Transcript: Approves Traffic Safety, Tree Protections - Scarborough Community Council - April 1, 2026 | Summary 170

Approves Traffic Safety, Tree Protections - Scarborough Community Council - April 1, 2026

Good morning everyone. Good morning. Wait, check is working. Good morning everyone. I'm councelor Nick Mantis and I'm the vice chair of the Scrubber Community Council and will be chairing today's meeting. We have quorum. I am now calling meeting 30 to order. Welcome everyone. Today's meeting is held is being held by video conference and in person at the Scarbo Civic Center in the council chamber. This meeting is also being livereamed online at youtube.com/orronto city councsilive. Although we may be meeting in different locations today, community council would like to acknowledge that the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Missagas of the Credit, the Anesnab, the Chipawa, the Hondoni, and the Wendad peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Matei people. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Missagas of the Credit and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Missagas and Chipoa bands. If you are a registered speaker, if you're registered to speak at today's meeting, please listen to me to call your name. I will call speakers in the order that they appear on the list. The list of speakers can be viewed online by visiting the Scarbor Community Council page at toronto.ca and clicking the speakers box for today's meeting. Members, the clerk has provided the agenda materials on toronto.ca and on CMP. the clerk's meeting portal. Uh, clerk's IT staff are available to members if you need help with your devices. I also want to remind you to please submit and approve your motions by email. Staff are available at sec toronon.ca to help with motions. Are there any declarations of interest under the municipal conflict of interest act? Seeing none, um, we will proceed. Um, may I have a motion to confirm the minutes from our last meeting on February 19th, 2026? Councelor Shan. All in favor? Carried. Thank you. Now we can go through the items. So SC 30.1 5445 Steels Avenue East zoning bylaw amendment decision report approval. It's held for speakers. SC 30.2 2740 Lawrence Avenue East part control exemption application decision report approval uh war 21 councelor Thompson. Yes. Good morning, Mr. Chair. Good morning. Uh I can move the staff recommendation with a great deal of uh thanks and gratitude to staff for bringing this forward. Thank you. Moving staff recommendations. All in favor? Carried. SC 30.3224 Timber Bank Boulevard application to remove two private trees. It's held for speakers. 30.4 226 Scarboro Crescent application to remove a private tree. Uh Ward 20 councilor Candville held for speakers SC 30.5 highway 2A sound mitigation update. Um for W 25 council Shen moving receipt all in favor carried SC 30.6 Homestead Road at at a point 2 275 m north of Coronation Drive pedestrian crossing protection uh Scarbor Rouge Park. Councelor Shan moving staff recommendation with uh gratitude towards uh the work that was done by the staff. Thank you councelor Shen move. All in favor carried. SC 30.7 popular road traffic calming speed humps war 24 councelor Aninssley's we are there is an amen there is a an amendment. Can we put it on the screen? Scarbo Community Council referred the item to the director enforcement and street management, transportation services, and requests a report back on Pop the Road traffic coming after the Metro Link's work to install a pedestrian tunnel at the CN Rail and Pop the Road intersection is completed. A permanent closure of Pop the Road at CN Rail is enforced. All in favor? Carried. SC 30.8 Eight. Nightstar road traffic calming speed cushions and heavy vehicle prohibition war 25. Councelor Shen. Thank you. Moving staff recommendations with thanks to staff as well as the community for their input and participation. All in favor of staffs [clears throat] carried. SC 30.9 Tower Drive traffic calming speed humps war 21. Councelor Thompson. Uh yes, Mr. Chair. I'd like to move the staff recommendations and to thank the transportation staff and of course our allstar um Mary Newton for her tremendous work and I really appreciate that the residents have been waiting for a long long time for this and uh it's finally going to happen. So we are indeed gratified. On behalf of the community, I'd like to say again thanks to staff for their great work and move the recommendations carried SC 30.10 Kennedy Road at a point 140 meters north of DNC Avenue. Hi chair is councelor Candal. I can't seem to hear the audio for me is not working. Is this better? Councelor Cair Mantis now. Councelor Mantis, I don't know if you can hear me. We can hear you. Um, is the audio working for you? Can you hear me? Because I can't hear anything. Yes, you can't hear. Councelor Thommpson, can you hear me? Yes, I can. Councelor Cannibal, I can hear you. I think it's a problem on my end. I can't I saw the little bit there's a little bit of static, but we can I can hear you. We did. We can hear you, Cerville. Can you hear us? Hello. Can uh someone try something else? I changed the output. Yeah. Can you read him? Hello, Councelor Mantis. Can you hear me? I can hear you. Councelor Candville, we're going to have to mute you and you're