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TO: |
Mayor and Members of Council |
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FROM: |
Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning & Urban Design |
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PREPARED BY: |
Regan Hutcheson,
Manager, Heritage Planning |
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DATE OF MEETING: |
2004-May-04 |
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SUBJECT: |
Thornhill Heritage Conservation District Plan Review Terms of Reference |
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RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Thornhill Heritage Conservation
District Plan Review – Terms of Reference, dated
AND THAT staff be authorized to proceed with
consultant selection and awarding of the study, in accordance with provisions
of the Purchasing By-law 143-2000, with consultant fees to an upset limit of
$45,000 (exclusive of GST) to be paid from Capital Budget Account No.
80-5350-5188-005;
AND THAT
staff be authorized to retain the services of a professional facilitator to
work with the selected consultant team and assist in the community consultation
component of the project, with consultant fees to an upset limit of $5,000
(exclusive of GST) to be paid from Capital Budget Account No. 80-5350-5188-005;
AND FURTHER THAT a Thornhill Conservation
District Plan Review Advisory Committee be created to assist in the study, and
be comprised of the following members:
- Ward 1 Councillor – Stan Daurio
- Regional Councillor – Bill O’Donnell
- 2 Thornhill representatives from Heritage
Markham
- 1 representative nominated by the Society for
the Preservation of Historic Thornhill
- 1 representative nominated by the Ward 1
(South) Thornhill Residents Inc.
- 2 members of the local community appointed by
the local and regional Councillors
- 2 staff members of the Heritage Section
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to endorse the
terms of reference for a review of the Thornhill Heritage Conservation District
Plan and to authorize staff to proceed with the selection of a consultant to
undertake the project. The purpose of
the study is to review the existing Thornhill Heritage District Plan approved
by Council in 1986 and to provide a new framework to guide development,
redevelopment and alterations of properties and streetscapes located in the
District.
The terms of reference attached to this report
as Appendix ‘A’ will be used by the Purchasing Department to issue a “Request
for Proposal” to firms, with demonstrated qualifications and expertise in
heritage district policy planning, to undertake the Thornhill Heritage
Conservation District Plan Review.
BACKGROUND:
The
Town has three heritage districts, each with an approved plan
The Town has three heritage conservation
districts based on the former historical villages of Thornhill, Unionville and
The
Thornhill Heritage Plan has been used since 1986
The Thornhill Heritage Conservation District
was created by Council in 1986 and is the Town’s oldest heritage district. The current plan was adopted by Council after
extensive review and re-drafting between 1984-86. The District Plan has been used to provide
guidance for re-development projects for residents and Council for the last
eighteen years.
A
number of systemic problems are associated with the Heritage Plan
The overall goal of the District Plan is to
provide policies and guidelines in order to ensure the continuation and
enhancement of the district’s historical, village-like ambience while providing
for contemporary needs. Over the years,
a number of issues have arisen and the District Plan has had minor amendments
to selected policies in 1994 and 1999.
However, a number of concerns do exist, including:
Over the last decade in particular, a number of issues have been raised which have challenged both the local community and the District Plan. Issues of note include: the severance of larger lots, the appropriate design and size of new infill construction, the treatment of non-heritage properties and inappropriate alterations to heritage properties. Some of the above issues have been extremely controversial and have, on occasion, divided community opinion.
A
number of planning initiatives have also impacted the Heritage District
Also, since the District Plan was approved, a
number of planning policies have been adopted that impact the Heritage District
including the Thornhill Secondary Plan and new Heritage Main Street commercial
policies in the Official Plan which affect properties on Yonge Street, as well
as the Town’s new sign by-law and an infill housing zoning by-law. Currently, the Town in partnership with the City
of Vaughan is completing a Thornhill Main Street Study which includes a
component of the Heritage District. The
intent of the study is to establish guidelines and streetscape recommendations
to strengthen the sense of place and improve the physical attractiveness of the
Yonge Street corridor. In addition, the
Region of York is proposing a Yonge Street transit system that will impact the
Heritage District in a number of ways including changes to the streetscape and
a potential increase in density along Yonge Street.
A
new Thornhill Heritage District Plan is needed
The time has come to review all of these issues
and their implications and to provide a new framework to guide development,
redevelopment and alterations of properties and streetscapes located in the
Thornhill Heritage District.
