Report
to/Rapport au :
Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee
Comité consultatif sur la
conservation de l'architecture locale
and /
et
Planning
and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de
l'environnement
and Council / et au Conseil
03 January 2008 / le 03 janvier 2008
Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager /
Directrice municipale adjointe,
Planning, Transit and the Environment / Urbanisme,
Transport en commun et Environnement
Contact
Person/Personne Ressource : Grant Lindsay, Manager / Gestionnaire,
Development Approvals / Approbation des demandes d'aménagement
(613)
580-2424, 13242 Grant.Lindsay@ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Local Architectural
Conservation Advisory Committee recommend that Planning and Environment
Committee recommend that Council:
1.
Approve the
alteration of 338 Somerset Street West in accordance with the plans by Cole +
Associates Architects as received on December 17, 2007 and included as
Documents 4 to 7.
2.
Delegate approval
of any subsequent design changes of a minor nature to the Director of the Planning
Branch.
(Note: Approval to Alter this property under the Ontario Heritage Act must not be interpreted as meeting the requirements for the issuance of a building permit.)
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité consultatif sur la conservation de
l’architecture locale recommande au Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement
de recommander à son tour au Conseil :
1.
d'approuver la modification de la
propriété du 338, rue Somerset Ouest conformément aux plans de Cole and
Associates Architects reçus le 17 décembre 2007 et qui sont présentés dans les
documents 4 à 7.
2.
de déléguer le pouvoir d'approuver toute
autre modification de conception de nature mineure au directeur de la Direction
de l'urbanisme.
(Nota : L’approbation de la demande de modification aux termes de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario ne
signifie pas pour autant qu’elle satisfait aux conditions de délivrance d’un
permis de construire)
BACKGROUND
The
property at 338 Somerset Street West is located in the Centretown Heritage
Conservation District which is designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. A location plan is
included as Document 1. This report has been prepared because the consent of
City Council is required following the review of its Local Architectural
Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) before the alteration of an existing
building within a heritage conservation district can proceed.
DISCUSSION
The
building at 338 Somerset Street West dates from approximately 1893. It was
originally owned by James Corry, Architect. In 1913, John Cochrane, physician,
lived and practiced here. The Heritage Survey Form from the 1995 Centretown
Heritage Conservation District Study is included as Document 2. The original
building has been altered but the basic form of this late 19th
century Queen Anne house remains, with original detailing evident in the front
porch and corner roof dormer. The building has been purchased by the Canadian
Federation of Students as their National Office. They intend to occupy the new
rear addition and rent the original building fronting on Somerset Street. They
will gradually expand into the heritage building as required. The Canadian
Federation of Students will be restoring
some of the original brickwork in 2008 with the assistance of a City Heritage
Grant.
The
proposed addition will replace an existing rear addition which extends to the
west of the existing building. The existing addition was constructed in the
1950s and is 362 square metres in size. It is highly visible from Somerset
Street as shown in the photo included as Document 3. The proposal would replace
the existing two storey 362 square metre addition with a three storey 340
square metre addition which would be far less visible from the street. The proposed
addition would be clad primarily in brick in a red colour similar to the brick
on the original building fronting on Somerset Street. The proposed designs are
included as Documents 4 to 7.
The
design of the addition is contemporary and this is in keeping with the
guidelines of the Centretown Heritage Conservation District Study which state
as follows :
"VII.5.5
Commercial and Mixed Use Infill
Appropriate infill design is critical to the
long-term success of the heritage commercial corridors within the District.
This infill must respect the existing heritage character by providing
sympathetic contemporary design.
There has been a continuous process of
construction, alteration, demolition and infill over the years. However, the
dominant character of the area was set at the turn of the century, and the
surviving buildings from this period still establish the best point of
reference for the design of infill projects..
On Elgin, Somerset and Gladstone, the early
building stock was more residential in nature, and contemporary infill must
take this adaptive reuse background into account.
Recommendation:
All infill should be of contemporary design, distinguishable as being of
its own time. However, it must be sympathetic to the heritage character of the area,
and designed to enhance these existing properties rather than calling attention
to itself."
Section
4.6.1.1 and 2 of the Official Plan requires the preparation of a Cultural
Heritage Impact Statement. This is included as Document 8.
Conclusion
Recommendation
1:
The
proposed development respects the existing 1890s house form building, the
historic streetscape of Somerset
Village, and the relevant guideline of the Centretown Heritage Conservation
District Study. It is, therefore, supported by the Planning,Transit and the
Environment Department.
Recommendation
2 :
At
the present time the architect is considering alternate treatments for the
third storey of the addition as illustrated in Document 7. The alternate
treatment would be a grey metal or concrete to relate in colour to the roof
cladding of original house and differentiate the third storey from the two
lower brick clad storeys. These alternatives would be equally supported by the
Department and consequently Recommendation 2 allows for delegation of approval
of that minor design change once the Canadian Federation of Students has
decided on a material for the top storey.
CONSULTATION
Adjacent
property owners as well as area business and community associations were
notified by letter of the date of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory
Committee (LACAC) and Planning and Environment Committee meetings and were
provided with comment sheets to be returned to LACAC. This is in accordance with the municipal public participation
policy regarding heritage alterations, demolitions and infill in a heritage
district.
The
Ward Councillor Diane Holmes is aware of this application.
The
Somerset Village BIA is aware of this application.
The Centretown Citizens Community Association is aware of this application.
Heritage Ottawa is aware of this application.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
APPLICATION PROCESS
TIMELINE STATUS
This report was considered by City Council within the
90-day period required under the Ontario Heritage Act.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 2 - Heritage Survey Form
Document 3 - Photo looking South
along Somerset Street
Document 4 - Site Plan Existing &
Proposed
Document 5 - West and North Elevations
Document 6 - Perspective at entrance
Document 7 - Option 2. Alternative
treatment of top storey
Document 8 - Cultural Heritage Impact Statement by Cole + Associates Architects December 14, 2007.
DISPOSITION
The Department of Corporate Services, Statutory Services Branch to notify the agent, Kathleen O'Neill Cole, Cole + Associates Architects Inc., 1327A Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ont. K1Y 3B6, the owner, The Canadian Federation of Students, Ste. 500, 170 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ont. K2P 1P3 and the Ontario Heritage Trust (10 Adelaide Street East, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1J3) of City Council’s decision.
PHOTO LOOKING SOUTH
ALONG SOMERSET STREET DOCUMENT 3
SITE PLAN EXISTING AND
PROPOSED DOCUMENT 4
PERSPECTIVE AT ENTRANCE DOCUMENT
6
