Tree Removal - 20 A Thornwood Road (Midtown)

The Toronto Community Council recommends that City Council issue a permit for tree removal at 20 A Thornwood Road, conditional on the applicant:

(1)providing a detailed landscape plan for the property to be approved by the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism; and

(2)making a contribution to cover the cost of a replacement tree, satisfactory to the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism.

The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (January 4, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

An application for a permit to remove one tree on private property that the applicant=s arborist feels is not sustainable on the site has been filed by Mr. John Lloyd, Lloyd and Nodwell Landscape Architects, 59 Huntley Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 2L2, agent for the owner of 20 A Thornwood Road.

Financial Implications:

N/A

Recommendations:

Either 1, or 2 below

(1)refuse to issue a permit for tree removal; or

(2)issue a permit for tree removal conditional on the applicant providing a detailed landscape plan for the property to be approved by the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism.

Comments:

The tree in question is a seventy-five centimetre diameter weeping willow in fair condition. The arborist report prepared by Shady Lane Expert Tree Care Inc., dated September 25, 1998, that accompanies the application states that the willow tree is structurally weak and leaning towards the house. The report states that the tree was topped in the past resulting in sucker growth in the crown. The report concludes that the willow should be removed as it is not sustainable on this site. In the opinion of staff the willow tree is structurally sound and viable to maintain at this time. The previous owner constructed the existing house with the intention of preserving the willow tree on the site and contracted an arborist to implement a tree preservation plan to protect the tree during construction. The willow tree is a fast growing, weak wooded species and as the crown of this specimen consists of sucker growth, as a result of past severe pruning, the tree will have to be monitored regularly by a qualified tree expert in order to schedule any maintenance requirements.

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. Six written objections were received in response to the application to remove the tree in question. Copies of these letters have been forwarded to the Community Council Secretary for the Community Council to review.

Contact Name:

Andrew Pickett

Telephone:(416) 392-6644

Facsimile:(416) 392-6657

e-mail:apickett@toronto.ca

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(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 January 20, 1999, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk).

The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter, the communications (January 18, 1999 and December1, 1998) from Ms. Heather deVeber, in opposition to the application, 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. Stephen MacDonald, applicant; and

-Mr. Lewis Arnold, Arborist, on behalf of the applicant.