STAFF REPORT

February 29, 2000

To: North York Community Council

From: Joe Halstead, Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

Subject: Tree Removal Request - 144 Upper Canada Drive

North York Centre South

Purpose:

This report provides information regarding an appeal to the Community Council from the owner of the above address to permit the removal of a City owned 36 cm 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 $1,579.00 plus the removal costs of $475.00 total $2,054.00.

There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) this request to remove the City tree be refused.

Background:

On January 17, 2000, correspondence was received through the Mayor's Office from the property owner, Heather Robinson, regarding blocked sewer problems from tree roots. The drain concerns were forwarded to the Works and Emergency Services Department for attention under the blocked sewer connections repair and grant policy. Also through the correspondence and a further telephone conversation with the property owner, a request for the removal of the tree was made.

The tree is currently in good condition and coping well.

Comments:

Tree roots generally grow in the upper 60 cm of soil where necessary oxygen, moisture and nutrients are available. If sewer connections are broken or damaged, roots may be attracted to greater soil depth and grow into pipes causing blockages in the drains. The tree roots however, are not the cause of the original damage.

Healthy trees are valuable assets to the quality of life in a community, and all neighbourhood residents have a stake in their preservation. As the Works and Emergency Services Department have a comprehensive repair and grant program regarding blocked sewer connections by tree roots, proper repair of the drain system will alleviate the sewer connection problems and tree root concerns. Removal of trees for this reason would also set an undesirable precedent and result in the removal of tens of thousands of trees across the City. For this reason, the Department can not recommend the 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 granted on the condition that the resident reimburse the City for its amenity value plus removal totalling $2,054.00.

Contact:

Tony Fleischmann

Supervisor, Urban Forestry

Planning and Protection

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 H. Robinson