Annual Report 2005 / 2006
The Local
Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) is mandated to advise
City Council on matters relating to Ottawa’s Heritage, including:
·
Identifying properties and areas in the City of Ottawa that
may deserve protection;
·
Providing City Council with advice on applications to alter
designated heritage properties and new construction in heritage districts;
·
Advising property owners on appropriate conservation and
maintenance practices and;
·
Promoting heritage conservation within the community;
·
Advocating on behalf of
threatened heritage resources.
Since its inception in August 2001,
the LACAC has met twice monthly to receive public delegations, to make
recommendations to City Council on applications and matters relative to the Ontario
Heritage Act, and to discuss issues relative to Ottawa’s built
heritage. Increasingly, the Committee’s
work is accomplished by a number of sub-committees, working groups and
laisons:
Sub-Committees:
·
Awareness Sub-Committee;
·
Design & Designation;
·
Development Review;
·
Heritage Farmsteads;
·
Publicly Owned Heritage;
·
Recent Heritage;
·
Budget;
·
Heritage Plaques; and
·
Book Sub-committee;
Working Groups:
·
Architectural Conservation Awards Selection Panel; and
·
Community Heritage Recognition Program Selection
Panel;
Liaisons:
·
Heritage Ottawa Development Inc.;
·
LRT North-South & East-West;
·
Bank Street Improvements PAC;
·
Escarpment Area Study;
·
Central Park HCD Study;
·
Sandy Hill Heritage Study; and
·
Ottawa Forests & Greenspace Advisory Committee.
In its 2005-2006 Workplan, LACAC established four (4) main
objectives:
1.
Advise
City Council on matters relating to Ottawa’s heritage, including providing City
Council with advice on statutory matters under the Ontario Heritage Act and assisting staff in the Planning and
Development Department on specific projects (Heritage Grants, Heritage
Conservation Awards);
2.
Advise
City Council on issues related to Development, Community Design and Heritage
Conservation;
3.
Advise
City Council on programs, policies and activities specific to heritage
conservation; and
4.
Promote
heritage awareness within the community and undertake activities to draw
attention to specific built heritage resources.
The following is a summary of the
activities and accomplishments of the LACAC from September 2005 to December
2006.
Objective 1:
Advise City Council on statutory
matters under the Ontario Heritage Act,
functioning as the municipal heritage committee under the terms of that Act. |
§
Reviewed a total of twenty (20) statutory applications
under the Ontario
Heritage Act (OHA) dealing with
alterations, demolitions, new construction and designation. This number includes properties designated
under Part IV (individually-designated properties) and Part V (heritage
conservation districts) of the Act. §
Applications under Part V of the OHA dealt with properties within the following Heritage
Conservation Districts: Sparks Street, Bank Street, Rockcliffe Park,
Centretown, Lowertown West, and Wilbrod-Laurier. §
The committee designated 31 properties
as part of the Lorne Avenue Heritage Conservation District under Part V of the OHA. This was Ottawa's first
heritage conservation district following the amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act in 2005. §
LACAC repealed one (1) Part IV designation. §
The committee reviewed and recommended support for
the Sandy Hill Heritage Study – Terms
of Reference (approved January 2006), and appointed a liaison for the
Study Workgroup. §
The Committee received a presentation on the
heritage attributes and architectural significance of the former City Works
building, located at 7 Bayview Road, and considered a request for
designation. §
LACAC received a
presentation on the heritage attributes and architectural significance
of Devonshire Public School. The Publicly-Owned Heritage Sub-Committee agreed
to work with the Community Association and School Council in pursuing heritage designation
for the property. §
The committee
received and supported a request to designate the City-owned Belltown Dome
skating rink; the Recent Heritage Sub-Committee continues to monitor the issue [did this go
any further???]. |
Objective 2:
Advise City Council on issues related
to Development, Community Design and Heritage Conservation. |
§
The Development Review
Sub-Committee reviewed and provided detailed comments and / or objections
on 30 sub-division, site plan control, and zoning applications. This
sub-committee also reviewed approximately 35 applications for Disposal of
City Owned Property, and 71 Committee of Adjustment applications for
variances of designated heritage properties and properties of heritage
interest. §
LACAC received and
approved the results of OMB mediation associated with the Bank Street and
Sparks Street Heritage Conservation Districts. §
LACAC received a
presentation and provided comment on Ottawa By Design,
An Urban Design Strategy, and committed
to consider the
design review panel’s comments as they come forward in departmental reports. §
The
committee was consulted on preliminary plans for new construction in the
Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District; the adaptive re-use of
the former Sacré Coeur School (a property designated under Part IV of the OHA) in Kitchissippi ward; and new
construction and adaptive re-use in the Centretown Heritage Conservation
District. These applications will return to LACAC for formal review under the Ontario
Heritage Act. |
Objective 3:
