Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee Reviews Designation Plan Ahead of 2027 Deadline

The Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee reviewed Oakville's plan to designate properties before a provincial Jan. 1, 2027, deadline. Staff reported that 84 of the 294 properties on the town's heritage register have been designated and about 15 are in progress.

The committee deferred proposed designations for 46 Cameo St., 509 Lakeshore Rd. E., 425 Fourth Line and 91 Gorda Dr. The properties were referred back to staff for additional research, site visits and consultation with owners.

Topics Discussed

2027 HERITAGE REGISTER DEADLINE

Under provincial changes introduced through Bills 23 and 200, properties listed before 2023 must be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act or removed from the register by Jan. 1, 2027. Removed properties will lose their current protection from demolition and cannot be relisted for five years, until Jan. 1, 2032.

Staff said the town will retain an internal inventory of delisted properties for possible future designation, salvage or commemoration. Councillor Jonathan McNeice said Oakville had shown "great foresight" by beginning the designation work early, adding that the town was "seeing the fruits of our labor here."

Staff's recommendation was to issue notices of intention to designate 46 Cameo St., 509 Lakeshore Rd. E., 425 Fourth Line and 91 Gorda Dr.

FOUR PROPOSED DESIGNATIONS DEFERRED

The four properties are:

• 46 Cameo St., known as the Fagen House;
• 509 Lakeshore Rd. E., known as Evergreen Lodge;
• 425 Fourth Line; and
• 91 Gorda Dr., known as the Rockdale Farmhouse.

Staff acknowledged that three of the four properties had not received completed site visits. The reports were described as drafts, and staff said they would continue working with owners before final bylaws are considered by council.

The committee referred the properties back to staff for additional research, site visits and owner consultation.

HOMEOWNER CONCERNS

Property owners and delegates questioned the accuracy of the draft evaluations and the effects of designation on renovations, property values and resale.

During the discussion, Dell Langum asked how a heritage listing would affect a home's value and sale prospects: "So my question to the panel is if the house is listed exterior-wise historical how does that affect the property? How does that affect the price? How does that change trying to sell your home?"

Another delegate, Miss Goras, opposed designating what she described as "a landlocked, completely hidden home." She argued that designation would create "an unfair fair liability for a private citizen without providing any visual or heritage benefit to the public."

EFFECTS OF DESIGNATION

Staff member Kristen explained that owners of designated properties must obtain a heritage permit for work affecting attributes identified in the designation bylaw.

"There is a process that homeowners go through when they have a designated heritage property," Kristen said. "If they wanted to do any work that impacts the specific listed heritage attributes in the designation bylaw, it's our heritage permit process. It's no cost."

Staff said designations generally focus on identified heritage attributes, often including street-facing façades and building massing, rather than the entire structure. Rear portions may be excluded to allow future additions.

Staff also warned that additional designations could increase demand for heritage permits, development reviews and the town's heritage grant program.

CURRENT DESIGNATION WORK

Oakville had 294 properties on its register when the provincial rules took effect. Staff prioritized 100 properties for designation because the province now requires properties to meet at least two of nine criteria under Ontario Regulation 9/06.

The town has designated 84 properties and has about 15 more in progress, including two cultural heritage landscapes. Staff expect more than 100 properties to have long-term protection by mid-2027.

McNeice asked whether the designation schedule could be rearranged to complete additional properties. "If it's possible to rearrange the schedule, I think it would be worth it if we can get one or two more designations," he said.

Motions

• Heritage Designation Project 2023 to 2027 and Heritage Register Update: The committee received the Planning and Development report.
• Notices of Intention to Designate for 46 Cameo St., 509 Lakeshore Rd. E., 425 Fourth Line and 91 Gorda Dr.: Deferred and referred back to staff for further research, site visits and consultation with property owners.
• Ongoing residential heritage matter: Referred back to staff and the property owners to develop a mutually acceptable preservation plan and return to committee and council before the 2027 deadline.

No motion to reject a designation was recorded.

Any applicant or member of the public wishing to speak further regarding an item on the Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee agenda may register to delegate to the Planning and Development Council at its meeting on December 7th at 6:30 p.m. when the recommendations from today's meeting will go forward for final consideration by council.

Attendees

Councillors identified in the meeting materials:

• Councillor Jonathan McNeice
• Councillor Peter Longo

Other councillors listed in the meeting materials included Nav Nanda, Cathy Duddeck, Marc Grant, Janet Haslett-Theall, Natalia Lishchyna, Jeff Knoll, Allan Elgar, Dave Gittings, Sean O'Meara, Ray Chisholm and Rob Burton.