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Report To: Planning and Development Committee
Date of Meeting: June 4, 2018
Report Number: PSD -051-18 Resolution: PD -122-18
File Number: PLN 34.5.2.76 By-law Number:
Report Subject: Amendment of Heritage Designating By-law - The Belmont House
Recommendations:
That Report PSD -051-18 be received;
2. That the recommendation of the Clarington Heritage Committee to amend the designating
by-law of The Belmont House at 302 Given Road, Newcastle, under Part IV of the Ontario
Heritage continue to be processed;
3. That the Clerk prepare the required notice to amend the designation pursuant to Section
30.1 (2) of the Ontario Heritage Act;
4. That depending on the response to the notice to amend the designation, the Clerk either
prepare the necessary by-law or report back to Council regarding objection(s) received;
and
5. That all interested parties listed in Report PSD -051-18 and any delegations be advised
of Council's decision.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD -051-18
Report Overview
Page 2
The property at 302 Given Road, Newcastle (the Belmont House) is currently designated
under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act by By-law 88-173 for its architectural and historical
value. An amendment to the designating by-law is necessary to update the legal description
for the Belmont House property resulting from a land division that severed the property from
its larger original parcel. Additionally, the amendment will also revise the language and
format of the designating by-law to meet the requirements introduced in the Ontario Heritage
Act in 2005 and clarify the description of the property's heritage attributes.
1. Background
1.1 On November 7, 1988, Council approved designation By-law 88-173 (Attachment 1) for
the property identified as 302 Given Road, Newcastle, under Part IV of the Ontario
Heritage Act. The house is known as the Belmont House and is a distinctive example of
Georgian architecture with Edwardian details. It was originally built in 1814 and, after a
fire destroyed the home, was rebuilt in 1898 in an almost identical style to the original
house on the same foundation. It was the home of Major Samuel Street Wilmot, and his
son, Samuel Wilmot who established the Newcastle Fish Hatchery along Wilmot Creek to
the west of the home after conducting fish breeding experiments in the home's basement.
This is believed to be the first fish hatchery in Canada. Additional information on the
history of the property is outlined in Attachment 4.
1.2 In 2005, the Ontario Heritage Act was amended to include, among other provisions, the
requirement that designation by-laws be written to include a statement explaining the
cultural heritage value or interest of the property and a description of the specific heritage
attributes of the property. Designation by-laws passed prior to 2005, as is the case with
Designation By-law 88-173, often described heritage attributes more generally and a
statement of cultural heritage value or interest was not specifically required.
1.3 In 2016, the owner of the Belmont House applied to the Land Division Committee to
sever a 0.66 hectare parcel containing the Belmont House from the existing 5 hectare lot.
This application was made in anticipation that the retained lands would be used for the
future Foster North West residential subdivision. The severance was cleared in early
2017 and the severed lot was registered with a new legal description. Reference plan
40R-28940 showing the severed lot (Part 1) is included as Attachment 3.
1.4 Designation By-law 88-173 should be amended to include the new legal description of the
severed lot containing the Belmont House. This also provides the opportunity to further
revise the by-law to ensure it is consistent with the 2005 update to the Ontario Heritage
Act and to clarify the description of the property's heritage attributes. At its January 16,
2018 meeting, the Clarington Heritage Committee recommended amending Designation
By-law 88-173 in this manner while having regard to the description of the heritage
attributes identified in the Heritage Impact Assessment that was submitted as part of the
Land Division application.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD -051-18 Page 3
2. Ontario Heritage Act
2.1 The Ontario Heritage Act outlines the process for the designation of individual properties
under Part IV, Section 29. Amendments to a designating by-law are outlined in Section
30.1 which stipulates that the same process under Section 29 applies for amending a
designating by-law. The Act provides some flexibility in Section 30.1(2) by allowing
municipal Council to follow a circumscribed notice process when the purpose of an
amendment is to clarify or correct the description of the property's heritage attributes, to
correct the legal description of the property or to revise the language of the by-law to
make it consistent with the requirements of the Act or the regulations.
2.2 Under the circumscribed process, a notice of the proposed amendment is only served on
the property owner and the owner is the only party able to file an objection to the
proposed amendment. Council is still required to consult with the Heritage Committee
and the owner retains the ability to object to the proposed amendment within 30 days of
receiving notice of the proposed amendment.
2.3 Staff have consulted with the Municipal Solicitor who has concurred that the proposed
amendment appears to meet the requirements for amending a designation by-law using
the circumscribed amendment process of Section 30.1(2) of the Act. Attachment 2 is the
proposed designation by-law which would replace the existing by-law.
2.4 Section 31.1(10) of the Ontario Heritage Act, 2005 specifies that when old designation
by-laws are updated, they must conform to the updated Act.
3. Discussion
3.1 A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) submitted as part of the Land Division application.
The HIA was completed in 2014 by Golder & Associates and contains the most recent
assessment of the existing condition of the Belmont House and a description of the
property's heritage attributes.
3.2 The HIA describes many heritage attributes of the Belmont House in more detail than the
existing Designation By-law 88-173. The HIA identifies the three bay symmetry on the
south fagade, the original foundation, wooden dentils and brackets on the cornice, the
bay windows and wood sash windows. The inclusion of these heritage attributes in the
proposed amendment to the designation by-law will add clarity to the by-law by providing
a more complete and accurate description of the property's existing heritage attributes.