Advise City Council on programs,
policies and activities specific to heritage conservation. |
§
The Budget Sub-Committee provided written comments on the
2006 Draft Budget, and made presentation to Council on the 2006 Draft Budget.
§
The Plaque Sub-Committee reviewed the text for nine (9) heritage plaques to be installed
on selected designated heritage buildings and in one heritage conservation
district in 2007. §
To
date, LACAC assessed and approved 34 heritage grants for building restoration
work. §
The Architectural Conservation Awards Selection
Panel reviewed submissions
to the annual competition, visited properties of all reviewed submissions,
and made recommendations for awards. §
The Publicly-Owned Heritage Sub-Committee organized
a site visit to the Victoria Memorial Museum (Museum of Nature) to witness
the status of the renovation and heritage restoration work. §
The Heritage Plaques Sub-Committee
reviewed the text for a Parks Canada National Historic Site plaque
commemorating the Connaught Building. §
At the initiative of LACAC, the Committee requested clarification and
review of the Site Element Review process [did this go anywhere????]. §
The
committee received a presentation on the proposed closure of St. Brigid’s
Catholic Church (designated under Part
IV of the OHA). At the
initiative of LACAC, the City encouraged the Province of Ontario, through the Ontario Heritage Trust, to establish a financial program to
assist in the conservation of religious architecture. §
A
representative of LACAC attended and provided input into the City’s Public
Consultation Group for the North-South
LRT Priority Project, as well as the LRT
Extension into University of Ottawa Lands Environmental Assessment Study. §
A
representative of LACAC attended and provided input into the City’s Public
Advisory Committee and Open Houses for the Bank Street Improvement Study. §
Representatives
of LACAC attended a workshop and provided input into the City’s Draft Urban Design Guidelines. §
A representative of LACAC attended and provided
input into a consultation
session on the Escarpment Area District
Plan. §
A representative of LACAC participated in the
selection of a consultant team for the Sandy
Hill Heritage Study and will attend consultation sessions and provide input into the study beginning in 2007. §
A representative of
LACAC attended consultation sessions and provided input into the Central
Park HCD Study. [Were any meetings held, did anyone attend???]. |
Objective 4: Promote
heritage awareness within the community and undertake activities to draw
attention to specific built heritage resources. |
§
The Heritage Farmsteads Sub-Committee met regularly
with staff and continued compiling an extensive survey of farm complexes
within the City of Ottawa. It
developed promotional brochures for distribution to farmstead owners. The
Sub-Committee also identified eligible farmsteads for recognition under this
new program. §
LACAC
retained membership in Community Heritage Ontario, the Council of Heritage
Organizations in Ottawa, and Heritage Ottawa. §
The Heritage Community Recognition
Sub-Committee worked with the Arts,
Culture & Heritage Advisory Committee to recommend nominees for the
Ontario Heritage Trust’s Heritage
Community Recognition Program, as well as the Young Heritage Leaders program. §
The Book
Sub-Committee continued research and production of a second edition of Ottawa: A Guide to
Heritage Structures, which will include designated properties under Part
IV of the Ontario Heritage Act located throughout the new City of
Ottawa. §
The Awareness
Sub-Committee is continuing to distribute Ottawa, A Guide to Heritage Structures,
a book published by Ottawa’s previous LACAC, to local bookstores for sale. |
Attachment
1
Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee
Workplan 2007
The mandate of LACAC is to advise
City Council on matters relating to Ottawa’s Heritage, specifically on issues
of built heritage, including cultural heritage landscapes. To guide its work throughout 2006, the LACAC
has prioritized and defined its objectives as follows, has created eight sub-committees
to assist with its work, and will create working groups where necessary to
handle issues as they arise.
