Burlington Council Adds 18 Properties to Heritage Register, Defers Decision on 6 to Dec. 2022
MY TAKE:Our Heritage Register is the best tool we have to protect buildings from demolition while we embark on the Cultural Heritage Landscape Study that will unfold over the next year. This heritage study was approved by this term of Council earlier this year, and is one of the actions to protect the character of downtown that came out of our new Official Plan supported by Council in 2020.Putting a property on the Heritage Registry protects it from demolition for 60 days while the City has an opportunity to study its heritage value. At the end of the study, the City can determine if there is no heritage value and remove it from the registry, or recommend Heritage Designation -- that protects the exterior of the building from alteration, and demolition.Facades of designated heritage properties can be incorporated into new developments and we currently have two developments that are keeping heritage properties in their redevelopment.Designation requires Council approval and can be appealed by the property owner.I understand the sensitivities and concerns of some property owners having the buildings they currently own being added to the registry. Owners have an opportunity to formally object to their properties being on the register, and staff will bring those objections forward to council within 120 days for review of whether they should stay on the registry.The concerns of current property owners must be considered alongside our obligation under the Municipal Act and our own Official Plan to protect and preserve heritage for future generations. The current owners of any given property haven’t always owned it, and won’t own it forever, and our role is to ensure that heritage assets are not lost on our watch for the future of our community.According to our City staff, we have already lost 33 buildings in the downtown area in the last 10 years -- these properties were once on the registry, and two more came forward this week expressing a desire to demolish. We don’t want to lose any more buildings while we undergo the study unfolding over the next year.I hope the community -- and especially owners of properties on the registry or recently added to the registry -- will fully participate in the upcoming Cultural Heritage Landscape Study.We are also committed to improving communication and engagement with property owners, over and above requirements in the Municipal Act -- that we have already met.There will always be diversity of perspectives on how and even whether to protect heritage. I’m committed to working with staff, the community and heritage owners to exercise our judgement and responsibilities to protect heritage for future generations, while also supporting owners and providing incentives for heritage preservation, including our current heritage grant program.
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Here is the full motion that was approved by a 5-2 majority vote by Council at our Sept. 20 meeting:
- Direct the Director of Community Planning to add the following list of properties to the Municipal Heritage Register and provide notice to the owner of the property within 30 days, pursuant to section 27(5) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18:
- 357 Brant Street
- 359 Brant Street
- 372-374 Brant Street
- 380 Brant Street
- 422 Burlington Avenue
- 426 Burlington Avenue
- 437 Burlington Avenue
- 437 Elizabeth Street
- 404-408 John Street
- 1415 Lakeshore Road
- 2003 Lakeshore Road
- 458 Locust Street
- 492 Locust Street
- 513 Locust Street
- 524 Locust Street
- 1445 Ontario Street
- 431 Pearl Street
- 435 Pearl Street; and
- Authorize the City Clerk to take necessary action if there are any objections in accordance with Section 27(7) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter 0.18 and report back no later than 120 days after notices are sent out presenting all of the objections received; and
- Following study completion, direct the Director of Community Planning to re-assess the eligibility of the above listed properties for continued inclusion on the Heritage Register and report back to City Council with a recommendation; and
- Definitely postpone (defer) the following properties for possible addition to the Heritage Register (PL-59-22) at the City Council meeting on December 13 and consult with the property owners:
- 353-355 Brant St
- 2010 Maria St
- 468 Elizabeth St
- 441 Elizabeth St
- 436 Pearl St
- 488 Locust St
For more background and information on this report, please see the staff report and appendices that are linked below.RELATED LINK: