Heritage Kitchener

Committee Minutes

Tuesday, January 09, 2024 at 4:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

City of Kitchener

200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7

Present:

• J. Haalboom, Chair
• I. Bodendorfer, Member
• P. Ciuciura, Member
• N. Pikulski, Member
• A. Portengen, Member

Staff:

• N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research
• J. Zunic, Senior Planner
• J. Vieira, Heritage Planner
• M. Mills, Committee Coordinator

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1.

Commencement

The Heritage Kitchener Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 4:05 p.m.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

3.

Discussion Items

3.1

Heritage Permit Application HPA-2023-IV-031, 628 New Dundee Road, Partial Demolition and Relocation of Original Farmhouse, DSD-2024-012

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024-012, dated December 12, 2023, recommending approval of Heritage Permit Application (HPA) HPA-2023-IV-031 to permit the partial demolition of the dwelling and relocation of the remaining dwelling on the property.

J. Viera presented an overview of the staff report. N. Goss was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

V. Hicks, MHBC Planning provided a presentation noting support for the staff recommendation and responded to questions from the Committee. 

It was noted the recommendation arising from this matter would be processed under Delegated Approval Authority as it received unanimous consent from the Committee.

Moved by A. Portengen 

• it was resolved:

  "That pursuant to Sections 30(2), 33, and 34 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Heritage Permit Application HPA-2023-IV-031, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-012, be approved to permit:

  1. 1. The partial demolition of the dwelling involving the removal of the contemporary additions on the south and west elevation; and
     2. The relocation of the remaining dwelling, approximately 50 metres to the south-west of the original location,

         

  On the subject property municipally addressed as 628 New Dundee Road, in accordance with the supporting documentation submitted and subject to the following conditions:

  1. 1. That the final Heritage Impact Assessment and Conservation and Relocation Plan be submitted and approved by the Director of Housing and Development Approvals prior to the issuance of a Heritage Permit;
     2. That a final Documentation and Salvage Plan be submitted to the satisfaction of the City’s Manager of Development Review and the City’s Heritage Planner prior to the issuance of a Heritage Permit;
     3. That a final Commemoration and Interpretation Plan be submitted to the satisfaction of the City’s Manager of Development Review and the City’s Heritage Planner prior to the issuance of a Heritage Permit;
     4. That the final demolition permit be reviewed, and heritage clearance provided by Heritage Planning Staff prior to the issuance of a demolition permit; and
     5. That the final building permit be reviewed, and heritage clearance provided by Heritage Planning Staff prior to the issuance of a building permit."

         

  Carried unanimously

3.2

Heritage Permit Application HPA-2023-IV-030, 149-151 Ontario St N and 21 Weber St W, Partial Demolition with Retention of Facades and New Construction of a 27-storey Mixed-Use Tower, DSD-2024-008

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024-008, dated December 7, 2023, recommending approval of Heritage Permit Application (HPA) HPA-2023-IV-030 to permit partial demolition of the property municipally addressed as 149-151 Ontario Street North, and new construction of a 27-storey mixed-use tower on the property municipally addressed as 149-151 Ontario Street North and 21 Weber Street West.

J. Viera presented an overview of the staff report. N. Goss was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

C. Uchiyama, LHC Heritage Planning & Archaeology Inc. provided a presentation noting support for the staff recommendation. C. Uchiyama noted the Draft Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) was previously considered by the Committee in February 2023 and the HIA has been updated with feedback received from the Committee and Staff including the development of a draft heritage conservation plan and temporary protection plan. C. Uchiyama also noted, a Heritage Study has been conducted.

The Committee expressed concerns with the timeline for construction of the proposed 27-storey building. In response, R. Masri, Masri O Inc. Architects noted the project is active and on schedule however, the construction of the proposed building is subject to the approval and issuance of a demolition permit. Further, K. Ruhland, MTE Consultants Inc. highlighted a Demolition and Stabilization Plan provided with the application noting, in order to preserve the Heritage attributes of the existing building, the foundation of the new building will need to laid prior to the partial demolition of the existing building. K. Ruhland noted, due to the technical nature of the construction, the partial demotion of the building cannot proceed without the issuance of the building permit.

It was noted the recommendation arising from this matter would proceed to Council for consideration as it did not receive unanimous consent from the Committee.

