HERITAGE MARKHAM COMMITTEE MEETING

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Canada Room, Markham Civic Centre

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

 

 

Members

Regrets

Joyce Nelson-Watt, Chair

Judith Dawson, Vice-Chair

Ted Chisholm

Susan Casella

Deirdre Kavanagh

James Makaruk

Sylvia Morris

Councillor Carolina Moretti

Barry Nelson

 

Denise Sabatini-Fuina

 

Councillor Valerie Burke

 

Councillor Joe Virgilio

 

 

 

 

 

Staff

Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning

George Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner

Peter Wokral, Planner, Heritage and Conservation

Candy Davidovits, Committee Secretary

 

 

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

 

The Chair convened the meeting at 6:55 p.m. by asking for any declarations of interest with respect to items on the agenda.

 

Councillor Burke complimented Heritage Section staff for their work on the Heritage District newsletter that was sent around recently.

 

 

1.         APPROVAL OF AGENDA (16.11)

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT the Heritage Markham agenda and addendum agenda be approved.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

2.         ADOPTION OF MINUTES

SECOND HERITAGE MARKHAM MEETING

FEBRUARY 13, 2008 (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

           

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT the Minutes of the Heritage Markham meeting held on February 13, 2008, be received and adopted.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

3.         SITE PLAN APPROVAL APPLICATION
REPAIR OF DAMAGE TO THE ROBB HOUSE
FILE NO. SC 06 134969

66 MONIQUE COURT (16.11)
Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning
                        C. Dunlop, Building Inspector

                        G. Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner

 

The Senior Heritage Planner gave a presentation on the structural assessment done by Rochon Engineering on behalf of the Town, indicating that the Robb House is unstable due to the lack of perimeter support following relocation.

 

Mr. Clay Leibel, Forest Bay Homes, addressed the Heritage Markham Committee, stating that he agreed with the update given by the Senior Heritage Planner.  He circulated a proposal dated March 2008 to reconstruct the Robb House and advised that he would be happy to answer questions from members of the Committee.

 

Mr. Dave De Sylva, Officer, Forest Bay Homes, also addressed the Heritage Markham Committee, advising that he is working with Clay Leibel on this project.  Forest Bay Homes has successfully tarped the front of the house but have not been very successful in protecting the back of the house.  Mr. De Sylva stated that he met with staff last Friday and that he was delighted to see historical photographs of the house.  Forest Bay Homes has received copies of the photographs.

 

Due to the unstable condition of the relocated house, the applicants propose to build a replica on the existing foundation.  The original store facing will be salvaged (including the date stone lintel) and used on the replica.

 

Mr. De Sylva further advised that the fireplace mantels inside the house would be preserved, if possible, and installed later.  The reconstructed house will look like it did 40 years ago but will be energy efficient.  The roof will be brought back its original slope.  Originally, there were no dormers in the front so there is no plan to put them in but dormers will be installed at the back of the house.  All windows will be of wood single hung construction.  All trim will be of wood and they plan to use information that can be gleaned from measurements they plan to take and form photographs in the reconstruction of Robb House.

 

The Manager of Heritage Planning displayed a photograph taken of the Robb House in the 1940's.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham accept the opinion of Rochon Engineering Incorporated, and acknowledge that given the state of the Robb House, the option of creating a replica using some of the original material can be supported subject to the applicant providing details of how much of original material will be salvaged, and how this can be accomplished safely;

 

AND THAT as part of the replication of the building, the applicant is to provide a Markham Remembered baked enamel interpretive plaque at their cost explaining the history of the Robb House and that the existing structure is a replica;

 

AND THAT the applicant amend his site plan agreement to reflect the revised plan to replicate the building, with detailed drawings and specifications to enable an accurate replication of the form and features (brick details around windows, quoining, eave returns, etc.) and enter into the site plan agreement with an appropriate Letter of Credit attached to it;

 

AND THAT Heritage Markham delegate approval authority for any further action on this application to Heritage Section staff.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

4.         REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK

            12049 HIGHWAY 48

POTENTIAL RELOCATION OF HOUSE TO MARKHAM HERITAGE ESTATES (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

                        P. Wokral, Heritage Planner

 

The following persons addressed the Heritage Markham Committee regarding the relocation of the Thomas H. Breuls House to the Markham Heritage Estates:

 

-           Mrs. Hala Palubiski;

 

-           Ms. Jan Breuls-Dorang, a descendant of the Breuls family, who also circulated a historical photograph of the house;

 

-           Ms. Ruth Burkholder;

 

-           Mr. Fred Robbins; and

 

-           Mr. Steve Palubiski.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham does not support the relocation of the Thomas H. Breuls House from Whitchurch-Stouffville to the Markham Heritage Estates for the following reasons:

 

·        The building is not located within the Town of Markham boundaries;

·        The building is not considered to be of Regional Significance;

·        The building did not score at least 85 points on the Town’s Threatened Building Evaluation criteria;

·        There are very few lots left at Markham Heritage Estates and many potentially threatened buildings are located within Markham;

 

AND THAT Heritage Markham strongly recommends that the building be retained on site and protected by the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville due to its obvious architectural and historical significance to both the former Township of Markham and the current municipality.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

5.         SITE PLAN APPROVAL APPLICATION
FILE NO. SC 06 135980
7751 YONGE STREET
RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROPOSED ELEVATIONS

THORNHILL HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT (16.11)

            Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

                                    P. Wokral, Heritage Planner

                                    R. Blake, West District Coordinator

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham receive the recommendations made by the Architectural Review Sub-Committee on behalf of Heritage Markham regarding the proposed elevations of 7751 Yonge Street as information.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

6.         HERITAGE PERMIT APPLICATION
FILE NO. HE 08 109487
126 MAIN STREET, UNIONVILLE

NEW PORCH RAILING

UNIONVILLE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

That this item be received as information.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

7.         BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION
FILE NO. 08 108244
12 MARKHAM STREET
NEW PATIO DOORS

MARKHAM VILLAGE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

That this item be received as information.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

8.         BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION
FILE NO. 08 108802
20 WATER STREET
GENERATOR AND ENCLOSURE FOR SENIORS' APARTMENT

MARKHAM VILLAGE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

That this item be received as information.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

9.         SITE PLAN APPROVAL APPLICATION
FILE NO. SC 06 113701
4600 STEELES AVENUE
HERITAGE EASEMENT AGREEMENT

MILLIKEN COMMUNITY (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning
S. Heaslip, Senior Project Coordinator

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham recommends that the Town of Markham enter into a Heritage Conservation Easement with the property owner for the façade, partial sidewalls, and identified interior features of the former Milliken Public School at 4600 Steeles Avenue.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

10.       MARKHAM REMEMBERED INTERPRETIVE PLAQUE
MARKHAM VILLAGE CONSERVANCY (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham supports the request of the Markham Village Conservancy for a Markham Remembered interpretive plaque, to be ordered through the Heritage Markham budget, to commemorate the history of Mount Joy and Peter Street.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

11.       COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT VARIANCE

AND CONSENT APPLICATIONS

            FILE NOS. B/01/08, A/04/08, A/05/08, AND A/06/08

            60 ROUGE STREET, MARKHAM VILLAGE (16.11)

            Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

                                    K. Bavington, Secretary-Treasurer, Committee of Adjustment

 

The Manager of Heritage Planning gave a presentation and submitted a report (March 12, 2008) containing revised comments for these applications.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the proposed severance of the property at 60 Rouge Street subject to significant vegetation being retained including the coniferous trees on the Rouge Street frontage of the property;

 

AND THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the proposed minimum lot area variance for Lot 2;

 

AND THAT Heritage Markham requests that any proposed dwellings on the severed lots comply with existing maximum lot coverage requirements and maximum net floor area ratio requirements to ensure that the dwellings are in relation to the smaller lot size and complementary to the scale and massing of other dwellings in the immediate area;

 

AND THAT Heritage Markham considers the variances pertaining to the dwellings premature given that detailed drawings have not been submitted, and will comment on any future variances once site plan applications are submitted.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

12.       CORRESPONDENCE (16.11)

Extract: R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

            THAT the following Correspondence be received as information:

 

1.         BBC News Magazine Article: The Victorian Society: For the Love of Bricks;

 

2.         Heritage Canada Media Review: January 2008 Issue;

 

3.         Heritage Canada Media Review: February 2008 Issue

 

4.         Heritage Canada Foundation News Release, February 18, 2008: Heritage Canada Foundation Calls for Better Protection for Federal Heritage Buildings;

 

5.         Heritage Canada Foundation flyer: Inviting Nominations for the 2008 Top 10 Endangered Places List; and

 

6.         The Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill Newsletter - February 2008 Issue.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

13.       STREETSCAPE ISSUES
LIGHTING ON MAIN STREET UNIONVILLE (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

                        M. Urquhart, Manager of Environment Leadership

 

The Manager of Heritage Planning gave a presentation on this proposal.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the illumination of the proposed Unionville gateway sign at Highway 7 and Main Street using LED bulbs and a solar panel on the understanding that the solar panel will not be readily visible;

 

AND THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the installation of string lighting on commercial buildings in the Unionville commercial core area using energy efficient LED string lights as replacements for existing incandescent lighting;

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection, in principle, to replacing the existing seasonal lighting on street light poles on Main Street with new solar powered LED mini lights which will light the street year round, but reserves its full support until it can be demonstrated that the installation of the solar panels will not detrimentally impact the heritage character of Main Street, Unionville (the installation of a sample solar panel on an existing light pole is requested);

 

AND THAT Heritage Markham has no objection, in principle, to the installation of new solar powered LED mini lights on wooden flower basket poles on Main Street (which will light the street year round) but reserves its full support until it can be demonstrated that the installation of the solar panels will not detrimentally impact the heritage character of Main Street, Unionville (the installation of a sample solar panel on an existing flower basket pole is requested).

