June 24, 2013Kyle Knoeck, Senior Planner

Giulio Cescato, Planner

Downtown East Planning StudyStudy Purpose

• Examine land-use planning policy and built form in the area.

• Complement a Heritage Conservation District Study

• Form part of the Downtown East Revitalization Initiative.

How did we get here?

How did we get here?

July 2010 -- City Council directed staff to conduct an area review• lands bounded by George Street, Dundas Street East,

Sherbourne Street and Shuter Street

October 2011 -- “kick-off” community meeting

November 2011, preliminary report• authorized expanded boundary• nominated area for Heritage Conservation District Study

Community Feedback -- a comprehensive revitalization study was needed, not just a land use study

How did we get here?

• Comprehensive revitalization initiative focusing on six key Principles:

• Land Use Planning/Heritage• Safety Planning • Community Services• Local Housing Strategy• Local Economic Development• Public Realm Planning

• Information Report went to Community Council on April 9, 2013 updating on work done to date

Tonight’s meeting is focussed here

What are we doing?

What does a land use study look like?• Do the existing policies still serve the area?• Looking at:

• Sherbourne Street;• Dundas Street East;• Jarvis Street; and• George Street.

What is an appropriate mix of uses?• residential?• commercial and retail?• residential and institutional?• All of the above?

What would limit redevelopment?• nearby parks• low scale built form• shadowing and privacy• heritage

What role if any can redevelopment play in the Study area?• economic development?• investment in local infrastructure?• improved public realm?• new residents and businesses?

What is the future of the Downtown East?

Policy ContextO

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– L

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Official Plan – Land Use

What have we dong to date?

• Completed background research and Area Profile• Completed Base modelling

Where are we going?

Inviting Discussion

1. What kind of Downtown East do you want to see?2. Do you think areas of the Downtown East should

redevelop?3. If so, how? Tall Buildings? Mid-rise? Low-rise?4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these types

of development?

June 24, 2013Lauren Archer, Preservation Officer

Scott Barrett, Senior Coordinator

Contents

• What is an HCD?• Why Designate HCDs• Legislation and Policy• Steps to an HCD• How HCDs Work• Garden District Study So Far• Contact

What Is An HCD?

• HCDs protect and manage change within historic neighbourhoods so as to maintain their heritage value and character.

• They are enclosed by a boundary and designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA)

• They recognize and protect the historic significance and community heritage values of an area

• They are evaluated by heritage professionals, planners, urban designers and archaeologists to determine cultural value

• HCDs are designated by bylaws that are registered on title of each property

Why Designate HCDs

• We believe that our historic neighbourhoods and areas are unique and special places that should be protected and maintained

• We appreciate the sense of place that is provided by the character of our historic neighbourhoods

• We want to maintain and improve the condition, context and surroundings of our neighbourhoods based on existing character

• We believe that a strong understanding of, and regard for, the historic significance of these areas helps us to build better communities

Legislation and Policy

• Ontario Heritage Act (2005)– HCDs are protected under

Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA)

– The OHA sets out the provisions for studying, planning and designating HCDs

– The OHA also regulates permits for alterations and demolitions within an HCD

Legislation and Policy

• Heritage Conservation Districts in Toronto: Procedures, Policies and Terms of Reference (2012)– New HCD Procedures and Policy adopted

by Council in 2012.– Available on the Heritage Preservation

Services website.– Describes all procedures, policies and

guidelines of the City of Toronto for HCD Studies and Plans such as:

• Community involvement• Nomination process, nomination forms.• Built Heritage and Landscape Survey Form

for community volunteers

How HCDs Work

• HCDs help to manage change in districts by:– Providing policy and guidelines for

how to conserve and appropriately adapt contributing resources

– Providing policy and guidance on how to build new structures in the district that fit in, but are of their own time

• Changes are managed through special permits under the OHA for HCDs. These permits are issued by Council and staff.

How HCDs Work

• An HCD designates an area or neighbourhood in the city enclosed by a boundary

• Every property within the HCD boundary is designated under the OHA

• Every HCD has a unique plan written that defines how the area is to be managed

• The HCD plan will also identify the properties in the boundary as contributing or non-contributing to the heritage value, character, and integrity of the district.

• NOMINATE

• STUDY

• PLAN

Steps to an HCD

Garden District Study So Far

• July 2010: Downtown East Planning Study commences.

• November, 2011: City Council directs staff to authorize the Garden District area for an HCD Study.

• October 2012: The Garden District HCD Study area authorized and identified as a high priority study area at City Council.

• April 2013: MHBC Planning Ltd. retainted to complete the HCD Study and Plan for the Garden District HCD Study area.

Contact

Heritage Preservation ServicesUrban Design, City Planning

Division100 Queen Street West

Scott BarrettSenior Coordinatorsbarret3@toronto.ca416-338-1083

Lauren ArcherPreservation Officerlarcher@toronto.ca416-392-2653

Garden DistrictHeritage Conservation

District Study

Introductory Public Meeting

June 24th, 2013

Who is MHBC?

• Multidisciplinary land use planning and landscape architecture company headquartered in Kitchener.

• Extensive experience conducting HCD studies, and preparing plans and guidelines.

• We will be responsible for the preparation of the Garden District Heritage Conservation District Study.

Study area overview

Ontario Heritage Act requirements

PART V: HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT SCOPE OF STUDY

• Examine the character and appearance of the area subject to study, including buildings, structures and other features of the area;

• Examine and make recommendations as to a potential district boundary;

• Consider and make recommendations on the objectives of the designation and the content of the heritage conservation district plan;

• Make recommendations as to any changes to the official plan and any other relevant by-laws.

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport guidance on HCDs

• A concentration of heritage buildings, sites, structures; designed landscapes, natural landscapes that are linked by aesthetic, historical and socio-cultural contexts or use.

• A framework of structured elements including major natural features such as topography, land form, landscapes, water courses and built form such as pathways and street patterns, landmarks, nodes or intersections, approaches and edges.

• A sense of visual coherence through the use of such elements

as building scale, mass, height, material, proportion, colour, etc. that convey a distinct sense of time or place.

• A distinctiveness which enables districts to be recognised and

distinguishable from their surroundings or from neighbouring areas.

HCDs in Toronto

• New Policy adopted by Toronto City Council in 2012.

• Creates consistent approach to studying and identifying areas for potential designation.

• Draws from Heritage Act, Ontario Heritage Toolkit, and other applicable documents.

Phase 1 Work Plan Summary• Meet with community to discuss

project and obtain feedback.• Complete historic research.• Complete fieldwork (building and

landscape survey).• Present findings in HCD Study.• Present draft HCD Study to

community.• Prepare final draft of HCD Study and

present to City of Toronto Preservation Board.

Planned community engagement

• Initial meetings with City staff, local Councillor, and community.

• Meetings with focus groups to obtain additional public feedback and input.

• Online presence.• Public meetings and Council /

Preservation Board meetings throughout project.

Outline of HCD Study• Background and introduction.

• Character and appearance of the study area:- Physiography;- Historical settlement;- Built heritage character;- Landscape character;- Typologies and community character.

• Area analysis and recommended boundary.

• Recommended objectives of designation and plan content.

• Recommended potential changes to planning mechanisms and by-laws.

Project Schedule

Contact for information

Scott BarrettSenior Preservation CoordinatorHeritage Preservation ServicesCity of Toronto17th Floor, East Tower, City Hall100 Queen Street WestToronto ON M5H 2N2

T: 416-338-1083E: sbarret3@toronto.ca

Thank-you.

Questions and comments?

• Any initial feedback from community about project?

• Concerns or questions?