Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee Reviews Front Street Heritage Permit Application

Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee reviewed a heritage permit application for Front Street right-of-way work in the Old Oakville Heritage Conservation District, described in the materials as 194 Front Street and in some discussion as 176 Front Street. The proposal would remove an existing retaining wall, remove five trees, regrade the slope, and replant trees. Staff said "the deteriorated retaining wall must be removed due to safety concerns" and that the five trees "cannot be retained due to the extent of anticipated root disturbance associated with wall removal and regrading." The committee recommended approval with an amendment allowing staff to consider some form of retaining wall or hidden retaining element during implementation. The matter proceeds to council for a final decision on June 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Topics Discussed

1. HERITAGE PERMIT FOR FRONT STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY WORK

The committee considered a heritage permit application for work in the municipal right-of-way on Front Street in the Old Oakville Heritage Conservation District. The proposal includes removing the existing wood retaining wall, removing five trees, regrading the area, and replanting. The heritage permit would expire two years from final council approval.

2. SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE RETAINING WALL AND ROAD WIDTH

Staff and town officials said the main issue was the retaining wall's location at the edge of a narrow roadway. One participant noted that "the front street itself is a 12 m wide roadway or it's quite narrow 12 m that is not a standard town road, but it is, you know, something of heritage from 1847." Mayor Rob Burton said "the concern is the having a retaining wall right at the edge of the road surface," adding that "anything that protrudes higher than that at the driving edge would definitely be a concern." Peter Longo similarly said, "we wouldn't want to see a vertical impediment addressed right at the driving edge... it would be a hazard to the public."

3. TREE REMOVAL AND REPLANTING PLAN

Staff said the five trees are proposed for removal because of safety concerns and root disturbance from wall removal and regrading. Committee members asked whether replacement trees could be planted elsewhere on the property. Jason asked, "Can we put the five trees somewhere else? Do they have to go here?" George cautioned that if the slope runs directly to the road edge, "Then you wouldn't get any tree."

4. ALTERNATIVES TO THE STAFF PLAN

The committee discussed whether there was a way to preserve more of the heritage streetscape while addressing the safety issue. Councillor Jeff Knoll asked whether there was "scope to perhaps have a retaining wall that is far enough away from the road allowance that it won't cause a hazard." Natalia Lishchyna said, "I would hope that heritage in the heritage district would trump bureaucracy and allow common sense perhaps to allow us to retain our cultural heritage streetscape in place." Rob Burton said, "I believe that the negative influence on the cultural heritage streetscape is too great" and suggested the trees might be retained "with some imaginative engineering." The committee's final motion reflected that discussion by allowing flexibility for some form of retaining wall or hidden retaining element if staff determine it can be done safely.

5. DELEGATE AND COMMITTEE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FINAL LANDSCAPE

Delegates said the unresolved right-of-way design was holding up landscaping work. One delegate told the committee, "We're so glad to be here finally because as you can see we're living behind a mud puddle," and added, "people are being think we've run out of money to finish." Bob argued that removing the trees would "severely upset the... cultural heritage streetscape," saying traffic on Front Street typically moves "at about 15 to 20 kilometers an hour" and questioning why a wider road allowance was necessary. Natalia Lishchyna said, "What we're concerned is that what is done is done well."

Motions

• Staff recommendation on the Front Street heritage permit application — Approved with an amendment to allow the possibility of a retaining wall or hidden retaining element during implementation; final design approval delegated to staff.
• Deferral for additional visual plans/renderings — Not adopted; members discussed deferring for more detailed drawings, but the committee proceeded with the amended staff recommendation.

Attendees

Committee members and officials identified in the discussion: - Peter Longo - Natalia Lishchyna - Jeff Knoll - Rob Burton - Jason - George

Other participants identified: - Staff - Applicant - Delegates/property representatives

Residents wishing to speak at the June 1 council meeting were advised to register with the clerk's department by noon on the business day before the meeting through the town website.