Item - 2023.TE7.25

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Denied the request for a permit to remove one privately owned tree located at 72 Wardell Street.

This report requests that Toronto and East York Community Council deny the request for a permit to remove one privately owned tree located at 72 Wardell Street. The applicant indicates the reason for requesting removal of the tree is due to the construction of a laneway suite.

The honey locust tree, Gleditsia triacanthos, in question measures 69.5 cm in diameter. The City's Tree By-laws do not support the removal of this tree as it is healthy and maintainable.

Further, under the City of Toronto's Official Plan Amendment 403(b)iv, the development of laneway suites should not result in the injury or removal of a healthy tree protected under Municipal Code 813. City Council has directed the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to refuse, at the General Manager's discretion, a permit to injure or destroy a healthy tree protected under Municipal Code Chapter 813, received as part of an application to construct a laneway suite.

Community Council has delegated authority from City Council to make a final decision as to whether a permit may be issued when an applicant wishes to appeal the City's decision to deny a tree permit.