Tree Removal Request - 46 Craigmore Crescent - North York Centre

The North York Community Council recommends that the foregoing report (May 19, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, not be adopted and the resident at 46 Craigmore Crescent be permitted to remove the tree on City property, conditional upon the resident absorbing all costs involved in the removal of the tree and replacement thereof with a more suitable one, in consultation with the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

This report provides information regarding an appeal to the Community Council from the resident at 46 Craigmore Crescent to permit the removal of a City-owned street tree from the lawn in front of their house which has been disallowed by the City Forestry staff.

Source of Funds:

Staff and equipment to remove this tree and its stump would total $402.00 if carried out on regular time and $475.00 if carried out on overtime. The City would lose an asset worth $644.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)this request to remove a City tree be refused; or

(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 trees on overtime at $475.00, 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 on May 7, 1999 the City for the value of the removed tree at $644.00 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:

A request was forwarded through our forestry office for the removal of a 29 cm Austrian Pine tree at 46 Craigmore Crescent. On May 7, 1999 an inspection indicated that the tree was fine and removal was not justified.

A follow up request through Councillor Filion's Office resulted in another inspection by staff which agreed with the original evaluation.

The resident is unhappy with the Departments response and Councillor Filion has asked for the issue be referred to the Community Council for resolution.

Conclusion:

Healthy 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 alternatives can be found. We do not consider this situation to be such a case.

Contact name:

Tony Fleischmann

Supervisor, Urban Forestry

Planning and Protection

395-6134

________

A recorded vote on the recommendation moved by Councillor Filion, North York Centre, was as follows:

FOR:Councillors Mammoliti, Sgro, Li Preti, Augimeri, Berger, Flint, Gardner, Chong, Filion, Shiner

AGAINST:Councillors Moscoe, King

ABSENT:Councillors Feldman, Minnan-Wong

Carried