going to have to restart your computer. Hello. Testing. We can hear you. Um I I'm not hearing anything. No, I I'm not hearing you guys. I know. Um I'm not sure what the issue is. Councelor, may could you try your phone and still keep your video on? I see you talk, Councelor Thommpson, but I'm not hearing anything. Um, let's uh someone recess for technical difficulties right now. All right, let's call them. Yeah. Hi, Jabal. Hi folks. I signed on. We can hear you now. Can you hear us? Pastor Cam Devel, can you hear us? No. No. Caser Kendall, can you hear us? Video through the So, I think somebody's unmuting. Can you hear us now? Hi. Good morning, folks. Can you hear me and see me? Good morning, Council Campbo. Can you hear us? I can hear you guys and see you guys. We're all We're all good. Okay. Sorry. Sorry for the technical challenges on my end. Apologize, everyone. Not Not a problem. Not a problem. These things happen. Um so ladies and gentlemen let's resume uh the meeting SC 30.10 10. Um, moving staff recommendations. All in favor? Carried. SC 30.11 pharmacy Avenue and Stellarton Road, Camila Crescent, traffic control, uh, signals, W 20, Councelor Candavville. I'll move staff recommendation. Moving staff recommendations. All in favor? Carried. SC 30.12 Woodland Park Road parking amendments uh war 20 councelor Kandaval I'll move staff recommendation moving staff recommendations all in favor carried SC 30.13 730 military trail designation of fire roots and amendment to chapter 880 fire routes this is in war 24 councelor Aninsley I'll be moving stock recommendations all in favor carried SC 3.14 Avenue parking amendment reopening item SC 23.22 W 20 cer kendal I'll move the recommendation or am I adding it to the agenda? I think I need to add it to the agenda first. Right. Motion to add to the agenda. Carried. Um do we just come back? Okay. So we'll be coming back to the uh to the item. Councelor Cannibal SC 30.15 Flare Road traffic calming war 25 counc moving motion to add to the agenda. Moving motion to add to the agenda carried. And the last one SC 30.16 Morris Road traffic calming war 25 um councelor Shan moving item to the agenda. Moving adding item to the agenda. Moving motion to add to the uh for new business. All in favor carried. Now let's go back to chair. Yes. I have an item that just passed. I didn't need to I had an amendment that I need and we're going to be I don't know if NY's ready. We'll just do it. We'll do we'll go through the order by the order then come back to that. SC 30.1 5445 Steels Avenue East zoning bylaw amendment. We have speakers on the list. First one is Sean Godra. Oh, from Gre and Associates. Oh, sorry about that. My uh headphone there wasn't uh wasn't on for some reason. Can you hear me fine? We can hear you. Can you hear us? I can hear you just fine. Thank you. Perfect. Mr. Galbreth, you have five minutes to speak. Uh, so my name is Sean Galbreth. I'm a planner here on behalf of the application. Uh, I wasn't planning on giving a long presentation. I think the application is fairly straightforward. There's an existing gas station on the property. Uh it currently has a Tim Hortons uh drive-thru facility that is being proposed to be replaced with a uh car wash facility. The existing convenience store and gas pumps will be uh redeveloped uh same number of gas pumps just in a slightly different configuration. and the convenience store will be expanded to the modern Shell side uh gas station convenience stores operated by Shell. A noise wall will be placed will be constructed along the west and south um property lines and this will mitigate appropriately uh noise from the site ambient noise including um and including from the proposed car wash. Um that's pretty much it for me. I'm happy to answer any questions that um that the counselors have. I understand that there is one other uh speaker um if if uh required I am happy to come back on and answer any questions that they might have. Uh but for to me this is a fairly straightforward application replacing one gas station with another and changing a Tim Hortons to um a car wash. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Griffith. Councelor Myers, thank you. Thank you through you, Chair. Um, just wondering if you could u give a bit of color on what the mitigation plans are for the runoff, the chemical runoff from the car wash. So, the property will have a large storm water retention pond um or retention tank uh uh installed on the property in the northwest corner. Um I'm not sure if the site plan is handy to be brought up uh but you can see it there. Uh engineering uh have reviewed the application and do not have any concerns with the size or location of that proposed underground tank. Thank you. And then I see here uh there are 41 trees uh in proximity to the site. And how many trees will be required to be cut down and how many trees will you be planting to replace those that are cut down? So there are 27 trees that will be removed. Uh eight of which are bylaw protected. uh 14 uh so 14 trees will be retained. I believe seven new trees are proposed to be planted. Uh two red maple, um a few Kentucky coffee trees, and uh some choke cherry. Okay, thank you. And so this will lead to a net reduction in the number of trees on the property. There will be a minor net reduction. Yes. And