Objective 1 – Advise
City Council on statutory matters under the Ontario
Heritage Act, functioning as the municipal heritage committee under the
terms of that Act.
This objective relates directly to Section 28 of the Ontario Heritage Act, which authorises
a municipal council to
establish a municipal heritage committee, by means of a by-law, and defines the
committee's statutory role as advising and assisting Council on all matters relating
to Part IV (Conservation of property of cultural heritage value or interest), Part V
(Heritage Conservation Districts), and such other matters as specified by
municipal by-law.
Activity 1: Review,
as part of regular meeting agendas, statutory applications in order to provide
advice to Council, through the Planning and Environment Committee. These applications include the alteration
and/or demolition of designated properties, new construction in heritage districts
and the designation of buildings and districts.
Responsibility: LACAC
Activity 2: Recommend
properties or districts for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. Advise City Council on the identification,
evaluation and conservation of built heritage properties and areas.
Responsibility: LACAC and Design & Designation Sub-Committee
Objective 2 – Advise
City Council on issues related to Development, Community Design and Heritage
Conservation.
This objective relates to
LACAC’s mandate, which includes the promotion of heritage conservation within
the community and advocating on behalf of threatened heritage resources. Specifically, LACAC will comment on
development applications affecting heritage resources and participate in
Community Design Plans for main streets, villages and mixed-use centres. Through partnerships, LACAC will pursue
activities to promote heritage conservation and good maintenance practices.
Activity 1: Review major planning
applications such as Site Plan Control, Demolition Control, Zoning and Official
Plan Amendments, and applications to Committee of Adjustment and provide
comments to the appropriate body, as required.
Responsibility: Development Review Sub-Committee
Activity 2: Advise
on built heritage issues with respect to Official Plan Policies, Community Design
Plans, and design strategies.
Responsibility: Design & Designation Sub-Committee
Activity 3: In conjunction with partners such as
Historic Ottawa Development Inc. (HODI), Heritage Ottawa and the
Ottawa-Carleton Home Builders Association, encourage property owners to support
heritage
conservation and good maintenance practices. Collaborate with HODI on the restoration of the Birkenfels Gates
in the Village of Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District.
Responsibility: LACAC and Historic
Ottawa Development Inc. Liaisons
Objective 3 – Advise City Council on
programs, policies and activities specific to heritage conservation.
LACAC
will continue to provide advice to staff on various City Council approved
programs and activities, such as the Plaque Program, Heritage Grants and City
of Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards.
LACAC will be called upon to review texts for new heritage designation
plaques. The committee will continue to
monitor the implementation of the Official Plan, Arts & Heritage Master
Plan, and new Comprehensive Zoning By-Law.
Activity 1: Review and
recommend approval of Heritage Grants, whereby the owners of any designated
property can apply for grants to make improvements to that property.
Responsibility: Chair or Vice Chair
Activity 2: Review texts for new plaques under
the Heritage Plaque Program.
Responsibility: Heritage Plaques Sub-Committee
Activity 3: Review
nominated projects for the City of Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards and
provide advice to staff as to the recipients.
Responsibility: Architectural Conservation Awards Selection
Panel
Activity 4: Participate in the Doors Open Ottawa initiative
and Heritage Day activities.
Responsibility: LACAC and Awareness Sub-Committee
Activity 5: Monitor the implementation of the
Official Plan, Secondary Plans, Heritage Master Plan, and Comprehensive Zoning
By-Law as well as advise City Council on issues of concern or interest.
Responsibility: Design and Designation Sub-Committee
Budget
Sub-Committee
Activity 6: Provide
input and monitor the implementation of the Light Rail Transit projects and comment on issues that
reflect LACAC's concerns and values.
Responsibility: Publicly Owned Heritage Sub-Committee
Activity 7: Provide
input and monitor the implementation of the major infrastructure improvements for Bank Street between the
Rideau Canal and Wellington Street.
