Tree Removal - 271 Forest Hill Road (Midtown)

The Toronto Community Council recommends that City Council issue a permit for tree removal at 271 Forest Hill Road, conditional on the applicant planting two eighty millimetre caliper sugar maple replacement trees upon completion of construction as indicated in the application for tree removal.

The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (May 11, 1998) from the Director of Development and Support, Toronto Parks and Recreation:

Purpose:

An application for a permit to remove one tree on private property to allow for the removal of an existing retaining wall and the construction of a replacement residence has been filed by Taylor Hannah Architect Inc., 5 Thornwood Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 2R8, agent for the owner of 271 Forest Hill Road.

Recommendations:

Either 1 or 2 below.

(1) Refuse to issue a permit to remove the tree requiring the applicant to redesign the proposed new residence.

(2) Issue a permit for tree removal conditional on the applicant planting two eighty millimetre caliper sugar maple replacement trees upon completion of construction as indicated in the application for tree removal.

Comments:

The tree in question is a forty-eight centimetre diameter Norway spruce in fair condition. The report prepared by Bostock Tree Service, that accompanies this application states that the construction activity associated with the demolition of the existing house and reconstruction of the dilapidated retaining wall will destroy a major portion of the trees root system. The report states that even if the tree survived it would be unstable and susceptible to the prevailing southwest winds. The applicant has stated in the application that two sugar maple trees will be planted as replacement if approval is granted for the removal of the Norway spruce tree. It should be noted that the two spruce trees directly west of the above noted tree will also be removed for the same reasons. These two trees meet the criteria for an exemption under Article III, Chapter 331 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code.

The construction activity proposed for this property will be extensive and it will be difficult to adequately protect the spruce tree from injury. The property is well treed and the removal of the spruce tree, conditional on the replacement planting of two sugar maples after construction will not significantly reduce the tree cover in the neighbourhood.

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. Two 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:

Richard Ubbens

Telephone: (416) 392-1894

Facsimile: (416) 392-6657

e-mail: rubbens@city.toronto.on.ca

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The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter, a joint communication (May 25, 1998) from Ms. Barbara Cole, Mr. Steve Levitan and Mr. Andrew S. Volgyesi, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.

Ms. Dee Dee Hannah, Toronto, Ontario appeared before the Toronto Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter.

(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 May 27, 1998, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk).