Item - 2024.NY12.25

That North York Community Council:

1. Approved the request for a permit to remove four City-owned trees located at 3900 Yonge Street, conditional upon the applicant:

a. providing payment of the appraised value of the subject trees ($9,091.00);

b. agreeing to have the trees and stumps removed at their expense;

c. providing two replacement trees for each tree removed totaling eight trees, which can be achieved in a combination of on-site planting and cash in-lieu of planting to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and;

d. if any of the required replacement trees are planted by or on behalf of the applicant, within the City-owned road allowance, a tree planting security deposit in the amount of $583 per tree shall be required to guarantee the trees’ survival and health for a period of 2 years, from the date that planting is accepted as satisfactory by Urban Forestry. 

This report requests that North York Community Council deny the request for a permit to remove four City-owned trees located at 3900 Yonge Street. The applicant indicates the reason for requesting removal of the trees is to widen an existing single lane driveway to accommodate two large vehicles and an adjacent walkway.

The trees in question include a black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) measuring 29 centimeters in diameter; an Austrian pine tree (Pinus nigra) measuring 41 centimeters in diameter; and two Colorado blue spruce trees (Picea pungens) measuring 29 centimeters and 32 centimeters in diameter. The City's Tree By-laws do not support the removal of these trees as they are healthy and maintainable. The permit was denied, and the applicant is appealing the decision. 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 denial of a permit of a tree protected under the By-laws.