Heritage Markham Committee Minutes

Meeting Number: 7

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 7:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Electronic Meeting

Members

• Councillor Karen Rea, Chair
• Lake Trevelyan, Vice-Chair
• Councillor Keith Irish
• Councillor Reid McAlpine
• Ken Davis
• Victor Huang
• Nathan Proctor
• David Butterworth
• Tejinder Sidhu
• Ron Blake

Regrets

• Paul Tiefenbach
• David Wilson
• Elizabeth Wimmer

Staff

• Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
• Evan Manning, Senior Heritage Planner
• Peter Wokral, Senior Heritage Planner
• Erica Alligood, Election & Committee Coordinator
• Jennifer Evans, Legislative Coordinator

---

1.

CALL TO ORDER

Councillor Karen Rea, Chair, convened the meeting at 7:04 PM by asking for any disclosures of interest with respect to items on the agenda.

2.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.

3.

PART ONE - ADMINISTRATION

3.1

APPROVAL OF AGENDA (16.11)

1.  Addendum Agenda
2. New Business from Committee Members

• Recommendation:

  That the June 14, 2023 Heritage Markham Committee agenda be approved.

  Carried

3.2

MINUTES OF THE MAY 10, 2023 AND MAY 17, 2023 HERITAGE MARKHAM COMMITTEE MEETINGS (16.11)

See attached material.

Evelin Ellison, Deputant, emphasized the concerns of the Thornhill Historical Society related to the condition of the roof at the Munshaw House, as detailed in the minutes of the May 10th meeting.

Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning, noted that Heritage Section Staff would follow up with the Owner on the condition of the roof.

• Recommendation:

  That the minutes of the Heritage Markham Committee meetings held on May 10, 2023 and May 17, 2023 be received and adopted.

  Carried

3.3

PASSING OF FORMER HERITAGE MARKHAM MEMBER - ELIZABETH PLASHKES (16.11)

Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning, provided brief remarks expressing utmost appreciation for Elizabeth Plashkes contributions to the Heritage Markham Committee and to the greater Markham community. On behalf of the Committee, Mr. Hutcheson expressed condolences to the Plashkes family. 

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Heritage Markham Committee extends its sincere condolences to the family of Elizabeth Plashkes and expresses its appreciation and gratitude for her extensive past accomplishments as both a member of the Heritage Markham Committee for seven years and for the promotion, protection and preservation of Markham’s cultural heritage resources, including her work on conserving the Markham Village Train Station and Unionville’s Stiver Mill.

  Carried

4.

PART TWO - DEPUTATIONS

Evelin Ellison made a deputation as detailed with Item 3.2. 

5.

PART THREE - CONSENT

5.1

MINOR HERITAGE PERMIT APPLICATIONS

DELEGATED APPROVAL BY HERITAGE SECTION STAFF
36 CHURCH STREET, MARKHAM VILLAGE, 26 COLBORNE STREET, THORNHILL, 151 JOHN STREET, THORNHILL, 6 AILEEN LEWIS COURT, MARKHAM HERITAGE ESTATES, 32 JOHN STREET, THORNHILL, 10 PETER STREET, MARKHAM VILLAGE, 236 MAIN STREET, UNIONVILLE, 4470 HIGHWAY 7 EAST, UNIONVILLE, 146 MAIN STREET, UNIONVILLE (16.11)

File Numbers:
HE 23 121005
HE 23 119621
HE 23 126172
HE 23 121888
HE 23 123083
HE 23 114833
HE 23 124507
HE 23 113709
HE 23 124981    

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

• Recommendation:

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

  Carried

5.2

BUILDING OR SIGN PERMIT APPLICATIONS

DELEGATED APPROVAL BY HERITAGE SECTION STAFF
131 MAIN STREET UNIONVILLE (UHCD), 147A MAIN STREET UNIONVILLE (UHCD), 3056 ELGIN MILLS ROAD EAST, 10535 MCCOWAN ROAD, 370 MAIN STREET NORTH (MVHCD), 107 MAIN STREET NORTH (MVHCD) (16.11)

File Numbers:
NH 23 119502
DP 23 114293
HP 23 120325
AL 23 120325
HP 22 264774
SP 23 116267  

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

• Recommendation:

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

  Carried

5.3

MAJOR HERITAGE PERMIT APPLICATION

PROPOSED ONE-STOREY ADDITION WITH CARPORT
40 ROUGE STREET (16.11)

File Number:
23 120000 HE

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

• Recommendations:

  THAT Heritage Markham has no objection from a heritage perspective to the proposed modifications detailed in the Major Heritage Permit application submitted for 40 Rouge Street provided that the design revisions suggested by Heritage Section staff are appropriately addressed to the satisfaction of Staff.

  AND THAT future review of this and any other development application required to approve the proposed development be delegated to Heritage Section staff.

  Carried

5.4

COMMERCIAL SPC APPLICATION

27 MAIN STREET NORTH (16.11)

File Number:
23 119600 SPC

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

• Recommendations:

  THAT Heritage Markham has no objection from a heritage perspective to the proposed façade alterations as detailed in the Site Plan Control application submitted for 27 Main Street North provided that the design revisions suggested by Heritage Section staff are appropriately addressed to the satisfaction of Staff;

  AND THAT future review of this and any other development application required to approve the proposed development be delegated to Heritage Section staff.

  Carried

5.5

SECOND BATCH OF PRIORITY DESIGNATIONS

81 DICKSON HILL ROAD, 2972 ELGIN MILLS ROAD, 7880 HIGHWAY 7, 10159 MCCOWAN ROAD, 4130 NINETEENTH AVENUE, 4159 NINETEENTH AVENUE (16.11)

File Number:
n/a

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

• Recommendation:

  THAT Heritage Markham supports designation of 81 Dickson Hill Road, 2972 Elgin Mills Road, 7880 Highway 7, 10159 McCowan Road, 4130 Nineteenth Avenue, 4159 Nineteenth Avenue under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act based on the appended Research Reports.

  Carried

5.6

MAJOR HERITAGE PERMIT APPLICATION

PROPOSED 1-STOREY REAR ADDITION TO AN EXISTING HERITAGE DWELLING
237 MAIN ST, UNIONVILLE (16.11)

File Number:
HE 23 123668

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

• Recommendation:

  THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the proposed rear addition to 237 Main Street Unionville and delegates final review of the Major Heritage Permit application to Heritage Section staff provided that there are no significant changes to the design as reviewed by the Committee.

  Carried

6.

PART FOUR - REGULAR

6.1

PROPOSED STREAMLINED APPROACH FOR HERITAGE MARKHAM CONSULTATION

DESIGNATION OF PRIORITY PROPERTIES LISTED ON THE CITY OF MARKHAM'S REGISTER OF PROPERTIES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE OR INTEREST IN RESPONSE TO BILL 23 (16.11)

File Number:
n/a

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

Evan Manning, Senior Heritage Planner, introduced this item advising that it is related to a proposal for a streamlined approach for the designation of priority listed properties which requires consultation with the municipal heritage committee. Mr. Manning provided an overview of the evaluation criteria used to evaluate the physical heritage significance of the properties listed on the Heritage Register and displayed images of all the evaluated properties organized into “High”, “Medium”, and “Low” as it relates to their perceived heritage significance. Mr. Manning stressed that Heritage Section Staff wish to designate as many properties as possible, but noted that it was important to establish priorities given the two-year deadline to designate.

Regan Hutcheson noted that these rankings were established based only upon appearance. Mr. Hutcheson confirmed that further research will be conducted into properties are part of the designation process.

Staff further explained that they were recommending a streamlined Heritage Markham consultation process to satisfy the requirements of Section 29(2) of the Ontario Heritage Act, and that was the purpose of reviewing all the ranked properties at this meeting.  No further review with Heritage Markham Committee will occur if the Committee agrees with this approach concerning the designation of the identified properties in the Evaluation Report. 