will you be responsible for upkeep of these trees or will the city? Uh these are uh private trees. Okay. So the shell will be responsible for that. Okay. Uh and regarding the um air emission impact, I see is there is there anything that we need to know about the air quality assessment? Uh I didn't see any comments on this. So I'm just wondering if there's anything you'd like to tell us. We're replacing a gas station with uh the same number of gas pumps. So, uh, the air quality, um, should be, um, I presume similar to what it currently exists on the property. Okay. Thank you very much. You're welcome, Mr. Chair. Yes, C uh, Cer Thompson. Yes. I just have a question for Mr. Galbert. Yes. Uh, three, Mr. Chair. Mr. Galbbert, good morning, sir. Um, good morning. You mentioned to the question that was asked by councelor Meyers regarding the trees and you referenced the that um I guess the 27 trees that you'll be removing will be done as as it relates to the bylaws. Um which of the bylaws we just actually introduced some new ones where we reduce the circumference of the trees from 30 cm to 20. Which of those were you referring to? So, it's it's my understanding that the the tree changes are um uh not that the the 20 centimeters have gone into effect, but they are proposed to be reviewed to to look into whether or not it should be reduced down to 20 and what impact those could have on future development. So, and I really appreciate you saying that because really we're looking at the intent. So, I'm just wondering whether or not um those trees that you're looking at removing, are they within the 20 centimeters because I would hope that uh you and others knowing that the changes are coming into effect um more likely because I there's support for that whether or not you would consider um that uh impending policy direction and change as it relates to your site to address the uh obviously the need to protect our tree canopy in the city. So the the the trees are proposed to just for clarity the the trees are proposed to move be removed because there is conflict with the con proposed construction and the proposed development of the site. Um I'm just skimming over the um uh the tree or the arburis report and there would be so if if the uh the tree protection is uh the DBH is reduced down to 20 cmters there would be additional trees that would be um eligible okay for uh removal via a permit. Oh I see. No, the the number of trees won't change. It'll just be um there may be more compensation that's required or there will be more permits that are required. Okay. Thank you very much. It's very helpful. So, I just wanted to get your sense of perspective on that. Thank you. Very welcome. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Councelor Thompson. Any other questions to other questions? Chair Mantis, just a quick ones. Yes, Councelor Ko. Um good morning. Thank you for the deputy. Just um a clarification. Is the part of the proposal the loss of the drive-thru or is it the uh existing restaurant? I'm assuming it's a Tim Hortons. Sorry. Yes. The existing uh the existing Tim Hortons will be removed and won't be coming back and where where it's located currently more or less will be replaced with a car wash. Okay. I'm sure. And is the Tim Hortons part of the kind of the It's a standalone It's a standalone building sort of tucked in the back. It's and it's one of the ones that's the small footprint that's just the drive-thru. There's not really any inside seating. Okay, understood. Okay. Um and uh just out of curiosity, are these relationships typically um Tim Hortons is leasing a space on their footprint or um what is that relationship like? Is it typical landlord? I I my my assumption is that's the case. I I haven't uh I haven't asked what their what their relationship is, but you typically it is they would be leasing space on the property and for whatever reason the lease is expiring or they're what I don't I don't know any of those details, but uh they will be leaving. Gotcha. Um and and as you indicated, it does appear as you know a straightforward application uh for for improvements to the gas station. Uh, I can imagine that the Tim Hortons is is probably a u a favorite in the community in the neighborhood. Uh, has this been socialized with the community that they may be losing uh an important part of a resident's daily commute? There we we had the the statutory or the the community consultation meeting and I don't recall there being any comments to that effect. It wasn't a this wasn't a a hot button public uh meeting where it was you know heavily attended. Um but there I don't remember anybody mourning the loss of this particular Tim Hortons. Okay. Uh no, good to know and sometimes people are not aware but it's important that I think that's um and uh just you know I think it's reality of the market that that's where they want to move but I guess there there would obviously be some job loss as a result of this. I I I would imagine Tim Hortons is always looking for for new locations and adding jobs elsewhere perhaps but that's just speculation on my part. No problem. Uh thanks. Those are my questions. Thank you, Councelor Cannibal. And we'll be going to the next um speaker, Nicole Curado. Are you online? Miss Curado? Yes. Hello. I was just wondering uh why why would you