Report to/Rapport au :

 

Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee

Comité consultatif sur le patrimoine bâti d’Ottawa

 

and / et

 

Planning Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

01 April 2011 / le 01 avril 2011

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, Directrice municipale adjointe, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, Services d’infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

 

Contact Person/Personne-ressource : Richard Kilstrom, Acting Manager/Gestionnaire intérimaire, Development Review-Urban Services/Examen des projets d'aménagement-Services urbains, Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance

(613) 580-2424, 22379 Richard.Kilstrom@ottawa.ca

 

Kanata North (4)

Ref N°: ACS2011-ICS-PGM-0097

 

 

SUBJECT:

Application to Alter the Richardson Farmhouse, 1665 Richardson Side Road, under the Ontario Heritage Act

 

 

OBJET :

demande de modification du bâtiment de ferme Richardson, 1665, route secondaire Richardson, conformément aux dispositions de la loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee recommend that Planning Committee recommend that Council:

 

1.                  Approve the application to alter 1665 Richardson Side Road, in accordance with plans submitted by Barry Hobin Architect Inc. received on March 25, 2011.

 

2.                  Delegate authority for minor design changes to the General Manager of the Planning and Growth Management Department. 

 

3.                  Issue the heritage permit with a two-year expiry date from the date of issuance.

 

 

(Note: The statutory 90-day timeline for consideration of this application under the Ontario Heritage Act will expire on June 23, 2011)

 

(Note: Approval to Alter this property under the Ontario Heritage Act must not be construed to meet the requirements for the issuance of a building permit.)

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité consultatif sur le patrimoine bâti d’Ottawa recommande au Comité de l’urbanisme de recommander à son tour au Conseil :

 

  1. D’approuver la demande de modification du 1665, route secondaire Richardson, conformément aux plans soumis le 25 mars 2011 par la firme Barry Hobin Architect Inc.;

 

2.                  De déléguer au directeur général d’Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance le pouvoir d’apporter des modifications mineures de conception;

 

3.                  De délivrer le permis en matière de patrimoine, assorti d’une durée de validité de deux années à partir de la date d’émission.

 

(Nota : Le délai réglementaire de 90 jours d’examen de cette demande, exigé en vertu de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario, prendra fin le 23 juin 2011.)

 

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 Richardson Farmhouse, 1665 Richardson Side Road is a one-and-one-half-storey, stone farmhouse with a central gable. City Council issued a Notice of Intention to designate this building under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in December 2009 (Document 1).  This report has been prepared because alteration to buildings designated under the Ontario Heritage Act requires the approval of City Council.  This application is to demolish an existing kitchen addition and build a new addition and a detached garage on the property.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Richardson Farmhouse is a one-and-one-half-storey, centre gable stone farmhouse typical of the Gothic Revival houses built throughout Ontario in the latter part of the 19th Century. There is also a later one-storey, gable- roofed stone kitchen addition at the rear with a gabled dormer. The house faces southwest on the property and is constructed of dressed limestone, featuring a central gable with a window on the front façade.

 

The Richardson Farmhouse was built circa 1871 by Thomas A. Richardson, the fourth of six sons of Anne and Frederick Richardson, one of the earliest pioneering families in South March Township. The land on which the Richardson Farmhouse is located was originally cleared and settled by them in 1820. The great fire of March Township in 1870 burned Thomas Richardson’s original 1857 house, although oral history suggests that when this house was built after the fire it was built on the original foundation.

 

Four generations of the Richardson family lived in this house between 1871 and 2008. The Richardson family farmed the surrounding 100 acres for more than 175 years and the farmhouse is important as the last remaining physical reminder of the great successes of the Richardson family in the 19th and 20th centuries.

 

Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada

 

The Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada were adopted by City Council in 2008. The following Standards are applicable to this project:

 

  • Conserve the heritage value and character-defining elements when creating any new additions to an historic place or any related new construction. Make new work physically and visually compatible with, subordinate to and distinguishable from the historic place.
  • Create any new additions or related new construction so that the essential form and integrity of an historic place will not be impaired if the new work is removed in the future.

