HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-17-055 - By-law under Section 37 for 710 Huron Road - The Grant House
REPORT TO: Heritage Kitchener
DATE OF MEETING: June 6, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Brandon Sloan, Manager of Long Range & Policy Planning,
519-741-2200, ext. 7648
PREPARED BY: LeonBensason,Coordinator, Cultural Heritage Planning
519-741-2200, ext. 7306
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 5
DATE OF REPORT: May 16, 2017
REPORT NO.: CSD-17-055
SUBJECT: By-law under Section 37(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act to enter
into a heritage covenant with the owner of the lands described as
161, and currently municipally addressed as 710 Huron Road, for
the conservation of a stone farmhouse known as the Grant
House.
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the draft by-law dated May 16, 2017 attached to Community Services Development report
CSD-17-055, to allow the City to enter into a heritage covenant with the owner of the lands
described
municipally addressed as 710 Huron Road, for the relocation and conservation of a stone
farmhouse known as Grant House, be adopted.
Location Map: 710 Huron Road
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener has received Draft Plan of Subdivision (30T-15210) and Zone Change (ZC
15/07/H/GS) applications for a 5.35 hectare property located on the south side of Huron Road
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currently municipally addressed as 710 Huron Road. The subject propertycontains a mid-19
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century fieldstone farmhouse with 20 century additions, known as the Grant House. The one-
and-one-half storey stone residence is thought to have been constructed c.1864. The property
is on the Heritage Kitchener Inventory of Historic Buildings.
front façade of 1683 Huron Road
710 Huron Road North (Front) Elevation
REPORT:
City staff are working cooperatively with the property owner in establishing long term heritage
conservation measures that are proposed to be implemented through the plan of subdivision
and zone change application process.The current location of the existing farmhouse is in the
centre of the planned cul-de-sac. A Heritage Impact Assessment was undertaken and
considered several conservation options ranging from preservation of the farmhouse in-situ to
documentation and disassembly. The HIA concluded that while retaining the building in its
existing location posed no direct adverse impact to the building, such proposal was suboptimal
in regard to the efficient use of the lands and in terms of the grading of the proposed
subdivision. The farmhouse was assessed by a heritage architect and building specialist who is
a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP), as well as a
professional house moving company, and was found to be a good candidate for relocation
within the proposed subdivision. Several options for relocation were considered for their ability
to provide prominence and visibility within the proposed subdivision, and to accommodate
opportunity for expansion. A preferred conservation option was identified and involves relocating
the original farmhouse portion of the building a very short distance to a planned corner lot (see
figures below).
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Proposed Subdivision Layout Showing Current Location of Farmhouse with 20 C. Additions
Current location of original farmhouse
Proposed location of original farmhouse
following its move to corner lot
In order to ensure the stone farmhouse is conserved in a timely manner and in accordance with
the conditions of planning approval; the City intends to take a letter of credit from the owner as a
security to pay for the cost of its relocation and rehabilitation including any repair, restoration or
its structural soundness. The owner has agreed to provide the City with such letter of credit.
The most appropriate mechanism through which the City can receive a letter of credit for
heritage conservation purposes, is through a covenant entered into with the property owner
under the Ontario Heritage Act. Section 37 (1) of the Ontario Heritage Act enables municipal
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councils to enter into easements or covenants for the conservation of property of cultural
heritage value or interest. In accordance with the Act, before entering into the covenant, Council
shall consult with its heritage advisory committee and then pass a by-law providing for entering
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into a covenant. Heritage Kitchener will be consulted at the Committee meeting of June 6,
2017. In passing a by-law providing for the entering into a covenant, the City will be giving no
assurance that the subdivision plan proposed for the subject property will be approved by the
City, nor is the possibility of such approval increased on account of the owner entering into the
covenant. City Staff anticipate that the proposed covenant will be temporary and that the
obligation of the owner pursuant to the covenant will end upon the successful relocation and
rehabilitation of the farmhouse and confirmation of its structural soundness following its
relocation.
CONCLUSION:
In order to secure the obligation of the owner to relocate and rehabilitate the stone farmhouse
currently located at 710 Huron Road and known as the Grant House, the owner of the farmhouse
has agreed to provide the City with a letter of credit and enter into a heritage covenant. In
accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, Council is required to pass a by-law providing for
entering into a covenant for conservation purposes. Accordingly, City staff recommend approval of
the draft by-law attached to report CSD-17-055.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
through the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM, CONSULT AND COLLABORATE Heritage Planning staff have consulted and
collaborated with the property owner regarding the conservation of the subject farmhouse and
entering into a heritage covenant. Section 37(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act requires Council to
consult with the Municipal Heritage Committee (Heritage Kitchener) beforepassing a by-law
providing for entering into a heritage covenant.Heritage Kitchener will be consulted via
circulation and consideration of this report. Members of the community will be informed via
circulation of this report to Heritage Kitchener and via formal consideration by Council.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Alain Pinard, Director of Planning
APPENDIX A:
Draft by-law dated May 16, 2017 to allow the City to enter into a heritage covenant with the
owner of the lands described Plan 640 Part Lots 160 and
161, and currently municipally addressed as 710 Huron Road, for the relocation and
conservation of astone farmhouse known as the Grant House.
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BY-LAW NUMBER
OF THE
CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF KITCHENER
(Being a by-law to allow the City to enter into a heritage covenant
with the owner of the lands described
Part Lot 13, Plan 640 Part Lots 160 and 161, and currently
municipally addressed as 710 Huron Road, for the relocation and
conservation of a stone farmhouse known as the Grant House).
WHEREAS section 37(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act allows council of a municipality to
pass a by-law providing for the entering into of covenants with owners of real property for the
conservation of property of cultural heritage value or interest;
AND WHEREAS there is a house located on land described
Part Lot 13, Plan 640 Part Lots 160 and 161, and currently municipally addressed as 710 Huron
Road, Grant House
AND WHEREAS Council and the owner of the Grant House recognize that the Grant
House is a structure of cultural heritage value or interest;
AND WHEREAS the municipal heritage committee in Kitchener known as Heritage
Kitchener supports the entering into of a covenant with the owner of the Grant House to
conserve the Grant House;
AND WHEREAS Council and the owner of the Grant House wish to conserve the Grant
House;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of The Corporation of the City of Kitchener enacts as
follows:
1.That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter a heritage covenant satisfactory to the
City Solicitor with the owner of the real property on which a stone farmhouse known as the
Grant House is presently situated to provide for its relocation and conservation and
authorize staff to take such steps as may be necessary to register the heritage covenant
against the real property affected.
PASSED at the Council Chambers in the City of Kitchener thisday
of , A.D. 2017.
_____________________________________
Mayor
_____________________________________
Clerk
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