REPORT
REPORT TO:
Mayor Bonnette and Members of Council
REPORT FROM: Curtis Marshall, Planner - Policy
DATE: January 2, 2014
REPORT NO.: PDS-2014-0001
RE: Halton Hills Heritage Register Update - Phase 3 File No.: R01/HE
RECOMMENDATION: THAT Report No. PDS-2014-0001 dated January 2, 2014, regarding the Phase 3 Update to the Heritage Register for the Town of Halton Hills be received; AND FURTHER THAT Town Staff be directed to invite all owners of properties proposed for addition to the Heritage Register as part of the Phase 3 Heritage Register Update to one of two public information sessions, in order to provide an opportunity for property owners and residents to receive information on the purpose and content of the proposed Phase 3 Heritage Register Update; AND FURTHER THAT subsequent to the public information session, Town Staff be directed to report back with a completed Phase 3 Heritage Register Update, for the consideration of Council.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to:
Provide an update on the status of the Phase 3 Heritage Register Update.
Present the draft list of properties being considered for addition to the Town’s Heritage Register as part of the Phase 3 Heritage Register Update.
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Seek Council direction to invite all owners of properties proposed for addition to the Heritage Register as part of the Phase 3 Heritage Register Update to one of two public information sessions, in order to provide an opportunity for property owners and residents to receive information on the purpose and content of the proposed Phase 3 Heritage Register Update.
BACKGROUND:
Role of Heritage Resources Centre
In May 2013, the Heritage Resources Centre at the University of Waterloo, was contracted by the Town to complete the third phase of a multi-year work program to establish a comprehensive register of properties with cultural heritage value or interest in the Town (see report PDS-2013-0038 for reference). The role of the Heritage Resource Centre was to complete Phase 3 of the Heritage Register process by:
Verifying the work of the Town’s Heritage Committee, Heritage Halton Hills, by reviewing inventories of properties identified by the committee as having potential heritage merit.
Compiling a draft list of properties which have potential heritage value or interest from the inventories and consolidating the property inventory information into the format used for the previous entries on the Town’s Heritage Register.
Facilitating a public open house for owners of properties identified in Phase 3 for listing on the Heritage Register.
Purpose of the Heritage Register The Ontario Heritage Act states that a municipality must keep a register of property situated in the municipality that is of cultural heritage value or interest, and this list must contain properties that have been designated under Parts IV and V of the Act. The Act also states that the register may include properties that have not been designated under the Act, but that the council of the municipality believes to be of cultural heritage value or interest. The list must contain a description of the property that is sufficient to readily ascertain the property. The Heritage Register as specified in the Ontario Heritage Act is intended to assist municipalities in identifying their heritage resources, and is not the same as designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, in which a permit would be required for alterations to the heritage features of the property. Listing on the Heritage Register is an important heritage conservation tool, which allows the municipality to delay issuance of a demolition permit for 60 days while conservation options are considered, including proceeding to designation or removing the property from the Register to allow for the issuance of a demolition permit.
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Schedule 1 to this report outlines the important distinctions between designation of a
property under Parts IV and V of the Ontario Heritage Act, and listing on the Town’s Heritage Register. The Town of Halton Hills Official Plan contains an objective and related policy supporting the development of a comprehensive heritage inventory (i.e. register) of the Town’s built heritage and cultural heritage landscape resources.
COMMENTS:
Results of Phase 3
Over the summer and fall of 2013, the Heritage Resource Centre reviewed the Heritage Halton Hills property inventories and compiled a draft list of properties to be considered for addition to the Heritage Register by Town Council. A total of 357 properties are proposed for addition to the Heritage Register as part of Phase 3 including:
329 properties from Heritage Halton Hills inventories. The inventories were completed in 2010 (Acton Urban Area), 2011 (Georgetown – South of Go Train Station), 2012 (Rural Area), and 2013 (Georgetown - North of Go Train Station).
23 properties on Bower St. in Acton which were evaluated as Part of Phase 2, but were not added to the Register at that time due to time constraints and were deferred to Phase 3.
5 additional properties recommended for inclusion by Heritage Halton Hills as discussed below.
The draft list of properties proposed for addition to the Heritage Register is attached as
Schedule 2 to this report. The list is organized in six sections based on the Heritage Halton Hills inventories. 18 additional properties were reviewed but are not recommended for inclusion on the Heritage Register. These properties have also been noted in the document for future reference.
Heritage Halton Hills Review Throughout the duration of the project several members of Heritage Halton Hills volunteered to review the monthly reports and documentation prepared by the Heritage Resource Centre. The draft Phase 3 Heritage Register Update was also circulated and presented to Heritage Halton Hills at their November 20, 2013 meeting by the Heritage Resource Centre. At the meeting, the Committee recommended that the following additional properties be added to the draft Phase 3 Heritage Register Update:
406 Draper St., Norval
A stone arch railway bridge on the rail line near Limehouse (Lot 23 Con. 5, Esquesing).
3 additional properties in Norval which were identified following a delegation from the Norval Community Association at the November 20
th, 2013 Heritage Halton
Hills meeting on: 482 Guelph St., 490 Guelph St., 507 Guelph St.
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These five additional properties were reviewed by the Heritage Resource Centre and are included in the draft list of properties proposed for addition to the Town’s Heritage Register in Phase 3.
