Heritage Markham Committee Minutes

Meeting Number: 9
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Electronic Meeting
Members
  • Councillor Reid McAlpine, Chair
  • Elizabeth Wimmer, Vice-Chair
  • Councillor Keith Irish
  • Councillor Karen Rea
  • David Butterworth
  • Victor Huang
  • Nathan Proctor
  • Tejinder Sidhu
  • Lake Trevelyan
  • Kugan Subramaniam
  • Vanda Vicars
Regrets
  • Ron Blake
  • David Wilson
Staff
  • Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
  • Peter Wokral, Senior Heritage Planner
  • Evan Manning, Senior Heritage Planner
  • Jennifer Evans, Legislative Coordinator
  • Hristina Giantsopoulos, Election & Committee Coordinator

Heritage Markham convened at 7:04 PM with Councillor Reid McAlpine presided as Chair.  

The Chair, Councillor McAlpine declared a conflict in relation to item 6.1 and noted that the subject property is next door to him.    

  1.  Addendum Agenda
  2. New Business from Committee Members
  • Moved byKugan Subramaniam
    Seconded byElizabeth Wimmer, Vice-Chair

    Recommendation:

    That the September 11, 2024 Heritage Markham Committee agenda be approved.

    Carried

See attached material.

  • Moved byCouncillor Karen Rea
    Seconded byDavid Butterworth

    Recommendation:

    That the minutes of the Heritage Markham Committee meeting held on August 14, 2024 be received and adopted.

    Carried

FENCING, TREE GUARDS AND TREE GRATES (16.11)


File Numbers:
n/a


Extracts:
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning

Yan Wu, Public Art Coordinator, Niamh O’Laoghaire, Manager, Art Gallery and Nestor Kruger, Artist were in attendance to review the design changes with the committee. 

Nestor Kruger, presented the revised design that incorporated the feedback received at the previous meeting.   

The Committtee thanked Mr. Nestor for the presentation and appreciated the time and effort made to incorporate the requested changes.  There was discussion on the following in relation to the presentation:  

The committee expressed both support and concerns with elements of the revised design, specifically the planting of trees along the street, tree grates, the cortan steel material that will be used to make them, and inquired how weeds that grow out of the grates will be addressed.  There was also discussion in relation to mitigating water damage and colour bleeding onto Unionville Main Street from the cortan steel.  

Niamh O'Laoghaire, advised that it is important to integrate trees into the artwork and introduce public art in this area.  The City would be putting tree grates in and around the tree planting area regardless of the public art installment.  It was noted that the City would be maintaining the planted trees and that there are mechanisms in place to minimize staining.   

The committee consented to make an amendment to include provisions about the use of corten steel for the revised grates, guards and fence, as well as request that staff review the impact of the corten steel on surrounding materials such as the street pavers.

  • Moved byNathan Proctor
    Seconded byLake Trevelyan

    Recommendation:

    1.  That Heritage Markham has no objection from a heritage perspective to the Heritage Permit in support of Public Art Project 1 (Fencing and Tree Grate/Guards) identified for the Main Street Unionville Streetscape and use corten steel as the material for the revised grates, guards and fence, and, 

    2. That staff review the impact of the corten on surrounding materials i.e. paver.  

    Carried

DELEGATED APPROVAL BY HERITAGE SECTION STAFF
67 MAIN STREET SOUTH, UNIONVILLE, 4 LEAHILL DRIVE, THORNHILL (16.11)


File Numbers:
24 187161 HE,
24 187736 HE


Extracts:
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
E. Manning, Senior Heritage Planner

  • Moved byVictor Huang
    Seconded byLake Trevelyan

    Recommendation:

    THAT Heritage Markham receive the information on the Minor Heritage Permits approved by Heritage Section staff under the delegated approval process.

    Carried

DELEGATED APPROVALS OF BUILDING/SIGN PERMITS
33 WASHINGTON ST., 210 MAIN ST. UNIONVILLE, 16 GEORGE ST.
(16.11)


File Numbers:
HP 23 142104,
AL 23 123706,
HP 24 182578


Extracts:
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
P. Wokral, Senior Heritage Planner

  • Moved byVictor Huang
    Seconded byLake Trevelyan

    Recommendation:

    THAT Heritage Markham receive the information on building permits approved by Heritage Section staff under the delegated approval process.

    Carried

CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF HISTORIC EXTERIOR CLADDING
25 VICTORIA AVE., UNIONVILLE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT (16.11)


File Number:
SPC 22 116892


Extracts:
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning

Councillor McAlpine declared a conflict regarding this item as the subject property is next door to his.  He did not participate in the discussion or vote on the matter. 

Elizabeth Wimmer assumed the role of the Chair for this item. 

Peter Wokral, senior Planner, Heritage Planning & Urban Design provided an overview of the site-plan  visit that took place two weeks ago to determine the condition of the subject wall and it was determined that it was in good condition to be restored.  He indicated that the homeowner was not satisfied with the report and would like to replace the subject wall and did not want to work with historic cladding.      

The committee discussed maintaining the heritage integrity of the home and inquired whether replacement of the wall would be supported with the appropriate replacement materials.  

The committee consented to a site visit by the Architectural Review Sub-Committee to assess the matter. 