even need to cut this many trees? This property is right near the Rouge Park. I looked up where it is and uh I I would propose redesigning this so that you reduce if not eliminate these trees being cut that I'm sure this this property could be redesigned so that no trees are cut and you know replacing the trees with with uh wildlife food trees. So, what you're going to be doing is is uh destroying habitat during nesting season and then putting in in new trees that that'll provide food for animals and that, but you know, around new development. They won't be really big trees, but and then then you'll be shocked when there's there's wildlife conflict complaints. I mean, it's just this is ridiculous. I mean, you can't be cutting down trees to build more stuff. it right near Rouge Park. It it's it's just, you know, this is where Rouge Park starting to meet the Orchard's Marine and it's it's very sensitive area. So, I think that these these trees absolutely need to be protected. They they should not be uh they should not be cut. There's no reason to cut them. just redesign whatever you've come up with. And so that does not involve cutting the trees because there's already space there that's already been cleared that doesn't have any trees on it that you could build on. Thank you, Miss Curado. Any questions to the speaker? None. Okay. Thank you so much for your deputation. questions to staff. Councelor Myyers. Thank you. Thank you through your chair. Uh first question is uh obviously just to pick up where councelor Thompson left off. We've just updated the tree protection bylaw. Would that have changed the the process via how many trees are being cut down in this application? How many trees would be required to replace them? Um through the chair, I believe our colleague from urban forestry would be best positioned to answer that. Okay. Hi there. Through the chair, I'm currently replacing the TPPR district supervisor. So, uh I am unfamiliar with this file. However, that being said, um I don't have exact numbers. I can always take it back. Now the number of removals will depend on the date of the permit application submission. So whatever tree bylaw is currently in effect will be the one that will be applied. Right. But just but so do you but you don't know how many what would change had the new bylaw been in place? council, if if I may, through the chair that there would be additional trees that would be as as the deputent noted um now eligible for protection under the bylaw. Um, as my colleague was alluding to though, depending on the status of those um, applications that are in flight potentially right now as well as the site plan process, um, it's unclear as to an exact number, but certainly there would be more trees that are removed and not currently bylaw protection that would become eligible for bylaw protection. Great. Thank you. Um and just the section 45 uh section sorry section 42 the parkland dedication fee. How much is that fee for this application? The um through the chair the parkland dedication is determined at building permit stage the value of the land at the time of pulling the permit. So that's not determined as of yet. Not currently. No. And the the valuation has a six-month limitation. So that's why they wait till a little closer to the building permit process to determine what it is. So that's when we would make the Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you, Councelor Myers. Any other questions to staff? M M Mr. Chair, councelor Thompson. Councelor Thompson. Thank you. Um just through you to staff um as it relates to the questions that I asked and subsequent to the local counselor, councelor Morris has asked about the trees and the um circumference um measurements and the reduction uh process that we're going to go through in order to save more trees. Uh I'm curious um with respect to whether or not the staff have actually um t uh you know uh taken the position that perhaps we should at least have um an audit or an accounting as to the number of trees that will be lost whether or not this uh item goes through or not. Um my concern is that um as we know there is always a tendency to rush to beat the impending changes in bylaws and policies coming into effect. Would we need for example to bring an interimm control measure to address this issue prior to the bylaw fully coming into effect? And is it possible? Because the concern is that you know we are obviously cutting down 27 trees here but how many of those 27 trees actually meet the measurement of the 20 cm circumference and why would our staff our arbors not go and check. I realize it's on private property but I think we need to know that information. So my question is should staff not be doing more given the pending changes that are coming into effect as well as should we be considering some type of interm control measure or is it possible that we could do that in order to save more trees because I'm sure if you know certain land certain land owners will want to cut those tree down as quickly as possible as opposed to having to wait till the bylaw fully coming into effect. It's it's a lot that I've stated there and I think Mr. Francesca and maybe forestry you have some things to be able to take from that and hopefully you can maybe give us an indication as to how we can address these