 

CARRIED.

 

 

14.       HERITAGE DESIGNATION
10 RUGGLES AVENUE
MUNSHAW HOMESTEAD, LANGSTAFF COMMUNITY (16.11)
Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning
                        G. Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner

 

The Senior Heritage Planner gave a presentation on the designation of this property.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham recommend to Council that the Munshaw Homestead at 10 Ruggles Avenue, in the Langstaff Community, be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

15.       HERITAGE DESIGNATION
5933 FOURTEENTH AVENUE
GEORGE R. COWIE HOUSE, ARMADALE COMMUNITY (16.11)
Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

                                    N. Surti, Project Planner

 

The Senior Heritage Planner gave a presentation on the designation of this property.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham recommend to Council that the George R. Cowie House at 5933 Fourteenth Avenue, in the Armadale Community, be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

16.       HERITAGE DESIGNATION
7085 FOURTEENTH AVENUE
ABRAHAM KOCH HOUSE, BOX GROVE COMMUNITY (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning

                        G. Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner

                        N. Surti, Project Planner

 

The Senior Heritage Planner gave a presentation on the designation of this property.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham recommend to Council that the Abraham Koch House at 7085 Fourteenth Avenue, in the Box Grove Community, be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

17.       REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK

            9900 HIGHWAY 48

            WILLIAM CLARRY HOUSE/COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT (16.11)

            Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

N. Surti, Project Planner

 

The Manager of Heritage Planning and the Senior Heritage Planner gave presentations on this application.

 

The issue under discussion was the retention of the heritage house on its original site next to the proposed theatre complex versus relocation of the heritage house to the north, to be located near lower scale commercial buildings and to become the terminus or focal point of an internal east/west street.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham recommends that the William Clarry House be retained on its original site and that development be integrated around the house.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

18.       SITE PLAN CONTROL APPLICATION

            BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION

            FILE NOS. SC 07 124013 AND 08 107535

VICTORIA SQUARE SCHOOLHOUSE

BIG STEPS DAYCARE

10137 WOODBINE AVENUE

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

                        Geoff Day, Project Planner

 

The Heritage Planner gave a presentation on this application.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the revised Site Plan drawings providing for a detached 3 storey medical office and addition to the Victoria Square Schoolhouse, subject to the creation of a small two-storey link or other visual break between the old schoolhouse and the new addition;

 

AND THAT final approval of the Site Plan Application SC 07 124013 and the Restoration Plan for the Victoria Square Schoolhouse as well as Building Permit Application 08 107535 000 be delegated to Heritage Section staff;

 

AND THAT the wooden fascias and soffits of the schoolhouse be restored and not replaced or covered with aluminum as indicated in the drawings.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

19.       COMMUNITY HERITAGE ONTARIO – ANNUAL CONFERENCE (16.11)

            Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

Joyce Nelson-Watt advised that Community Heritage Ontario (CHO) will be having its annual conference this year "Landmark Not Landfill" in Collingwood, Ontario from May 30 - June 1, 2008.  The Chair advised that both she and Judith Dawson attended last year's conference in Guelph and that they highly recommend it to other members.  The Chair also advised that CHO is looking for a conference location for 2009 and that this would be a good opportunity for the Town of Markham to host a CHO conference.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham request Heritage Section staff to investigate the possibility of having the Town of Markham host the 2009 Community Heritage Ontario annual conference and to report back to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

20.       PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL PLAQUES FOR HERITAGE AREAS (16.11)

            Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

At the request of Councilor Burke, the Heritage Markham Committee discussed the purchase and installation of plaques for heritage properties in conservation districts.

 

The Senior Heritage Planner advised that a significant amount of work has already been done on this issue.  The Markham Village Conservancy is interested in installing plaques on some of the buildings in Mount Joy.  The Markham Village Conservancy is considering a proposal for a pilot project and if it is successful the program could be expanded.  The Senior Heritage Planner advised that he does not yet know if the Conservancy will approve the wooden plaque concept, but it will be considered prior to the next meeting of Heritage Markham.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham request Heritage Section staff to pursue an interpretive plaquing program for all of the Town of Markham conservation districts based on the Markham Village Conservancy's proposal.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.