  • Moved byCouncillor Karen Rea
    Seconded byNathan Proctor

    Recommendation:

    THAT Heritage Markham recommends the scheduling of a site visit by the Architectural Review Sub-Committee with the authority to make a recommendation for the Committee as a whole, regarding the feasibility of retaining and restoring the original 19th century vertical tongue and groove wooden siding.

    Carried

PROPOSED DETACHED DWELLING
48 SNIDER DRIVE NORTH, MARKHAM VILLAGE (16.11)


File Number:
A/084/24


Extracts:
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
E. Manning, Senior Heritage Planner

Evan Manning, Senior Planner Heritage Planning and Urban Design, reviewed the location of the property in relation to the heritage district using a Geo-Logic map.  He advised that anything within 60 meters is considered adjacent, to a designated heritage area and that development applications are evaluated using this criteria as contained in the Heritage Act.   

The committee discussed overall support to the planning staff recommendation and that the proposed home plans do not look like heritage homes.  Staff indicated that the scale esthetics of the property as it is adjacent to a heritage area, should not compete with the heritage homes.   

The committee consented to request that the owner reduce the depth of the second story.  

  • Moved byCouncillor Karen Rea
    Seconded byLake Trevelyan

    That the owner of 48 Snider Drive be requested to decrease the depth of the second story. 

    Carried
  • Recommendation:

    THAT Heritage Markham does not support nor object from a heritage perspective the Minor Variance application for 48 Snider Drive.

PROPOSED LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT
189 & 193 MAIN STREET, UNIONVILLE (16.11)


File Number:
B/021/24


Extracts:
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
P. Wokral, Senior Heritage Planner
E. Manning, Senior Heritage Planner

  • Moved byNathan Proctor
    Seconded byKugan Subramaniam

    Recommendations:

    THAT Heritage Markham has no objection from a heritage perspective to the consent application for 189 & 193 Main Street;

    AND THAT Heritage Markham delegates review of the following future consent applications to Heritage Section staff provided that the Ward Councillor has no objection to the proposal from a heritage perspective:

    • Lot line adjustments that do not involve the creation of new building lots;
    • Partial discharge of mortgage;
    • Consent related to mortgage, easement, lease of 21 years or more;
    • Validation of title;
    • Re-establishment of a previously existing lot line; and
    • Re-Application of Provisionally approved Consent without completion of conditions within statutory timeframe (Proposed lot configuration and development must be identical to the lapsed application receiving provisional consent)
    Carried

PROPOSED PARKING REDUCTION
159 MAIN STREET, UNIONVILLE (16.11)


File Number:
A/051/24


Extracts:
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
E. Manning, Senior Heritage Planner

Evan Manning, Senior Planner, Heritage Planning and Urban Design advised that this is an application to reduce the number of parking spaces at this location from 15 to 9 and that the Unionville Business Improvement Area does not object to this request.   

  • Moved byTejinder Sidhu
    Seconded byVictor Huang

    Recommendations:

    THAT Heritage Markham has no comment from a heritage perspective to the Minor Variance application for 159 Main Street;

    AND THAT Heritage Markham delegates review of future Minor Variance applications that do not involve building envelope expansion to Heritage Section staff provided that the Ward Councillor has no objection to the proposal from a heritage perspective.

    Carried

The following projects impact in some manner the heritage planning function of the City of Markham. The purpose of this summary is to keep the Heritage Markham Committee apprised of the projects’ status.  Staff will only provide a written update when information is available, but members may request an update on any matter.

  1. Doors Open Markham 2024
  2. Heritage Week, February 2024
  3. Unionville Streetscape Detailed Design Project (2022-2025)
  4. Unionville Heritage Conservation District Plan Amendments/ Update
  5. Unionville Heritage Centre Secondary Plan
  6. Update to Markham Village Heritage Conservation District Plan (2024)
  7. New Secondary Plan for Markham Village
  8. Comprehensive Zoning By-law Project (2024)
  9. Priority Designation Program 2023-2024

SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING (16.11)


File Number:
A/051/24


Extracts:
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning

The committee discussed that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Heritage Markham and that a sub-committee and budget are required to begin planning for a commemorative event. The Chair indicated that a meeting will be scheduled in the coming weeks.  

The sub-committee will be comprised of the following members:

  • Lake Trevelyan;
  • Vanda Vicars;
  • Tejinder Sidhu;
  • David Butterworth;
  • Vanda Vicars;
  • Kugan Subramaniam; 
  • Councillor Karen Rea; and,
  • Councillor Reid McAlpine, Chair.  

Counciullor Rea, introduced new business in relation to the maintenance of heritage homes and introduced a notice of motion.  

There was a short discussion in relation to the enforcement of this type of policy and by-law in a real estate agreement, as well as the use of letters of credit.        

  • Moved byCouncillor Karen Rea
    Seconded byLake Trevelyan

    Whereas Heritage Estates has a number of homes that are not being maintained or the initial restoration of some homes are still not complete, years after the homes were moved into the estates be it resolved; 

     

    That the City take action to enforce the purchase and sale agreements to complete unfinished site plans and Bylaws enforce our Keep Markham Beautiful Bylaw on any properties that are not being maintained.

    Carried
  • Moved byTejinder Sidhu
    Seconded byNathan Proctor

    That Heritgage Markham Committee adjourn at 8:40 PM.

    Carried