 

Guidelines applicable to this project are:

 

  • Selecting the location for a new addition that ensures that the heritage value of the place is maintained.
  • Designing an addition in a manner that draws a clear distinction between what is historic and what is new.
  • Designing an addition that is compatible in terms of materials and massing with the exterior form of the historic building and its setting.

 

At the time of designation the stone kitchen addition at the rear of the original house was covered in vinyl siding and the condition of the addition was unknown. Once the property owner investigated the condition of the addition, it was discovered to be in a state of serious disrepair and to have structural issues. These issues are related to the location of the addition on a hill where there is a significant change in grade over a small distance.  Heritage staff have visited the site and concur that the addition is in poor condition and that because of the different times of construction, the addition is causing strain on the structure of the original stone house. The applicant has submitted a letter from a structural engineer regarding the condition of the kitchen addition and it is attached as Document 4.

 

As a result, the owner has applied to demolish the addition and construct an addition that is similar in size, scale, footprint, and massing. The proposal also includes a new detached garage on the property.

 

The new addition to the Richardson Farmhouse will have a gable roof and be located perpendicular to the existing building. It will feature covered porches on the east and west facades as well as two gabled dormers on both sides. The rear (north) façade of the addition will feature four double hung windows that match the remainder of the house (Document 5). The materials for the addition have been carefully considered. The exterior cladding will be a fibre board, board and batten style siding. All trim, fascias and soffits will be wooden. The windows will be double hung sash windows. The original portion of the house will remain unchanged, but will be restored.

 

The new detached garage will be a double garage with a gable roof.  The garage will feature the same board and batten siding as the new addition to the house as well as a double hung window in the front and rear gable ends. There will be two wooden garage doors that have been selected to complement the style of the existing house.

 

The Department supports this alteration because the size, shape and massing of the addition is sympathetic to the existing stone farmhouse and echo the massing of the original addition. There is a sense of symmetry in the new addition that relates well to the original house. The use of materials is in keeping with the style of the house and provides a clear distinction between new and old. The detached garage complements the design of the house and does not detract from views of the house of the natural ridge. Overall, the new addition and the detached garage are sensitive to the heritage values of the building and the site as a whole and meet the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

CONSULTATION

 

Heritage Ottawa is aware of the application

 

COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR(S)

 

Councillor Wilkinson is aware of and supports the proposal.

Councillor Eli El-Chantiry is aware of the application.

 

 

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS:

 

There are no legal/risk management implications associated with this report

 

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

 

Objective F2: Respect the existing urban fabric, neighbourhood form and the limits of existing hard services, so that new growth is integrated seamlessly with established communities.

 

The City wants to protect the qualities and characteristics that define what is unique and special about each community while accommodating new growth.

 

Review applications as part of the development and infrastructure approval process for neighbourhood compatibility and the preservation of unique identities of our communities and villages

 

Objective E8: Operationalize the Ottawa 20/20 Arts & Heritage Plan.

 

2.1.2 Identify and Protect Archaeological and Built Heritage Resources, Streetscapes, Public and Symbolic Civic Places and Cultural Landscapes

 

2.1.2.2 The City will preserve distinct built heritage, streetscapes and cultural heritage landscapes that serve as landmarks and symbols of local identity in both urban and rural districts, as outlined in the Official Plan.

 

TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no direct financial implications associated with this report.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS TIMELINE STATUS

 

This application was completed within the 90-day time period prescribed by the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1    Location Map

Document 2    Statement of Cultural Heritage Value

Document 3    Current Conditions

Document 4    Structural Engineer’s Letter

Document 5    Elevations

Document 6    Site Plan

Document 7    Cultural Heritage Impact Statement-Heritage Planning Rationale.