Moved by P. Ciuciura 

• it was resolved:

  "That pursuant to Sections 30(2), 33, and 34 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Heritage Permit Application HPA-2023-IV-030, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-008, be approved to permit:

  1. 1. 1. The partial demolition excluding the front (west) and south facades and the alteration of the roof, bay windows, brick quoining, door openings with transoms, and chimney on the property municipally addressed as 149-151 Ontario Street North; and,
        2. The new construction of a 27-storey mixed-use tower on the property municipally addressed as 149-151 Ontario Street North and 21 Weber Street West, subject to the following conditions:
           1. That the final Heritage Impact Assessment and Conservation Plan be submitted and approved by the Director of Housing and Development Approvals prior to the issuance of a Heritage Permit;
           2. That a final Temporary Protection Plan, including a Demolition and Stabilization Plan, Structural Assessment Report, and Risk Management Plan, be submitted to the satisfaction of the City’s Manager of Development Applications and the City’s Heritage Planner prior to the issuance of a Heritage Permit;
           3. That a final Documentation and Salvage Plan be submitted to the satisfaction of the City’s Manager of Development Applications and the City’s Heritage Planner prior to the issuance of a Heritage Permit;
           4. That the Demolition Permit be reviewed and heritage clearance provided by Heritage Planning staff prior to the issuance of a Demolition Permit; and,
           5. That the Building Permit be reviewed and heritage clearance provided by Heritage Planning staff prior to the issuance of a Building Permit."

               

  Carried

3.3

Growing Together - Heritage Implementation Measures, DSD-2024-009

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024-009, dated December 11, 2023, regarding the Growing Together - Heritage Implementation Measures report which outlines the recommended approach to continued cultural heritage conservation through the Growing Together project and proposed policy changes intended to further cultural heritage measures. 

J. Vieira presented an overview of the staff report. N. Goss and J. Zunic were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. In response to questions from the Committee, J. Zunic noted none of the proposed amendments to the Official Plan omit existing policies that protect cultural heritage landscapes.

H. Jaeger provided a presentation in opposition to the Staff recommendation noting the proposed Heritage Implementation measures create a conflict between heritage requirements and zoning permissions. H. Jaeger provided a proposal of revisions to Staff's report noting these revisions will ensure Staff delivers a recommendation to Council that provides more certainty in planning and better safeguards of heritage. 

G. Pool, Architectural Conservancy of Ontario North Waterloo Region Branch provided a presentation in opposition to the Staff recommendation noting Heritage Conservation District (HCD) policies cannot preserve heritage as Strategic Growth Area Two (SGA-2) and Strategic Growth Area Three (SGA-3), which permit 12 and 25 storey buildings are proposed to be contained within the HCD. Further, G. Pool noted the heritage value of the HCD is compromised as Strategic Growth Area Four (SGA-4) zoning, which permits buildings of unlimited height, is proposed to surround the HCD. 

I. Borderenfor noted, although heritage district plans are in place, developers tend to interpret its' implementation differently resulting in heritage conservation being limited to facadism. I. Borderenfor suggested a maximum building height or envelope be implemented to curb significant shadows and wind tunnels on homes within the HCDs. In response, J, Vieira noted the implementation of a standard building envelope within HCDs may not be feasible as every proposed development is analyzed independently to determine the most appropriate design treatment for reducing for shadow impacts on heritage attributes.

3.4

Municipal Heritage Register Review - January 2024 Update, DSD-2024-022

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024-022, dated December 14, 2023, recommending designation be pursued for the properties municipally addressed as 33 Eby Street South and 72 Victoria Street South, as being of cultural heritage value or interest, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

J. Viera presented an overview of the staff report. N. Goss was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter would be considered at the Council meeting taking place on January 22, 2024.

Moved by N. Pikulski

• it was resolved:

  "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest be recognized, and designation pursued for the properties municipally addressed as 33 Eby Street South and 72 Victoria Street South, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-022."

  Carried unanimously

3.5

Strategic Plan and Heritage Kitchener Committee's Mandate

It was noted, Staff requested this item be discussed at the February 6, 2024 Heritage Kitchener meeting along with a matter regarding the Committee’s 2024 workplan.

The Committee agreed to defer this matter to the February 6, 2024 Heritage Kitchener meeting.

4.

Information Items

4.1

Heritage Permit Application Tracking Sheet

5.

Adjournment

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.

Marilyn Mills
Committee Coordinator