Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee Reviews Permit Applications

The Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee reviewed heritage permit applications for 397 Trafalgar Road and for a severed lot within the Trafalgar Road Heritage Conservation District, including demolition and replacement of a garage, construction of a new house and garage, landscaping, and tree removals. The committee also endorsed a downtown infill design recommendation. Recommendations are scheduled to go to council on July 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Topics Discussed

1. 397 TRAFALGAR ROAD: DEMOLITION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF GARAGE

The committee considered a heritage permit application for the retained lot at 397 Trafalgar Road, on the east side of Trafalgar Road at Spruce Street. The property contains the "Doughty house," a two-and-a-half-storey brick Queen Anne-style dwelling dating to about 1900, and a detached garage dating to about 1910 with a 1960s carport addition. Meeting materials described the garage as being in "very poor condition" and said it "cannot be restored without substantial replacement of materials."

The proposal would demolish the existing garage and replace it with a new one-and-a-half-storey frame detached garage, along with new landscaping. Staff said the design meets the heritage conservation district plan and guidelines. Christian told the committee: "staff recommend that this heritage permit application for the demolition of the existing garage and construction of a new garage at 397 Trafalgar Road be approved subject to the approval of final details on new cladding, trim, windows, doors, and landscaping by heritage planning staff, and that the permit expire 2 years from the date of final approval by council."

2. 397 TRAFALGAR ROAD: SITE DESIGN, MATERIALS AND LOT CHANGES

Committee materials said the new garage would include horizontal wood cladding, white-painted aluminum-clad wood windows and doors, and multi-paned glass. The garage would be relocated farther south on the retained lot, shortening the driveway. Other site changes include a brick paving stone driveway, flagstone walkways, and black metal fencing with gates. No tree removals are proposed as part of this portion of the application.

A minor variance for garage height was approved in February to allow a steeper roof preferred by heritage planning staff and the committee. Staff said the garage's scale and setback from both the heritage house and Spruce Street are consistent with the district's character.

3. SEVERED LOT ON TRAFALGAR ROAD: NEW HOUSE AND GARAGE

The committee also discussed a separate heritage permit application for construction on the severed portion of the lot. The proposal includes a new two-storey detached brick house, a one-storey frame detached garage with carport, and new landscaping, with vehicle access from Spruce Street. Materials said there would be no driveway from Trafalgar Road, and a flagstone path would connect the house to Trafalgar Road.

The design was presented as drawing from Arts and Crafts-era architecture, with red brick cladding, wood shingles, multi-paned wood windows, and a red brick chimney. Jay supported the design, saying: "It's a vernacular of the Oakville heritage design. It's a well-designed and a good fit for an infill. It is contextual. It has whimsy and it has detail."

Kristen said the proposal complies with district requirements: "the proposed new house, new garage, and landscaping all meet the requirements of the HCD plan and guidelines."

4. TREE REMOVALS AND LANDSCAPING ON THE SEVERED LOT

For the severed lot application, staff said driveway construction would require removal of one Norway spruce and three catalpa trees, which "do contribute to the streetscape." Those trees are proposed to be replaced with a beech hedge for screening and privacy. Construction of the new house would also require removal of two large mulberry trees, two smaller yew trees, and one larger birch tree.

Materials presented to the committee said three of the five trees affected by the house construction are in poor condition and that the removals would have limited impact on the Trafalgar Road streetscape. Staff recommended approval of the heritage permit subject to final approval of cladding, trim, windows, doors, and landscaping plans.

5. DOWNTOWN INFILL DESIGN APPROVAL

The committee also approved a staff recommendation for a downtown infill development design. Materials said the design includes asymmetrical roofs and contextual features intended to reflect Oakville heritage design principles.

Jay endorsed the proposal, calling it "a delightful vernacular" and "a good fit for an infill."

Motions

• Item 4.1: Heritage permit application for 397 Trafalgar Road (retained lot garage demolition and reconstruction) — Carried unanimously.
• Staff recommendation for downtown infill design approval — Approved.
• Item 4.2: Heritage permit application for new house and garage on severed lot — Staff recommendation presented; final motion outcome not specified in the provided notes.

Attendees

Committee members listed in the provided materials: - Peter Longo - Nav Nanda - Jonathan McNeice - Cathy Duddeck - Marc Grant - Janet Haslett-Theall - Natalia Lishchyna - Jeff Knoll - Allan Elgar - Dave Gittings - Sean O'Meara - Ray Chisholm - Rob Burton

Other speaker identified in the notes: - Jay