Driveways - 325 Hollywood Avenue - North York Centre

 The North York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (April 27, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

 Purpose:

 The residents of 325 Hollywood Avenue have requested approval of two curb cuts/driveway entrances for the construction of a single family dwelling.

 On March 23, 1998, a report to the North York Community Council from the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works did not support this report, and as a tree was involved, the matter was referred back to the Parks and Recreation Division (Urban Forestry) for a further report.

 Source of Funds:

 There are no City funds required with respect to this matter.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that:

 (1)the applicant be permitted to construct two driveway entrances at 325 Hollywood Avenue in conjunction with the construction of a new single family dwelling; and

 (2)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

 Council Reference/Background/History:

 The residents of 325 Hollywood Avenue have requested approval of two curb cuts/driveway entrances for the construction of a new single family dwelling.

 On March 23, 1998, a report to the North York Community Council from the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works did not support this request citing the policy of the former City of North York Council, which reads in part:

 AThat the curb cut policy for two (2) driveway entrances be for lots 18.3

metres (60 feet) or greater as long as this total width of the curb cut does not

exceed 7.5 metres (25 feet) and the 50% front yard hard surface requirement

of Section 7, By-Law No. 7625, is maintained@.

 The matter was referred back to the Parks and Recreation Division (Urban Forestry) on the best method of designing this driveway in order to protect the Silver Maple on the road allowance. This report recommends approval of this request for reasons cited in the following section.

 Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

 There is one large, 47 cm Silver maple on the road allowance in front of this 13.11 metre ( 43 feet) wide lot. This tree has been evaluated as being in >good= condition (Appendix I). The tree is located 7.4 metres ( 24.7 feet) west of the east property line and 5.71 metres ( 19 feet ) east of the west property line. It is 1.8 metres (6 feet) from the curb. A double width driveway placed on either side of this tree would severely encroach on the required protection zone of 2.8 metres (9.3 feet ) set out from each side of the trunk of the tree. The owner of this property, Mr Firoz Gulamhusein, has proposed two 2.9 metre ( 9.6 feet ) wide driveways with 1.2 metre ( 4 feet ) setbacks from the east and west property lines (Appendix II). The narrow width of these driveways allows for the most optimum protection zone for the tree in question.

 The requested curb cuts would service the proposed new single family dwelling driveway design and better preserve the large City tree. Other single double-width driveway design options would encroach to a greater extent into the required tree protection zone and increase the likelihood of decline, or possibly death, of the tree. The front yard hard surface requirement of 60 percent would not be exceeded with this design.

Conclusions:

 A double width driveway servicing the proposed new residence would severely encroach on the required tree protection zone for this centrally located tree, regardless of which side of the property the driveway was placed on. The proposed driveway design implementing two narrow driveways set near the edge of the side property lines affords minimal encroachment in the required tree protection area providing a higher degree of protection for the City tree. For this reason, we support this design proposal and its requirement of two curb cuts.

 Contact Name:

 Bob Crump

Supervisor of Urban Forestry and Environmental Services

Tel. No.: 416-395-7991

Fax. No.: 416-395-7937

E-mail:bcrump@city.north-york.on.ca

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