City of Toronto investigating removal of trees on North York property

Neighbours and a Toronto councillor are enraged that a lot was “clear cut.”

Thestar.com
July 27, 2016
By David Rider

The “clear cut” of about 30 trees, including a towering 150-year-old Linden, from a controversial development site on leafy Bayview Ave. has enraged neighbours and the local city councillor.

City staff are investigating and say no permit was issued to remove trees on lots at 103 and 108 Bayview Ridge across from the Canadian Film Centre, south of York Mills Rd.

“Obviously it’s devastating for the neighbourhood,” said Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25 Don Valley West). “It’s really deplorable. I’ve had phone calls from people in tears.”

Robinson described the lot as having been “clear cut.”

The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) approved townhouses and detached homes on the lots, each previously with a single-family home, at the north and south corners of Bayview Ridge at the intersection with busy Bayview Ave.

Approval from the provincial appeal body came after neighbours objected to an application to the city for an official plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment to allow something other than single-family homes.

Philip Russel, who lives next to one of the lots, said neighbours were shocked to discover the heavily treed lots cleared down to mud, trunks strewn about including a massive Linden — a flowering tree favoured by bees.

“They're screwing up the planning process, they're making a farce of the work we’ve been doing for a year,” working with Robinson and others to find a compromise, Russel said. “It’s very sad.”

City reports on the redevelopment applications list M Behar Planning and Design Inc. as the contact.

Behar told the Star he had nothing to do with tree removal and to contact Ali Mohtashami of Pegah Construction Ltd. Mohtashami didn’t respond to a request for comment on this article Wednesday.

Arthur Beauregard, Toronto’s manager of urban forestry tree protection, said in an email that the city “is actively investigating potential tree bylaw contraventions at this site.”

“The process for anyone or any company where tree bylaw-regulated street trees, or private trees, are involved, is to apply for and obtain a permit prior to tree removal.”

Beauregard said the city would not release further details.

Penalties for illegal removal under Toronto’s tree bylaw are a minimum of $500 per tree, and a maximum of $100,000 per tree. There is also provision for a rarely applied “special fine” of $100,000.

Robinson said she hopes that the city cracks down on illegal tree removal. The fact that it happens despite regulation suggests fines need to be higher, she said, so “they are not just a line item in a developers’ budget.”

There are several other townhouse applications pending for Bayview Ave., Robinson added, criticizing the OMB for approving such developments.

“It’s completely transforming the area,” Robinson said of developers snapping up lots. “A lot of houses are empty or for sale. What was once a very beautiful vibrant neighbourhood is becoming a ghost town.”