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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Kitchener - 2001-02-09HERITAGE KITCHENER MINUTES FEBRUARY 9, 2001CITY OF KITCHENER Heritage Kitchener met this date, chaired by Councillor M. Galloway, commencing at 12:06 p.m., with the following members present: Ms. P. Wagner and Messrs. P. Bufe, and E. Lucy. Mr. B. Scott and Mr. R. Green were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others Present:Ms. L. Marshall, Ms. D. Gilchrist and Messrs. G. Melanson, L. Masseo, S. Vipond and L. Bensason. 1 .EARTH DAY FESTIVITIES – SCENIC ROADS – INTERPRETIVE AREA IN UPPER DOON Mr. T. Boutilier advised the Committee that a week of festivities, from April 17-22, 2001, is proposed by the Environmental Committee to celebrate Earth Day this year. The festivities will include special work projects and clean-up projects. Heritage Kitchener is asked to undertake the clean-up of one heritage road, which will involve choosing a road to sponsor and organizing a clean-up group. The work project that Heritage Kitchener is asked to participate in is planting at the Mill Race in Upper Doon, along with Members of the Society for the Preservation of Upper Doon. This event will take place on Friday, April 20, 2001. The City will deliver the plant material to the site and City gardeners will be on hand to assist. 2. UPDATE – WATERLOO COUNTY GOVERNOR’S HOUSE AND GAOL Ms. P. Wagner advised of a letter received by her from Mr. B. Bechtel, Region of Waterloo, regarding the disposal of artefacts from the Waterloo County Governor’s House and Gaol, noting that some will be moved to Doon Heritage Crossroads. She advised that the staircase will either be preserved in its present location or moved to a new location. Ms. Wagner then read a list of the artefacts in question and advised that there will be an auction in the next couple of weeks. Ms. Wagner also advised of all the windows where the bars will be maintained, if they can be hinged. Mr. B. Scott entered the meeting at this time. 3. WYLDWOOD SUBDIVISION – ALTERATION APPLICATION – UPPER DOON HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT Mr. L. Bensason advised the Committee that since its special meeting on February 6, 2001, further discussions had taken place with the Legal Department, who have advised that they do not agree with the interpretation of the visual easement as being a structure. Accordingly, the intent of the Heritage Conservation District Plan with respect to the visual easement must be implemented in another way, and in this regard staff will be processing an application to modify the conditions of the Subdivision Agreement to deal with the visual easement. Staff propose that the Alteration Application under the Ontario Heritage Act not be considered by this Committee today, and Mr. Bensason advised that staff will provide this Committee in due course, with the draft condition to be included in the subdivision agreement for comment. This Committee’s comments will then be included in the staff report which will be considered by the Planning and Economic Development Committee and City Council. He stated that the draft condition will be circulated to this Committee once a draft has been prepared. Mr. P. Bufe questioned whether the review of the Draft Plan of Subdivision will include a review of the design of the lots on Buerkle Court. Mr. Bensason responded that the boundary of the District has not changed. The Heritage Impact Assessment recommends applying the intent of the Heritage Conservation District policies to Oregon Drive/Ayres Court. The boundary of the District is still at an angle; however, the intent of the plan has been applied to all land above the triangular parcel of land. Mr. Bufe then questioned whether the lots on Buerkle Court should be reconsidered in light of the intent of the Heritage Conservation District Plan. Mr. Bensason pointed out that Council has already given this subdivision draft approval. Mr. E. Lucy advised that, further to his comments on February 6, 2001, the sub-committee he had participated on was not provided with a copy of the final plan for the subdivision. He noted that there was agreement in principle; however, the sub-committee did not see any detailed drawings, any plan showing the size of the lots on Buerkle Court or their impact on the District. Mr. Bensason pointed out that the details in terms of the placement of the visual easement and the lots on Buerkle Court were part of the Heritage Impact Assessment which was brought to 3. WYLDWOOD SUBDIVISION – ALTERATION APPLICATION – UPPER DOON HERITAGE HERITAGE KITCHENER FEBRUARY 9, 2001- 14 -CITY OF KITCHENER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (CONT’D) this Committee for consideration. Monarch