issues going forward because I think it's really important um through the chair uh I'll try to answer the question on two levels um first an interim control measure is uh under the planning act is a is a for land use only it's it's not for site function or um conditions of development. Uh it is it is for controlling a a particular land use in an area for a certain period of time for work to be done to determine the appropriateness of the land use. So I just wanted to to preface my comment. That's help that's helpful. Thank you for that. Yeah. And the second um piece around um this period of time between uh you know decisions that need to be made currently prior to the new bylaw and the procedures coming into force. Um certainly it you know as a base case we're looking to retain as many trees as we can through the review of applications open forestry comments to that effect. While we're at the zoning stage, there are most of the tree issues here are related to um what I'll term site plan matter. So, not the envelope of the buildings per se, but the location of curbs, um paved areas, landscape, etc., where we could improve those conditions through the site plan process to retain um existing trees. Uh again, a quick scan of the Argus report leads me to believe there's about um 8 to 12 uh trees that are less than 30 but more than 20 uh DBH uh which could under the new processes qualify for protection but then again they would need to be evaluated for condition and appropriateness for retention and invasiveness and and the usual method. So, I can't say that those trees in quotes would be saved by the new bylaw if it were enforced today. And and it would be a pretty robust sensitivity analysis on a sight-by-sight basis to determine what that would be. Thank you, Miss Francesca, and thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Councelor Thompson. Any other questions? Councelor Shan, councelor Candville questions. I have one question to um to staff on this uh on this item, but it's more like a question that is a general question for all of these applications that I guess are coming uh that are coming forward. Even though the bylaw was passed last week, the new bylaw, it is not in effect yet. Is that a correct? it is not in effect. Uh that's correct. I believe um January 2027 is the in effect date 27 and there are transition um I don't want to say regulations because it may be the wrong word but there are transition protocols for currently applications that are currently under review for permit applications that are currently under a development review process. So wouldn't it not be prudent to say that we should be looking the lens that we should be looking at these applications at the moment when they come to community council should be under the bylaw that we have currently in place and not what is the u new bylaw that is going to be taking effect in 2027 because we are working under these guidelines at the moment. When the applications are considered, they should be considered under the um bylaw that is in force. Uh as we are moving sorry okay as we are as we are moving through okay as we are moving through the review process it might be prudent [music] to um at least advise applicants that if they're not on the other side of an approval in January 2027 that um the rules are coming. But this application and applications like these at the moment we should be looking them under the lenses of the guidelines and the bylaws that we have currently in force and in place through the chair. That's correct. And and and you know we are again through the site plan process looking to make improvements on the tree uh situation. Okay. Thank you Mr. Vaneska speakers on the uh chair. If uh if I could could we just hold on this for a moment. I might move something. Thank you. [clears throat] Holding the item. Yes. SC 30.3 224 Timber Bank Boulevard application to remove two private trees. We have a speaker on the list. Uh, Miss Nicole Curado. Um, yeah, this is the this the black walnut tree or the is this the two public trees or the one? Miss Gro, ask is this two public is this the item for two public trees or for one public tree? Miss Grotto. Um, You can't be asking the questions. You're you're here to deputize. Okay. No, no. I I misheard you because I know there's two items I'm deputizing on. It's the one with the two private trees. Okay. Yes. The two private trees that the two honeyloust trees. Those honeyloust trees are an important food source and habitat for wildlife. They are a native species. They're actually a species that's in decline in wild and those trees they're they're not causing any damage. I think easily uh just change the depth that the porch you could just adjust the porch so that the trees have more room to grow. These trees are absolutely essential in cutting them down during nesting season especially with I think these trees are healthy and maintainable and need to need to stay they're an important food source and and habitat for wildlife. these trees and even if you replace trees, they're not going to be as as big and they're not going to go as fast. And trees, in fact, there's two of them. These trees are probably family members. They're probably related to each other. Trees also prefer to be with family just like like people. So, you know, planting