Responsibility: Design and Designation Sub-Committee
Activity 8: Ensure
representation on the Sandy Hill Heritage Study stakeholder group. Participate
in and monitor progress of the study
Responsibility: Sandy Hill Heritage Study
Liaisons
Activity 9: Ensure
representation on the Central Park Heritage Conservation District Study
stakeholder group. Participate in and monitor progress of the study.
Responsibility: Central Park HCD Study Liaisons
Activity 10: Ensure
representation on the Escarpment Area District Plan (Downtown Ottawa Urban
Design Strategy 2020 - Phase 2) stakeholder group. Participate in and monitor
progress of the study and plan.
Responsibility: Escarpment Area District Plan
Liaisons
Objective 4 – Promote heritage awareness
within the community and undertake activities to draw attention to specific
built heritage resources.
The LACAC will continue its work related to Recent
Heritage, Heritage Farmsteads and Publicly Owned Heritage. The committee takes seriously its advocacy
role on behalf of threatened heritage resources and will continue links with
Heritage Ottawa, Historic Ottawa Development Inc., The Council of Heritage
Organizations in Ottawa, and the Arts, Heritage & Culture Advisory
Committee. Conservation of our heritage
buildings, over the longer term, is largely dependant on the success of efforts
to increase awareness of these resources.
If the public comes to see heritage structures as valuable in their
community, they are more likely to be supportive of efforts to conserve
them.
Activity 1: With funds previously provided by Council and proceeds from the sale of
the first edition, continue work on the second edition of the LACAC publication “Ottawa: A
Guide to Heritage Structures.”
Continue to fill orders from local retailers for the first edition.
Responsibility: Book Sub-Committee
Activity 2: LACAC recognizes that there is a
need to bring attention to rural history and rural architecture. LACAC will continue its work on the Heritage
Farmstead Recognition Program with the intent of recognizing farmsteads and
farm buildings of exceptional historical and architectural significance. On the basis of an ongoing inventory of
farm buildings, the Heritage Farmstead Sub-Committee will select farmsteads or
farm buildings to be honoured by the Heritage Farmstead Recognition Program
through a roadside sign and other means.
In addition to conducting the inventory, the Sub-Committee has prepared
a brochure to promote the Recognition Program and will arrange for the
production of four signs each year. Participation in the Recognition Program
would not involve any form of legal agreement under the Ontario Heritage Act
with the owner. Rather, it is an
acknowledgement by the LACAC and the City of the barn’s cultural heritage
value. If appropriate, particular barns
or entire farm complexes could be recommended for designation under the Ontario
Heritage Act.
Responsibility: Heritage
Farmstead Sub-Committee
Activity 3: Focus on heritage from the period of rapid growth of the City (post World
War II) during the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
The former City of Ottawa LACAC has forwarded a collection of
photographs taken by a research consultant.
The Recent Heritage Sub-Committee will use the photo inventory to assist
in filling in research gaps, and working with interested communities to have
some examples from this inventory designated.
Responsibility: Recent Heritage Sub-Committee
Activity 4: Monitor
plans and proposals of public bodies, including the Federal Government and its
crown corporations such as the National Capital Commission. The Federal Government and its crown
corporations are powerful influences on the built environment of the entire
city and it is advisable that the LACAC make an effort to remain up to date
with such plans in order to advise City Council of any issues that may have an
impact upon the City’s heritage. LACAC
will monitor the disposal and maintenance of City-owned heritage properties and
City-owned properties adjacent to heritage resources. The sub-committee will also study and make recommendations
relative to properties owned by other public bodies, such as school boards.
Responsibility: Publicly
Owned Heritage Sub-Committee
Activity 5: Provide the City of Ottawa with information relative to LACAC’s
activities, to be included on the heritage section of the City’s website and
participate in the pilot project, which will allow advisory committees to have
increased content on the website.
Responsibility: Awareness Sub-Committee
Activity 6: Review and recommend nominees
for the Community Heritage Recognition Program. In collaboration with the Arts, Heritage & Culture Advisory
Committee and with input from the local heritage community, encourage the
nomination of worthy individuals or small project groups for acknowledgement
under the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Community Heritage Recognition Program. The sub-committee will reach out to the
community for nominations, review the submissions and recommend one nominee in
each category for Council approval.