Construction must now provide the details of the visual easement, which will be handled through modifications to the Subdivision Agreement. He then reviewed the background to Heritage Kitchener’s recommendation to Council regarding the Plan of Subdivision and the visual easement. Mr. Bufe responded that staff did not advise this Committee that the lots on Buerkle Court did not meet the requirements of the Heritage Conservation District Plan. Councillor M. Galloway stated that the new lots will not affect the District, and concerning the visual easement, the Nequest’s property will be affected by a reduction in the width of the easement. This Committee understands that a 50’ visual easement is required in the Heritage Conservation District Plan and the Nequests want a 50’ buffer adjacent to their property. Councillor Galloway asked the members to consider how the subdivision as draft approved will affect the existing area. He noted that access to the village will be minimal when one end of Doon Village Road is blocked off and also questioned how the residents in the village will be affected once the visual easement is in place. Mr. P. Bufe again questioned whether the lots on Buerkle Court should comply with the policies in the Heritage Conservation District Plan. He also advised that no one pointed out that the triangular parcel of land, proposed to contain parts of lots on Buerkle Court, is part of the Heritage Conservation District. Ms. L. Marshall advised that Heritage Kitchener will have an opportunity to make comments when the modified Subdivision Agreement comes before them, and Mr. Bensason advised that all parties will be notified. Mr. R. Green entered the meeting at this time. Mr. R. Haalboom questioned what will happen to the Alteration Application filed by Monarch Construction, and Mr. Bensason advised that he expects it will be withdrawn. Mr. Bensason then advised Mr. G. Scheels, Green Scheels Pidgeon, that the existing Alteration Application under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act is no longer required and suggested that the application be withdrawn. He also recommended that the proper way to address the visual easement is through a modification to the Subdivision Application. When questioned by Councillor M. Galloway, Mr. Scheels advised that they will consider the situation, and if appropriate, withdraw the Alteration Application. Mr. Haalboom then filed the following items with the Committee: 1) affidavit of Diann Shirley Helliwell, dated February 9, 2001, 2) affidavit of Paul Nequest and Shirley Anne Nequest, dated February 9, 2001, 3) an extract from instrument #667401, and 4) copies of a letter from Terrance J. Flaherty, Legal Department, City of Kitchener, to Mrs. Dianne Helliwell, dated September 27, 1999. Mr. Haalboom stated that the location of the right-of-way benefiting the Nequest’s property affects the lay-out of the lots in the plan of subdivision, even if it is determined not to be a public right-of- way. He noted that part of the plan of subdivision creates a walkway through this right-of-way, which cannot be done as the Nequest’s have the right to exclusive use of the right-of-way. It was Mr. Haalboom’s view that planning staff did not properly consider the legal boundary of the Upper Doon Heritage Conservation District; conseqently neither staff nor Council took the actual boundary of the District into consideration when approving the plan of subdivision. He stressed that the boundary of the Heritage Conservation District has been established by a City by-law that should be upheld. Mr. Bensason stated that he takes exception to the comments made by Mr. Haalboom that the 3. WYLDWOOD SUBDIVISION – ALTERATION APPLICATION – UPPER DOON HERITAGE HERITAGE KITCHENER FEBRUARY 9, 2001- 15 -CITY OF KITCHENER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (CON’T) Heritage Conservation District Plan was disregarded within the planning approval process, given that a Heritage Impact Assessment was made a condition of the plan of subdivision application and various heritage issues were addressed in detail in the Heritage Impact Assessment, which was presented to a Heritage Kitchener sub-committee and endorsed by Heritage Kitchener. As referred to earlier, staff will prepare a report recommending modifications to conditions in the subdivision agreement to address this matter for consideration by Heritage Kitchener. 4. 