The Committee provided the following feedback:

• Questioned how the number of listed properties was reduced from over 300 to the 158 that were evaluated using the criteria shown in the presentation package. Staff noted that, for example, properties that are owned by the Provincial or Federal government were excluded from evaluation as they are not subject to the protections afforded by Part IV designation. Municipally-owned properties were removed as were cemeteries. This, along with other considerations, reduced the number of properties evaluated for designation;
• Questioned what will happen to the lowest ranked properties. Staff noted research efforts were being focused on the highest ranked properties and that if time permits, these  properties would be researched.  If designation is not recommended by staff, the specific properties will return to Heritage Markham Committee for review;
• Questioned why heritage building that were previously incorporated into developments are generally not considered a high priority for designation. Staff noted that these properites can be protected through potential future Heritage Easement Agreements should they be subject to a development application after “falling” off the Heritage Register;
• Requested that the Committee be kept up-to-date on the progress of the designation project. Staff noted that the Committee will be updated on a regular basis as the designation project progresses.

Staff recommended the proposed streamlined Heritage Markham review approach be supported.

• Recommendations:

  THAT Heritage Markham supports designation of the properties included in the Evaluation Report
  under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act;

  AND THAT if after further research and evaluation, any of the identified properties are not recommended by staff to proceed to designation, those properties be brought back to the Heritage Markham Committee for review. 

  Carried

6.2

2023 DESIGNATED HERITAGE PROPERTY GRANT APPLICATIONS

REVIEW OF 2023 GRANT APPLICATIONS
2023 DESIGNATED HERITAGE PROPERTY GRANT PROGRAM
 6 ALEXANDER HUNTER PLACE, 12 ALEXANDER HUNTER PLACE, 16 GEORGE STREET, 32 WASHINGTON STREET, 36 WASHINGTON STREET, 36 CHURCH STREET, 53 CHURCH STREET, 15 COLBORNE STREET, 33 COLBORNE STREET (16.11)

File Number:
n/a

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

Peter Wokral, Senior Heritage Planner, introduced this item, advising that it is related to the Designated Heritage Property Grant Program which has been in effect since 2010. Mr. Wokral explained that the program's budget of $30,000 is granted to eligible projects which have been deemed to directly protect or restore non-commercial heritage properties in the City of Markham. Mr. Wokral explained that first-time applicants are typically prioritized and noted that of the 9 applications received this year, 8 applications are recommended for support.

The Committee asked for clarification on the project not supported by Heritage Section Staff, noting that it appears to fall within the criteria outlined within the report. Mr. Wokral explained that the grant is not given to projects that are considered regular maintenance, such as painting. Mr. Wokral advised that there may be exceptions to this when the painting scheme is based on restoring the historical colour scheme, but otherwise would be viewed as regular maintenance and not supported for a grant by Heritage Section Staff. 

• Recommendations:

  THAT Heritage Markham supports the funding of the following eight grant applications at a total cost of $30,000.00 subject to the amounts and conditions noted on the individual summary sheets:

  • 6 Alexander Hunter Place, Markham Heritage Estates;
  • 12 Alexander Hunter Place, Markham Heritage Estates;
  • 16 George Street, Markham Village;
  • 32 Washington Street, Markham Village;
  • 36 Washington Street, Markham Village;
  • 36 Church Street, Markham Village;
  • 53 Church Street, Markham Village;
  • 33 Colborne Street, Thornhill

  AND THAT Heritage Markham does not support the grant application for 15 Colborne Street

  Carried

7.

PART FIVE - STUDIES/PROJECTS AFFECTING HERITAGE RESOURCES - UPDATES

Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning, provided a brief update on Doors Open 2023, advising that staff has been meeting with the remaining Committee members and does not believe that Doors Open 2023 could be organized for September of 2023. Mr. Hutcheson advised that the current proposal is to explore a Markham Doors Open in the Spring of 2024.

The Committee requested an update on the Markham Village Heritage Conservation District Plan Update and the Unionville Secondary Plan. Mr. Hutcheson advised that current workload issues related to changes to planning and heritage legislation was slowing this process.

8.

PART SIX - NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business.

9.

ADJOURNMENT

The Heritage Markham Committee adjourned at 7:49PM.