DISCUSSION:
The
Thornhill Heritage District Plan needs to be reviewed and revised
Staff recommends that consultants be retained
to undertake a review of the Thornhill Heritage Conservation District
Plan. The product of the review study
will be a new heritage district plan document which will provide a
comprehensive framework to guide the development, re-development and alteration
of properties and streetscapes located within the boundaries of the Heritage
District.
As the prime audience for this document is
local residents, the new plan should be clear and concise, and should use
terminology that is easily understood by the reader. It should be user-friendly in its format and
presentation with illustrations and graphics utilized to explain concepts. The policies and guidelines of the new plan
should respect heritage planning objectives, but be relevant in the “real
world”. It should provide understandable
policies for new construction, alterations and additions to heritage
properties, and alterations and additions to non-heritage properties. This will be extremely useful not only to
local residents, but also for Heritage Markham members, Town staff and Council
by providing clear direction to allow a review of applications in a fair and
consistent manner.
A
facilitator should be retained to assist during the study process
Some of the issues to be addressed in the study
are controversial and have previously divided community opinion. To help facilitate consensus building in the
community, staff recommends that a portion of the study budget be used to
secure the services of a professional facilitator who would work with the
selected consultant team and assist in the community consultation component of
the project. An amount of $5,000 has
been retained by the Town for facilitation purposes.
A
terms of reference has been prepared
A terms of reference for the Thornhill Heritage
Conservation District Plan Review is attached as Appendix ‘A’ to this report.
A
study advisory committee should be created
The study will be assisted by a District Plan
Advisory Committee comprised of Town staff, elected members of Council, members
of Heritage Markham (Council’s advisory committee on heritage matters), and
representatives from the local community.
It is recommended that the advisory committee include the following
members:
- Ward 1 Councillor – Stan Daurio
- Regional Councillor – Bill O’Donnell
- 2 Thornhill representatives from Heritage
Markham
- 1 representative nominated by the Society for
the Preservation of Historic Thornhill
- 1 representative nominated by the Ward 1
(South) Thornhill Residents Inc.
- 2 members of the local community appointed by
the local and regional Councillors
- 2 staff members of staff from the Heritage
Section
The mandate of the advisory committee will be to advise staff and the consultants on local matters,
provide a community perspective, review work undertaken by the consultant and
assist during any public participation component of the study.
The study will report through the Development
Services Committee and be co-ordinated by the Senior Heritage Planner.
The
overall budget for the review exercise will be $50,000
Staff has identified the following guidelines
for the study budget and schedule:
The study will require a consultant team with
expertise in heritage district policy planning, community consultation and
facilitation, and graphics and illustrations.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Funds to retain the consultant to undertake the
Thornhill Heritage Conservation District Plan Review are included in the 2003
Development Services Commission Capital Budget Account No. 80-5350-5188-005
ENGAGE 21ST
CONSIDERATIONS:
This project aligns with the
corporate goal of achieving a Quality Community through recognizing, promoting
and strengthening a sense of community.
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
Staff in the Development Services Commission
will consult with the appropriate internal and external departments and
agencies throughout the study process.
The attached Terms of Reference for the
Thornhill Heritage Conservation District Review will be forwarded to the
Purchasing Department for inclusion in a “Request for Proposal” (RFP) for the
project. The RFP will be sent to
consultant firms with demonstrated qualifications and expertise in heritage
district policy planning and advertised on the web site of the Canadian
Association of Professional Heritage Consultants The contract will be awarded in compliance
with the Purchasing By-law 143-2000. The
Purchasing Department will notify the Finance and Administration Committee of
the award of the contract in its monthly report on all contracts approved and
awarded by Commissioners and the Chief Administrative Officer.
Staff has identified the Development Services
Committee as an appropriate forum for obtaining Council input and feedback on
the consultant study findings and recommendations at key stages of the study
work program.
The new Thornhill Heritage Conservation
District Plan will be illustrative and attractive in its layout and
presentation, clear and concise in its message, and will recognize the needs of
its intended audience.
ATTACHMENTS:
Appendix ‘A’ Terms
of Reference – Thornhill Heritage Conservation District Plan Review
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Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Director of Planning & Urban Design |
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Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services |
Q:\Development\Heritage\SUBJECT\thornhill\District
Plan Review 2004\DSC report may 4 2004.doc