Georgetown GO Station Area – Key Redevelopment Sites Planning staff note that the industrial buildings at 1 and 2 Rosetta Street in proximity to the Georgetown GO Station are proposed to be included in Phase 3 of the Heritage Register. They have been added on the basis of their historical value and contribution to the industrial heritage of Georgetown, as determined by Heritage Halton Hills and staff of the Heritage Resources Centre. For Council’s benefit, these properties are designated High Density Residential/Mixed Use Area II in the Georgetown GO Station Area/Mill Street Corridor Secondary Plan (OPA 7). Therefore, these properties have been identified through a comprehensive planning process, including consultation with the public and the Town's municipal heritage committee, as key strategic sites on which to focus intensification and redevelopment in proximity to higher order transit, while preserving the surrounding stable residential area. It is the opinion of Planning staff that the inclusion of these properties on the Heritage Register would appear to be inconsistent with their earlier identification as key sites in the Town's Intensification Strategy and may hinder redevelopment efforts and the achievement of our minimum intensification targets set out in the Official Plan.
Public Consultation
Prior to commencement of Phase 1 of the Heritage Register, Council endorsed a public consultation process for the project. This process involves targeted written notification to the owners of properties which have been identified for possible addition to the Heritage Register as part of Phase 3, inviting them to a public information session where they can obtain information on the contents and purpose of the Register. Through this report, Planning Staff is seeking Council direction to schedule two public information sessions for the Phase 3 Heritage Register Update. The first open house is proposed for February 13, 2014 and the date of the second open house has yet to be determined. Staff from the University of Waterloo Heritage Resources Centre will conduct the sessions with the assistance of Planning Staff and members of Heritage Halton Hills. To assist in communicating information to affected property owners, the individual information sheet for each subject property will be included with the notification letter.
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RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
This report is consistent with Strategic Direction D: Preserve, Protect and Promote
our Distinctive History, the Goal to preserve the historical urban and rural character of Halton Hills through the conservation and promotion of our built heritage, cultural heritage landscapes and archaeological resources, and the following:
Strategic Objective:
D.1 To require and develop a planning framework for the conservation of significant built heritage, cultural landscapes and archaeological resources.
Strategic Action:
D.1(a) Maintain, and expand as necessary, a comprehensive Heritage Register according to the Council-approved protocol.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The funds to complete the Phase 3 Heritage Register Update were previously approved by Council. Expenses will be incurred to provide notification of the public information sessions.
COMMUNICATIONS IMPACT: If this report is approved by Council, staff will provide written notification to all property owners proposed for addition to the Heritage Register as part of the Phase 3 Heritage Register Update, inviting them to attend one of the two public information sessions. The first open house is proposed for February 13, 2014 and the second open house date has yet to be determined. The notification letter will contain a copy of the information sheet for the owner’s property, and an explanation of the purpose and effect of inclusion on the Heritage Register.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS: The establishment and expansion of the Heritage Register helps support and strengthen the conservation of cultural heritage resources in the Town. Cultural heritage is an important component of a sustainable community.
CONSULTATION:
The municipal heritage committee, Heritage Halton Hills, was consulted during the Phase 3 review and finalization of the draft list of properties identified for inclusion on the Town’s Heritage Register.
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CONCLUSION: In keeping with the public consultation process approved by Council, Planning Staff seeks Council authorization to invite all owners of properties proposed for addition to the Heritage Register as part of the Phase 3 Heritage Register Update to one of two public information sessions. Property owners and residents will be provided information on the purpose and content of the proposed Phase 3 Heritage Register Update at the meeting. Following the public information session Planning Staff will to report back to Council with a completed Phase 3 Heritage Register Update, for the consideration of Council. Respectfully submitted,
Curtis Marshall, MCIP, RPP Planner – Policy
Steve Burke, MCIP, RPP Manager of Planning Policy
John W. Linhardt, MCIP, RPP Director of Planning, Development & Sustainability
David Smith Chief Administrative Officer
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Schedule 1 to PDS-2014-0001 Designation vs. Listing
HERITAGE
REGISTER
Listed
Cultural Heritage Properties
(Heritage Register)
Designated
Heritage Property
(Town By-law)
Legislation Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) Sections 27 (Part IV) and 39.2 (Part V)
Building Code Act
Ontario Heritage Act Sections 29 (Part IV) and 41 (Part V)
Building Code Act
Requirement for
Heritage Permit No
Yes
Permits required for alterations to property designated under Parts IV and V of the OHA – Sections 33 and 42
Information
Required for
Heritage
Register
Property Description required
under Act
Property Legal Description
Ownership
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
Description of Heritage Attributes
Criteria for
determining
cultural heritage
value or interest
None
Town uses Council approved evaluation criteria based on Ontario Regulation 9/06 as template for property evaluation
Criteria prescribed by regulation under Section 29(1) of the OHA
Demolition
Permit
Application
Delay
Town must be provided with 60 days notice of intent to demolish, providing time for consideration of options with respect to heritage conservation (e.g. designation) – Section 27.3 of the OHA
Refusal (with right of appeal)
Town can refuse to issue permit to demolish and this decision can be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board – Section 34 of the OHA
Registration No Registration on Title Designation By-law Registered on Title
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Schedule 2 to PDS-2014-0001 List of Properties Proposed for Inclusion on the Heritage Register
Excerpt from Phase 3 Heritage Register Update Document
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