When a seemingly healthy tree inside a tree protection zone is chopped down, it looks like whoever did the chopping has broken the law.

But looks can be deceiving, in terms of the health of the tree and the reasons for felling it, which is definitely the case at the southeast corner of Colbeck Street and Beresford Avenue, in the Bloor West Village neighbourhood.

“I was just wondering what is the purpose of a tree protection zone if the tree inside that zone can be cut down,” asked Will Mlacak, who sent me photos of two tree protection zones with nothing but stumps inside the fencing.

Tree protection zones are required by the city wherever a healthy tree is in close proximity to construction, whether road work, building new homes or renovating old ones.

A fence must be erected around the tree and city-issued signs are posted on the fencing to inform the public that trees inside it are protected by city bylaws from damage or removal.

The signs inform the public that “all construction related activities” are prohibited inside the zone, and that the “barrier must remain in good condition and must not be removed or altered,” without city approval.

No wonder Mlacak asked about the purpose of a tree protection zone.

I went there and found stumps inside two tree protection zones at a home renovation. One was only a small tree but what’s left of the other indicates it was a large tree.

A Google Street View image shot last May shows what appears to be a mature, healthy tree with lots of leaves and branches, surrounded by tree protection fencing. Obviously, the renovation is a long-term project.

It’s enough to make the neighbours think that the property owner or the renovators have flouted the law, and that the city is not monitoring the job for bylaw compliance.

STATUS: I sent a note to Jason Doyle, who’s in charge of urban forestry, and got the following reply from a city spokesperson: “The city initiated the removal of the two city-owned trees as they were in poor condition and maintenance would not return them to a healthy state. The tree protection fence was installed prior to removal as all bylaw-protected trees are required to be protected during construction. We can see how this would be confusing to residents.”

So, the trees were within the municipal road allowance, which makes them city property. Its reply did not specifically say who cut them down, but it was quite likely a city contractor. Shouldn’t the city have taken down the tree protection zone signs, to ensure that the public didn’t think the bylaws were ignored at the job site, or that the city didn’t enforce its own rules? I’m still waiting for answers to those questions.

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