new trees, two unrelated trees, they won't do as well as as two propert. Yes. Okay. Um, did you hear what I said? Yes. Yes. Any questions to the speaker? Seeing none. Thank you, Miss Curado. Questions to staff. Um I actually have a question to uh staff for this one. The two trees that are um on the on the side of the two trees that are on the side of the uh driveway. Um, is there a sighteline uh visibility issue uh for any driver that's coming out of the uh driveways through the chair? These two trees are in the rear yard encased by a patio. So, I'm not familiar with the two trees adjacent to a driveway. Okay. They're in the backyard, these trees. Correct. Okay. All right. Because on the when you look in the Google maps, it also has the two trees that are in front in the right beside the driveway. So the only two trees in question are two honeyloust trees that are in the rear yard. Back. Yes. Okay. All right. All right. Then no more questions to to staff. Um speakers. Seeing none, I'll be moving the uh staff recommendations for for this item. All to deny the trees uh the tree cutings. All in favor of staff recommendations carried. SC 30.4 4 226 scar bro crest an application to remove a private tree uh war 20 scar bro southwest councelor candavville um thank you uh chair mantis and I believe there might be uh the elderly couple who are the residents of the address and who may be deputing um as I've indicated I'm moving deferral to um build some time to to look at alternative solutions it is a challenge to the uh the couple and I wanted to if you can convey to them that um if they would like to depute it would be more effective at the next at the April 30th Scarbor Community Council. Okay. So thank you councelor Kandival are they present is it miss join right and Mr. Lawrence right? Uh Mr. C uh councelor Candal uh said that he will be deferring the item for the next uh SEC meeting just to bring uh to be able to have more solutions uh for this uh application and if he would like to debute then because he was saying that it it would be more efficient and also more effective because more effective sorry and as they know the staff recommendation is to refuse the permit um so this time would enable us hopefully for a better solution for their interests. So, um if they are willing to to debute next month, that would be it's up to them, of course. Yes. It would be more efficiently next month. Okay. April 10th. On April 10th. Okay. Thank you to the April 30th. Thank you to the right family. Uh Miss Curado. Yeah. Would you be okay to uh deputize next month as well for this item? That would be fine. That'll be fine. Thank you, Miss Curado. So, we'll be moving a motion to defer the item for the April 30th Motion to defer. All in favor? Carried. And that's the last item with uh speakers. Now, yeah. So, we're going to go back to SC 30.8, Nightstar Road traffic calming, speed cushions, and heavy vehicle prohibition. Um, for councelor Shen, we're going to move a motion first to reopen the item. Thank you, chair. I would like to move to reconsider the item. Thank you. Yep. All in favor of reopening carried. Now there's if we could put up the second motion counc um thank you uh Mr. Chair. by moving an amendment to authorize the installation of trafficcoming and uh having speed reduction. Perfect. All in favor of uh the recommendation carried and I would like to ask to move item as amended and item as amended. All in favor? Carried. Now, we have one more item to go back to councelor Myers's U item. We're not ready yet. Yes. Thank you, Councelor Myers. Um SC 30.14 really Avenue parking amendment uh reopening item SC 23.22 um W 20 Scrandville. Uh thank you chair Mantis. I'd like to move the recommendation. We'll do the reconsider. All in favor of the reconsidering carried and then I'll move the recommendation. all in favor of the recommendation carried. So SC 30.15 flareac road traffic calming uh war 25 councilor Shan thank you moving the recommendation moving staff recommendation no it's it's just recommendation from me car SC 30.16 Morish road traffic calming w 25 council shan again moving the motion to have traffic coming on Morish road to allow the the coming traffic calming. All in favor? Carried. We're very quick today. Now we're back to Council Mar's motion item. Okay, now we're going back to SC30.1 5445 Steels Avenue East zoning bylaw amendment decision report approval. Councelor Myers. Uh, thank you. And I have a motion. So the motion simply states Cind city council request the director community planning to explore opportunities for retaining additional trees and or potential cash and loo of planting through the site plan uh control application process and this is with respect to some of the questions uh myself and other counselors uh were raising and thank you to councelor Thompson as well. I thought those were really helpful questions. Um, just making sure that make that uh we are protecting our tree canopy particularly in light of the new bylaw that we had passed. Uh, and also trying to mitigate against the potential effects of people trying to rush to get applications in before the new bylaw comes into effect. Uh, not saying that's what happened here. They they went through the process properly. Uh, but we do want to make sure that we are doing everything possible to protect our tree canopy. Uh, and other than that, I'm happy to answer any questions and I will be supporting the motion. Okay. All in favor of the motion. Mr. Chair, I'd like to speak. [snorts] Councelor Thompson. