Tree Removal Request -

45 Langholm Drive -

Black Creek

The North York Community Council recommends that the City tree not be removed.

The North York Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to instruct forestry staff to prune the tree upward to address the concerns of the resident regarding security and safety and that this be done on a priority basis at no cost to the homeowner.

The North York Community Council submits the following report (January 7, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

This report provides information regarding an appeal to the Community Council from the resident at 45 Langholm Drive to permit the removal of a City-owned street tree from the lawn in front of her house which has been disallowed by City forestry staff.

Source of Funds:

Staff and equipment costs to remove this tree and its stump would total $85.00 if carried out on regular time and $105.00 if carried out on overtime. The City would lose an asset worth approximately $400.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)this request to remove a City tree be refused, and

(2)if City Council permits this tree to be removed, that it be on condition that

(i)the resident reimburse the City for its costs to remove the tree on overtime at $105.00, in order that this work does not bump other tree work for residents who have been waiting for their requests to make it to the top of the waiting list; and

(ii)the resident reimburse the City for the value of the removed tree at $400.00 and that these funds be used to purchase a large tree of the resident's choice of species as a replacement for the tree on the road allowance in front of her property or elsewhere in her neighbourhood.

Background:

On June 9, 1998 a request was forwarded from Councillor Li Preti's office on behalf of the resident at 45 Langholm Drive, Mrs. Spirito, to remove a clump white birch tree from the City road allowance in front of her property. Mrs. Spirito is elderly and has difficulty raking its leaves each fall and washing the dirt and dust off her car which she says is blown onto it from the tree. Mrs. Spirito also advised the Councillor that she could not afford to hire anyone to help her manage these tasks.

Staff inspected the tree on June 12, 1998 and found it to be an attractive, healthy specimen. There is a hole in one of the trunks but the tree does not pose a hazard. The Department advised the Councillor's office (Appendix 'A') that it could not agree with the tree's removal as it was an asset to the street and neighbourhood. The Department also informed the Councillor's office about the LINK service provided in North York, which puts elderly and disabled homeowners in North York in touch with able-bodied students and adults willing to perform maintenance work for low rates of pay. Mrs. Spirito was not pleased with the Department refusal to remove the tree but asked for it to be pruned instead. Staff inspected the tree again on September 30, 1998 and advised Mrs. Spirito that the tree did not require pruning and that doing so would be detrimental to its health. Mrs Spirito was given a card with the Forestry section's number and invited to call at the end of July for a follow-up inspection to see how the tree was doing and whether any pruning would be advisable at that time.

Mrs. Spirito is unhappy with the Department response. Councillor Li Preti has asked for the issue to be referred to the Community Council for resolution.

Conclusion:

Healthy, attractive trees are valuable assets to the quality of life in a community, and all neighbourhood residents have a stake in their preservation. For this reason, the Department can not recommend their removal to accommodate the wishes of individual homeowners, except in situations where no reasonable alternative can be found. We do not consider this situation to be such a case.

Contact Name:

Eric Benoit

395-6155

ebenoit@city.north-york.on.ca

________

A recorded vote on Part 1 of a motion moved by Councillor Mammoliti, North York Humber, that the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism submit a report outlining a Tree Removal Policy for seniors, was as follows:

FOR:Councillors Mammoliti, Li Preti, Augimeri, Berger

AGAINST:Councillors Moscoe, Flint, Gardner, Filion, Minnan-Wong, Shiner, King

ABSENT:Councillors Sgro, Feldman, Chong

The motion was declared by the Chair to be lost.

A recorded vote on Part 2 of a motion moved by Councillor Mammoliti, North York Humber, that the existing tree be removed and replaced at no charge to the homeowner, was as follows:

FOR:Councillors Moscoe, Feldman, Berger, Flint, Gardner, Filion, Minnan-Wong, Shiner, King

AGAINST:Councillors Mammoliti, Li Preti, Augimeri

ABSENT:Councillors Sgro, Chong

Carried

(A copy of Appendix A referred to in the foregoing report is on file in the office of the City Clerk, North York Civic Centre.)