January 25, 2000
To: North York Community Council
From: Joe Halstead, Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Subject: Tree Removal Request - 38 Larkfield Drive
North York Centre South
Purpose:
This report provides information regarding an appeal to the Community Council from the owner of 38 Larkfield Drive to
permit the removal of a City owned 28 cm diameter Crimson King Norway Maple from the lawn in front of their house.
City Forestry staff have not permitted the removal of the tree.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The amenity value of the tree is $1,302.00 plus the removal costs of $475.00 total $1,777.00.
There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) the request to remove the City tree be refused.
Background:
On November 3, 1999, the Tree Protection Agreement file requiring the protection of the tree during the construction of a
new single family dwelling at this site (building permit application No. B98-4855) was closed and the Tree Survival
Guarantee of $1,777.00 refunded.
On January 20, 2000, a written request for the removal of the 28 cm diameter Crimson King Norway Maple tree was
received from the owner of the property, Mr. Feridoun Nasseri. Mr. Nasseri states that he has been unable to sell the
property for six months and is experiencing monetary loss (Attachment No. 1).
The tree is currently in good condition and coping well.
Comments:
Healthy trees are valuable assets to the quality of life in a community, and all neighbourhood residents have a stake in their
preservation. Removal of existing trees for this reason may set an undesirable precedence for the future preservation of
trees with similar circumstances throughout the region. 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.
Conclusions:
If Council permits this tree to be removed, such permission should be on the condition that the resident reimburse the City
for its amenity value plus removal totalling $1,777.00.
Contact:
Tony Fleischmann
Supervisor, Urban Forestry
Planning and Protection
Telephone: 395-6134
Fax: 395-7886
e-mail: afleisch@city.north-york.on.ca
Joe Halstead
Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
List of Attachments:
Attachment No. 1 - Letter from Mr. Nasseri
