Heritage Permit Review Subcommittee Meeting

The Heritage Permit Review Subcommittee approved two heritage applications: a retroactive permit for a heat pump installation at Osler House in Dundas, and masonry repairs at McMaster University's Edwards Hall. The Osler House permit was approved with no conditions because the work had already been partly completed. The Edwards Hall permit was approved with conditions requiring compliance with the city's masonry restoration guidelines, submission of final brick and masonry details, and a vine-removal method intended to avoid further damage to the building.

Topics Discussed

HEAT PUMP AT OSLER HOUSE

The subcommittee approved Heritage Permit HP 2026-24 for 30 South Street West, Dundas, covering a heat pump installation that had already been started.

During the meeting, the chair said the application was "for retroactive work, a retroactive approval of work that's already been basically started or partly completed," and added that there were no draft conditions because "it's essentially a retroactive approval of work already completed."

Applicant Jennifer Crosen said changes were made from the original plan so the refrigeration lines would not damage the masonry and would be hidden from view. She said the lines are now "completely not visible." Explaining why the unit was installed, she told the committee: "It was a really hot summer. I tried to live without air conditioning in this house and that was not going to happen."

The heat pump is located at ground level on the east side of the house, which was described in the meeting as the least visible side. Crosen said she also planned to soften its appearance with landscaping.

Steve declared a conflict of interest and abstained from the vote. The permit was approved with no conditions.

EDWARDS HALL MASONRY REPAIRS

The subcommittee also approved Heritage Permit HP 2026-025 for masonry repairs at Edwards Hall, 1280 Main Street West.

The work includes removing vines from the building, repointing localized masonry areas, installing helical ties where needed, replacing about 250 bricks and replacing slate tiles where required.

A consultant told the committee that matching historic brick is difficult, saying it is "near impossible" to match 100-year-old brick without salvaged material. A committee member warned that poorly matched replacements can look like "a patch of brand new bricks."

Because of that concern, the committee attached conditions requiring the work to comply with the city's masonry restoration guidelines and requiring final masonry details, including brick sources and samples, to be submitted to the Director of Planning for approval.

VINE REMOVAL

Committee members spent time on how vines should be removed from Edwards Hall without causing more damage and how to stop them from returning.

A representative said the vines may have been cut to grade while roots remained in the ground. One member said, "I would be much happier long term if they ripped them out of the ground or poison them, whatever, whatever it takes to make sure they don't come back."

The approved condition requires the vines to be "cut at the base and left to die off prior to removal from the structure as to not damage masonry any further." Staff were also asked to look at additional wording on preventing regrowth.

MASONRY CONDITIONS

The final approval for Edwards Hall included four conditions. Beyond the standard permit conditions, the main requirements were that the masonry restoration follow city guidelines and that final specifications for replacement materials be reviewed by the Director of Planning before work proceeds.

Those conditions reflected the committee's discussion about preserving the building's appearance while carrying out necessary repairs.

Motions

• Heritage Permit HP 2026-24 — Heat Pump Installation at 30 South Street West, Dundas: Approved retroactively with no conditions. Steve abstained after declaring a conflict of interest.
• Heritage Permit HP 2026-025 — Edwards Hall Masonry Repairs at 1280 Main Street West: Approved with four conditions, including:
  • compliance with the city's masonry restoration guidelines;
  • submission of final masonry details, brick sources and samples to the Director of Planning for approval;
  • vine removal by cutting vines at the base and allowing them to die before removal from the masonry;
  • two standard permit conditions.
• Vote on HP 2026-025: Carried unanimously.

Attendees

The meeting materials identify the following participants:

• Steve
• Sandra
• Graham/Graeme
• Lisa, city staff
• Jennifer Crosen, applicant for HP 2026-24
• McMaster University representatives
• A masonry consultant

The next meeting was scheduled for October 20, 2026.