 

DISPOSITION

 

City Clerk and Solicitor Department, Legislative Services to notify the property owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust (10 Adelaide Street East, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1J3) of Council’s decision .

LOCATION MAP                                                                                                  DOCUMENT 1

 

STATEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE                                   DOCUMENT 2

 

Description of Property

 

Richardson Farmhouse, 1665 Richardson Side Road

 

The Richardson Farmhouse is a one and a half story central gable stone farmhouse with a one storey stone addition, built circa 1871, and located on the north side of Richardson Side Road in former March Township, now part of the urban area of Ottawa.

 

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

 

The cultural heritage value of the Richardson Farmhouse is related to its association with the Richardson family of Kanata. The Richardson family was one of the earliest pioneer families to settle in March Township in the early 19th Century. The Richardson Farmhouse is a physical reminder of the great successes of the Richardson Family in the 19th and 20th centuries.

 

The Richardson Farmhouse also has cultural heritage value as a good example of the central- gable Gothic Revival style farmhouses built throughout Ontario during the late 19th century. The well-crafted details including the ogee arch, contrasting quoins, decorative trim around the windows and the use of locally quarried limestone all contribute to the design value of the Richardson Farmhouse.

 

Description of Heritage Attributes:

 

Exterior elements that embody the typical 19th century Ontario Gothic Revival Farmhouse and its role in the early settlement of March Township include:

 

·         One and a half storey construction with gable roof and central gable.

·         Single storey stone kitchen addition at the rear of the house

·         Symmetrical front façade with two large rectangular window openings, a large central doorway with an ogee arched window opening above the door.

·         Symmetrical pattern of window openings on the gable ends with contrasting quoining, sills, lintels and voussoirs.

·         Dressed limestone construction with contrasting decorative details

·         The open landscape and view of the natural ridge behind the house.

 

 

 

 

CURRENT CONDITIONS                                                                                   DOCUMENT 3

 

     

East elevation at time of designation                  West elevation at time of designation

 

 

East elevation                                                        West Elevation                                                                            

 

  

West elevation details
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER’S LETTER                                                          DOCUMENT 4

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATIONS                                                                                                       DOCUMENT 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SITE PLAN                                                                                                             DOCUMENT 6

 

 

 

CHIS-HERITAGE PLANNING RATIONALE                                                 DOCUMENT 7

 

 


Ottawa built heritage

Advisory Committee

extract of

draft Minutes 5

21 april 2011

 

 Comité consultatif sur le patrimoine bâti d’ottawa

extrait de l’Ébauche du

Procès-verbal 5

le 21 avril 2011

 

 

 

 

Application to Alter the Richardson Farmhouse, 1665 Richardson Side Road, under the Ontario Heritage Act

demande de modification du bâtiment de ferme Richardson, 1665, route secondaire Richardson, conformément aux dispositions de la loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario

ACS2011-ICS-PGM-0097                                                                       Kanata North (4)

 

Lesley Collins, Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the application to demolish an existing kitchen addition at 1665 Richardson Side Road and build a new addition and a detached garage on the property, which staff supports. 

 

George Georgaras, Uniform Urban Developments – the applicant – was present to answer questions from the committee.

 

Moved by Pierre Maheu:

 

That the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee recommend that Planning Committee recommend that Council:

 

4.                  Approve the application to alter 1665 Richardson Side Road, in accordance with plans submitted by Barry Hobin Architect Inc. received on March 25, 2011.

 

5.                  Delegate authority for minor design changes to the General Manager of the Planning and Growth Management Department. 

 

6.                  Issue the heritage permit with a two-year expiry date from the date of issuance.

 

(Note: The statutory 90-day timeline for consideration of this application under the Ontario Heritage Act will expire on June 23, 2011)

 

(Note: Approval to Alter this property under the Ontario Heritage Act must not be construed to meet the requirements for the issuance of a building permit.)

 

                                                                                                                     CARRIED unanimously