HERITAGE MARKHAM COMMITTEE MEETING

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Canada Room, Markham Civic Centre

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

 

 

Members

Regrets

Joyce Nelson-Watt, Chair

Deirdre Kavanagh

Judith Dawson, Vice-Chair

James Makaruk

Susan Casella

Barry Nelson

Ted Chisholm

Councillor Carolina Moretti

Sylvia Morris

 

Denise Sabatini-Fuina

 

Ted Sheppard

 

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 7:25 p.m. by asking for any declarations of interest with respect to items on the agenda. Ted Chisholm disclosed a conflict on Item 6 – Site Plan Approval Application – File No. SC 07 109865 – 11 Euclid Street – Unionville Heritage Conservation District – Request to Amend Site Plan Agreement, as he is the applicant.

 

 

1.         APPROVAL OF AGENDA (16.11)

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT the Heritage Markham agenda and addendum agenda be approved.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

2.         ADOPTION OF MINUTES

TWELFTH HERITAGE MARKHAM MEETING

DECEMBER 12, 2007 (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

           

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT the Minutes of the Heritage Markham meeting held on December 12, 2007, be received and adopted.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

3.         WELCOME NEW MEMBERS OF HERITAGE MARKHAM (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning_________________

 

The Chair welcomed new members Sylvia Morris, Ted Sheppard and Barry Nelson, who was not present, to the Heritage Markham Committee and asked the members of the Committee to introduce themselves for the benefit of the new members.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Sylvia  Morris, Barry Nelson and Ted Sheppard be welcomed as new members to the Heritage Markham Committee.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

4.         INFORMATION

ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR
APPOINTMENTS TO SUB-COMMITTEES
OF HERITAGE MARKHAM (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning___________

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT this item be received as information and that the election of Chair/Vice Chair and appointment of Sub-Committees be held at the beginning of the February meeting of Heritage Markham.

 

CARRIED.

 

5.         REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK
FILE NO. SC 06 134 969
66 MONIQUE COURT
REPAIR OF DAMAGE TO THE ROBB HOUSE (16.11)
Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

The Senior Heritage Planner gave a presentation on this application.  The applicant has requested another deferral of this item as he has not yet received his consultant’s report. 

 

The Committee briefly discussed whether there was a need to consult with an engineering firm to assess the structural aspects of the dwelling.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT consideration of this item be deferred to the Heritage Markham meeting to be held on February 13, 2008.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

6.         SITE PLAN APPROVAL APPLICATION
FILE NO. SC 07 109865
11 EUCLID STREET
UNIONVILLE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
REQUEST TO AMEND SITE PLAN AGREEMENT (16.11)

            Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning;

                                    G. Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the balance of construction at 11 Euclid Street being completed in a one to two year time frame;

 

AND THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the applicant substituting the design of the enclosed front porch based on the archival photograph of 1981 for the design as approved in the current site plan, on the basis that the 1981 design is the more authentic architectural treatment.

 

CARRIED.

 

Ted Chisholm, having declared a disclosure of interest with respect to Item 6, due to the fact that he is the applicant, did not participate in the voting with respect to this item.

7.         REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK
32 CHURCH STREET, MARKHAM VILLAGE
HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
CONCEPT PLANS FOR A PROPOSED
ADDITION TO A HERITAGE HOUSE (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning_________________

 

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

 

Some of the Committee members had additional comments regarding the design of the proposed addition, further to the recommendation of the Architectural Review Sub-committee.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT consideration of this item be deferred to the Heritage Markham meeting to be held on February 13, 2008, and that the applicant be invited to be in attendance at that meeting.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

8.         FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
HERITAGE RESERVE FUND (16.11)

Extracts:           V. Sui, Senior Business Analyst

                        R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

                        J. Webster, Councillor, Ward 5

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the use of funding from the Heritage Reserve Fund for the Heritage Commemorative Signage for the Old Village Project and for the Markham Village Heritage Area Colour Historical Walking Tour Booklet.

 

CARRIED.

9.         CORRESPONDENCE (16.11)

Extract: R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

That the following Correspondence be received as information:

 

1.         Paul Dilse, Heritage Planning Consultant:  Promotional Material; and

2.         Heritage Canada Foundation: Call for Federal Incentives for Preservation.

 

CARRIED.

 

10.       26 ALBERT STREET
            PROPOSED CONVERSION OF A DWELLING INTO A GARAGE (16.11)

Extracts:           P. Wokral, Heritage Planner

____________R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning_________________

 

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

 

It was explained by staff that the dwelling would be converted to a stand-alone, two-car garage with the vehicle doors placed on the rear (north) elevation and that the remainder of the building would be restored on the exterior to its original residential appearance.  Although staff would prefer to see the building remain in its original use, the conversion is supported given the condition of the building, the history of the property and its potential demolition either through further neglect or successful acquisition of a demolition permit.  One new residential dwelling is proposed to be constructed on the lot.

