the City Clerk.)