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and um I'm speaking in support of the motion that um councelor Myers has just moved. Um, you know, the law of unintended consequences is significance and in as much as we um prepare policy or bylaws that are intended to come into effect. often times many things happen prior to those bylaws coming into effect and it gives um um you know a sense that the bylaws are either too late too little and hasn't been or isn't sufficient and so on. Um I asked the questions and and just to follow up as to what others have asked because um most recently I uh participated in a call where a resident had contacted my office. Actually wasn't in my community but uh nonetheless had contact my office where um significant number of trees were removed for a development taking place in an area in the city. Um, we're talking dozens and dozens of trees that were removed. They were just under the 30 cm um as as circumference as our current bylaw permits. And these dozens of trees have been removed in order to create a development for a massively big house. Um the property owner, adjacent property owner had been involved in terms of planting those trees and had been assured that there was going to be a buffer and the canopy in in the community that would help obviously for the purposes that we all want to support environmental uh improvement and so on so forth. these trees were all cut down. Um when the property owner um complained to the city um the impression was well our bylaw is 30 cm and yes there were some that were 25 20 and even less but nonetheless it created a huge impact for this particular complaintant and the community as a whole. And so what we're trying to do is to engage and to encourage those applicants who yes want to develop and we want to encourage development and so on because it is good [clears throat] good for us a complimentary opportunity for growth in our community but we have to balance that with respect to protecting our trees and protecting the environment and the need for the city to ensure and protect its uh tree canopy which we know um it just left to unattended. did you know people do what they do and so I really wanted just to join others in terms of highlighting the fact that we would hope that those um land owners and developers and consultants and so on who are preparing to bring matters forward as part of an application and within their rights within the policy that exists would want to consider the future um you know of saving the tree canopy in the city uh the future of development meant at the same time looking at ways and means um in which you could protect the trees irrespective of the size. Now I realize that we have policies that looks at the size and it's really important for us to understand the frustration that some of our residents are going through and have gone through with respect to the issues around trees. I know that um you know we have given permission to remove trees and then to plant back and or provide cash and Lou which is the essence and the point of councelor Meyer's motion and so on which I fully endorse but I think we need to just remind oursel in as much as we have bylaws and policies there are times when we have to review those from the perspective of what is in the best interests and so while we may want to develop a specific you know um uh site to create commerce and so on so forth but we also look at the potential negative impact and implications as we would in any other circumstances and so on. So I simply wanted to bring that to light and irrespective again as I stated earlier irrespective of our policies, we need to also consider what the impact and effect of the decisions that we make and compare and contrast that to the policy um challenges that we experience. And as legislators, I think we also have an opportunity while we put policy in place, we should also provide an understanding to those who are responding to opportunity of developing and so on to consider because it is in the best interest of all that we consider what is good for all of us in light of commerce and opportunity of economic development. Thank you, chair. Thank you, councelor Thompson. Any other speakers on the item? Councelor Shan, councelor Kendville. Seeing none, uh, councelor Myers, all in favor of the motion carried. I guess that was the last item as amended. Carried. I guess that was the last um item for today. Bringing up the bills. Councelor Shan, I move that the bills uh 290 to 294 prepared for the April 1st, 2026 meeting 30 of the Scarbor Community Council be declared as bylaws and passed subject to section 226.9 of the city of Toronto Act 2006. All in favor carried and the confirmatory bills. Councelor Myers The that confirmatory bill is to confirm the legislative proceedings of the Scarbo Community Council acting under delegated authority at meeting 30 on April 1st, 2026 be declared as bylaws and passed subject to section 226.9 of the city of Toronto Act 2006. All in favor carried have May everyone have a pleasant day.

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