Responsibility: Community Heritage Recognition
Program Sub-Committee
Activity 7: Maintain membership
in the following heritage organizations: Heritage Ottawa, Council of Heritage
Organizations in Ottawa, and Community Heritage Ontario. Ensure communication with the Arts, Heritage & Culture Advisory
Committee, The Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa, Heritage Ottawa,
and Historic Ottawa Development Inc., allowing for information sharing,
collaboration, support and partnerships
Responsibility: LACAC
Arts,
Heritage and Culture Advisory Committee Liaisons
The Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa
Liaisons
Heritage
Ottawa Liaisons
Heritage
Ottawa Development Inc. Liaisons
Workplan Funding: $235
Activity 8: Collaborate with the Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee in
the development and future implementation of a Notable Tree Recognition Program
and monitoring the implementation of the City’s revised policy with regards to
the removal of trees in Leda clay soil.
Responsibility: Ottawa
Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee Liaisons
Attachment
2
(LACAC)
Terms of Reference
The mandate of LACAC is to advise City Council on matters relating to Ottawa’s Heritage (pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act), specifically on issues of built heritage, including cultural heritage landscapes. This would include identifying properties and areas in the City of Ottawa that may deserve protection; providing City Council with advice on applications to alter designated heritage properties and new construction in heritage districts; advising property owners on appropriate conservation and maintenance practices; promoting heritage conservation within the community and advocating on behalf of threatened heritage resources.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The LACAC shall be responsible for:
· acting as City Council’s liaison on heritage matters under the Ontario Heritage Act and functioning as the municipal heritage committee under the terms of that Act;
· recommending properties for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act;
· advising City Council on the identification, evaluation and conservation of built heritage properties and areas;
· advising City Council on current heritage conservation legislation as well as available funding sources;
· assisting City Council in the preparation of municipal legislation and policies to conserve heritage properties and areas;
· advising and assisting City Council in the preparation of criteria for programs of financial assistance for the restoration of built heritage properties;
· implementing City Council-approved programs and activities to increase public awareness and knowledge of heritage conservation issues related to the built environment;
· advocating on behalf of the preservation and conservation of threatened built heritage resources.
The LACAC may, from time to time, choose to establish sub-committees or task forces to deal with issues that relate directly to their mandate. These sub-committees could have responsibility for the following:
· recommending properties or areas in the City of Ottawa which should be considered by the LACAC for heritage designation;
· listing built heritage properties or areas for review and discussion by the LACAC;
· researching properties being proposed for listing or designation as heritage properties or areas, public programs and other preservation-related issues;
· providing for public awareness and promotion of issues relating to heritage properties or areas in cooperation with other heritage groups, as required;
· arranging to erect plaques and/or markers on community sites of local interest;
· providing for local community activities recognizing the efforts of citizens to protect, preserve or promote heritage properties;
· providing comments to the main LACAC on major planning issues such as rezoning, etc. affecting built heritage resources;
· such other duties relating to built heritage preservation issues as may otherwise be assigned to it by Council.
ORGANIZATION
LACAC shall have a membership of 9-15 and shall include the following:
· Up to 9-15 members at large (including those with expertise, interest and knowledge in history and/or architecture).
· A minimum of one citizen appointment representing the rural community.
The LACAC shall have in a resource, liaison and/or advisory capacity, the following:
· 1 Staff representative from the Development Services Department (non-voting)
· A minimum of 1 member of Ottawa City Council, appointed by Council to act as liaison (non-voting)
All appointments to the LACAC shall be approved by both the Planning and Environment Committee and Ottawa City Council.
The process for choosing membership for the LACAC will follow the approved Appointments Policy.
LEAD DEPARTMENT/REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
The lead department for LACAC shall be the Development Services Department. The LACAC shall report through the Planning and Environment Committee to Ottawa City Council.
The
Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee must report annually to
City Council through the Planning and Environment Committee (timing to be
determined by the Chair, Advisory Committee Coordinator and City Clerk) on the
activities of the Committee in the current year and on the Committee’s workplan
for the following year.