June 23, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Joe Halstead, Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Subject:36 Herbert Avenue - Request to Remove City-Owned Tree - Ward 26 - East Toronto
Purpose:
An application has been received from Mr. Derek Chibba, 36 Herbert Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2, for City
Council to consider the removal of one City-owned tree located at the above noted address. The applicant advises that the
tree blocks the sight-line from the street to his house, cuts off the sunlight to the house and precludes his opportunity to
apply for front yard parking. The applicant has indicated that he would be happy to have another tree planted on the
boulevard instead of this tree.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that the request for removal of this City-owned tree be denied.
Comments:
The tree in question is a thirty-four centimetre diameter White Spruce in good condition, valued at $1,813.42 and does not
qualify for removal at this time. The cost to remove the tree is $441.30 and the cost to plant a replacement tree is $565.15,
for a total of $2,819.87. If Council should approve tree removal contrary to the recommendation in this report, it should be
conditional on the applicant paying all costs involved, as noted above.
With respect to the applicant's concerns about the tree blocking the sunlight and obscuring the house, a recent inspection
from a Forestry Inspector found that the tree was only slightly obstructing the walkway to the house and was not
obstructing any sight-line. It was also observed that there is a fire hydrant in front of the house which would make it
difficult to accommodate front yard parking.
Conclusion:
The tree is in a healthy and vigorous state of growth and does not require removal at this time. Since it would be necessary
to remove a healthy tree, which does not qualify for removal at this time, this Department is opposed to removal of this
tree. Furthermore, removal of trees for this purpose would set an undesirable precedent resulting in thousands of trees
being removed City wide.
Contact:
Vicky Jeffery
392-7390
Joe Halstead
Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