 

Committee members provided the following comments:

  • A recent site visit by the Architectural Review Sub-Committee found the interior of the building to still possess original trim and features, but was suffering from lack of heat, water infiltration and neglect.
  • Conversion of other heritage dwellings in Markham to garages has not been altogether successful with the loss of interior heritage features, changes to height and scale, and in one case, the loss of the building.
  • The building should remain a dwelling unit with a sympathetic addition as other property owners have been required to do.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham does not support the adaptation of this building as a garage and requests that the owner provide Heritage Markham with other options.

 

CARRIED.

11.       REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK
129 JOHN STREET, THORNHILL (16.11)

Extracts:           P. Wokral, Heritage Planner

____________R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning_________________

 

Betty Goulden, Society for the Preservation of Old Thornhill, addressed the Heritage Markham Committee on this matter.  The Committee was informed that the property has been sold.

 

Councillor Burke read an e-mail received from William Wylie requesting that this item not be dealt with at this meeting and that any request for demolition anywhere in the Heritage Conservation District not be acted upon unless it is accompanied by a formal demolition application which, if accepted, would be controlled by a site plan agreement entered into by the owner of the property at the time of approval.

 

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

 

Staff explained the difficulty they commonly encounter in providing clear answers to prospective purchasers (or even owners) of non-heritage properties in the Thornhill Heritage District on whether the building has to be retained.  When these answers cannot be provided in a reasonable timeframe, prospective purchasers depart and the homeowner becomes frustrated.  The revised Heritage District Plan indicates that demolition requests on Class C (non-heritage buildings) will be reviewed on a case by case basis.  It is acknowledged that Heritage Markham needs to provide its guidance and the ultimate decision on demolition rests with Council. 

 

It has been staff’s position that the retention of complementary non-heritage buildings should be encouraged and the alteration or replacement of non-complementary buildings should be encouraged, but that any non-heritage building could be replaced by a new complementary dwelling using the District Plan policies and the guidance of Heritage Markham.

 

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT this item be received as information.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

12.       REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK

11 BUTTONVILLE CRESCENT EAST

PROPOSED NEW DWELLING (16.11)

Extracts:           P. Wokral, Heritage Planner

                        R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

The Heritage Planner gave a presentation on this application.

 

The following persons addressed the Heritage Markham Committee in support of the proposed new dwelling at 11 Buttonville Crescent East:

 

-           Soo-Ling Huang, property owner; and

-           Billy Fung, Associate, John Shuki Lau Architect Inc.

 

Committee members noted that normally a three car garage is not supported in a heritage area and that the building massing of historic Buttonville is comprised of smaller cottage-like dwelling units.  It was noted that the proposed dwelling has an elongated appearance although attempts have been made to break up the massing.  Further examination of a change to the exterior cladding materials was suggested to help further reduce the massing (ie. using wood or wood-like cladding on the garage and side wing components with brick on the main component)

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the preliminary design of the proposed new house to be located at 11 Buttonville Crescent East;

 

AND THAT final approval of any future Site Plan Application based on this preliminary design, including materials, windows and colours, be delegated to Heritage Section staff.

 

CARRIED.

13.       DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION 08 106598 ND

THE GREGORY DESIGN GROUP

PARTIAL DEMOLITON OF THE UNIONVILLE ARMS RESTAURANT

189 MAIN STREET

UNIONVILLE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning;

                        Christina Doyle-Dimou, Building;

                        Carla Crockett, Building

 

Committee noted that they would have preferred to see the restoration/new construction drawings at the same time to quicken the review process.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the demolition permit application for the fire-damaged portions of the Unionville Arms Restaurant building;

 

AND THAT the applicant be required to ensure that the remaining portions of the building are properly supported and protected from the elements, before and after the removal of the fire-damaged materials, so that the portions of the building that are to remain are protected.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

14.       BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION 08 106556 AL

DAVID JOHNSTON ARCHITECT

NEW WINDOWS FOR MARKHAM VILLAGE LANES

144 MAIN STREET NORTH

MARKHAM VILLAGE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT (16.11)

Extracts:           R. Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning;

                        Christina Doyle-Dimou, Building

 

The Senior Heritage Planner gave a presentation on this application.

 

HERITAGE MARKHAM RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT Heritage Markham has no objection to the building permit application for the addition of four basement level windows on the south wall of the modern building at Markham Village Lanes, 144 Main Street North.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.