111 PINNACLE DRIVE – DEMOLITION CONTROL APPLICATION The Committee was in receipt of a memorandum dated January 29, 2001, advising of receipt of a Demolition Control Application for 111 Pinnacle Drive. Mr. L. Bensason showed slides of the exterior of this property and its proximity to the designated property at 39 Doon Valley Drive, and the historic right-of-way which is a closed portion of Doon Valley Drive. Mr. S. Vipond, Planner, advised that the property owner has advised he will construct a single family dwelling on this property. Mr. Bensason advised that the purpose of bringing this application to the Committee’s attention is to consider what, if any, affect the demolition will have on the designated property at 39 Doon Valley Drive. Ms. Wagner noted that this property is within the boundary proposed for a Heritage Conservation District in Lower Doon. Mr. Bufe questioned whether this building is a good example of the Cottage Style prevalent in the area. He questioned the type of building material. Ms. Wagner suggested that there are not many cottages left which are representative of the summer cottage that surrounded Willow Lake. The Committee considered the possibility of designating this property. Mr. Bensason advised that if designation is warranted the recommendation should be forthcoming at the March meeting. Mr. Bufe volunteered to prepare a title search for this property and Mr. Green volunteered to view the property with staff. 5. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2001 Mr. L. Bensason advised the Committee of his work plan for 2001 and requested that the Committee consider what it wishes to accomplish this year. Ms. Wagner noted that the Committee has not designated any properties in some time. She noted that there is an extensive inventory of Heritage Properties but not much information about many of them. Mr. P. Bufe suggested that a concerted effort be made to put all the properties listed in the 1912 Vernon’s City Directory on the heritage inventory. A discussion took place concerning the work involved in determining the current municipal addresses for these properties and whether or not they still exist. The Committee then discussed the possibility of proceeding with the designation of 12 Wellington Street North and the First Mennonite Cemetery, properties for which research has already been completed. 6. BPS-01-004 – PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CITY’S SIGN BY-LAW Mr. P. Bufe referred to amendments proposed to the City’s sign by-law which affect home businesses, as outlined in staff report BPS-01-004, and his concern that larger signs will affect the appearance of heritage properties. Mr. Bensason explained that the proposed signs are fascia signs and will require alteration applications if to be erected on designated properties. Mr. Bufe suggested that there are heritage properties which are not designated and these properties will not have to submit alteration applications under the Ontario Heritage Act. Following further discussion, several members of the Committee stated that Mr. Bufe’s concerns are beyond this 6. BPS-01-004 – PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CITY’S SIGN BY-LAW (CONT’D) HERITAGE KITCHENER FEBRUARY 9, 2001- 16 -CITY OF KITCHENER Committee’s area of jurisdiction. 7. REQUEST FOR SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF PEQUEGNAT CLOCK COMPANY The Committee was in receipt of a letter from Amberleighe Pequegnat to Mayor Zehr, requesting recognition of the Pequegnat Clock Company. The Committee agreed to respond to the letter advising they will investigate the Pequegnat Clock Company and asking if the family has any information about the Company and/or photographs which may be of assistance. 8. FREEPORT BRIDGE Ms. P. Wagner advised that the Region of Waterloo is preparing a report on the structural integrity of the Freeport Bridge, which this Committee had previously considered designating. She suggested proceeding with the designation prior to the completion of the report. Mr. Bensason reminded the Committee that it had agreed to wait for the Region’s report prior to recommending designation and suggested that the Committee not proceed with the designation at this time. 9. UPDATES Mr. L. Bensason distributed copies of a letter from himself to Mr. Jonathan Weizel, Architect, dated 2001-02-02 concerning a Heritage Structure Report for the historic farmhouse on the property municipally known as 3040 Old Mill Road. He advised that he would keep the Committee informed. He then advised that significant finds had been made, through the Archaeological Assessment undertaken on the land the City had purchased from the City of Cambridge for the Doon Valley Golf Club expansion. He noted that an Archaeological Assessment has not been undertaken on the golf course land already owned by the City of Kitchener. He also advised that there is interest in the history of the clubhouse of the Doon Valley Golf Club. 10. ADJOURNMENT On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 2:18 p.m. Dianne H. Gilchrist Committee Administrator