3.3 Subsequent to the original designation by-law, changes to the Provincial Policy
Statement 2014 and the Ontario Heritage Act, 2005 resulted in provisions to include a
heritage property's context and natural setting as contributing features. The original
designation by-law does not list the rural context or landscape features of the Belmont
House, the HIA identifies the property's proximity to the creek and existing landscape
elements such as the mature trees and the curved driveway in the front yard as
contributing heritage attributes. These landscape features exist as a surviving link to the
Belmont's heritage as a rural farmhouse.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD -051-18
Page 4
3.4 Designation By-law 88-173 included the slate roof and pillared verandahs with railed
balconies as having architectural value. The slate roof has since been replaced with a
synthetic roof and the railed balconies on top of the verandahs have been removed. The
amended by-law description of the heritage attributes will exclude these altered features.
3.5 The owner of the Belmont House property has been consulted on the proposed
amendment to the designating by-law.
4. Concurrence
The Municipal Solicitor concurs with the recommendations in this report.
5. Conclusion
5.1 The Clarington Heritage Committee and staff are in support of the proposed amendment
to the designation by-law of 302 Given Road, the Belmont House.
5.2 Should no objections be received by the Municipal Clerk within 30 days of providing the
written Notice of Intention to the property owner, the proposed designation by-law will be
forwarded to Council for approval. Alternatively if any objections are received, the Clerk
will provide a report to Council.
6. Strategic Plan Application
The recommendations contained in this report conform to Section 3 of the Strategic Plan
to manage growth and maintain our "small town" feel.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD -051-18
Submitted by:
David Crome, MCIP, RPP,
Director of Planning Services
Page 5
Reviewed by: / f
Andrew C. Allison, B. Comm, LL.B
CAO
Staff Contact: David Addington, Planner II, Special Projects, 905-623-3379 extension 2419 or
daddington@clarington.net
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Designation By-law 88-173
Attachment 2 - Proposed amended designation by-law (includes Schedules A & B)
Attachment 3 — Reference Plan 40R-28940
Attachment 4 — 302 Given Road — Property History
The following is a list of interested parties to be notified of Council's decision:
Hannu Halminen
Clarington Heritage Committee c/o Dave Addington
Ontario Heritage Trust
FL/DA/tg
I:\ADepartment\LDO NEW FILING SYSTEM\PLN Files\PLN 34 Heritage (All Files)\PLN 34.5.2.76 302 Given Road, The Belmont\Staff Report\PSD-051-18.Dou
1. There is desiqriated as being of Architectural and Historical value of
inteWst, the -real property Imaxi immicipally as "Ole Belgiont", Part c
Lot 32, G:)nwssion 2, fo=r qbwnohip of Clarke, now in the Town of
Newcastle in the llegional Muaicipality of Durham.
2. The Municipal SL.Iicitor is here�)y authorized to cause a copy of this
by-law to be registettd against. the property described 'in the
prece,-_-ding paragraph, in the p -a -)per land registry office.
'111f` (.Y)RP0lWr10N OF THE TOM OF hi INMTLE COPY
BY-LAW 88-173
ix�utq a by-law to cb.s' "gnaW, the property
J- aiimi municipally as ""le 1301=nt" located
in Part of Lot 32, Cbricession 2, former
1ru*t5hip of Clarke, now in the Tom of
Nbr,-rastle, Ragional Minicipality of Durham
a- a prol-ierty of architectural and historical
value and interest designated as Part 3,
Plan 1OR-2308
M U XWI: 3 the Ontario deritage Act, 1974 authorizes the oDuncil of a
ac1pa e
uni ' lity to enact bylaws to designate real property including all the
as
buildin(Is and struct W ures thereon to of architectural and histatical
interest; mid
WIC REAS the Counci I of the CDrporation of the Town of Newcastle has caused
to be served qxm the owner of the lands and premises known as "The Belmont"
locatkd in Vart or' IDt 32, (bnoession 21 former Township of Clarke, now in
the Tom of Newca-atle and upon the Cotario Heritage Fowidatign, Notioe of
intention to be pix)li shed in the Cancidian Statesman, a newspaper having a
general circulati(xrk in the area of clie desingation, once each week for three
consecutivn weeks r.:zmtily September 28, October 5 and October 12,-1988;. and
MILWAS "'lite Behront" in Part of wt 32, Conoession 2, former Toumhip of Clarke
has a very significant architecturd value of interest to the Town of Newcastle
and its people in that the cellar with its several large rooms separated by
4
brick arches was built by Major S.S. Wilpnt circa 1.814 and contains the spring
where his son, Wilmot, the rather of Canadian Kish Cu.1ture began bis
e)q)erimonts in Clio 1860s. it was under his guidance that the first fish
hatchery in Canada was b4ilt on the property, the spot now marked by an
historical plaque erected in 1967. Following a fire in 1898, the house was
reconstructed on the foundation. It is essentially the saw as the original
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and is representativ - of the larger brick hcmes built at the tims. In
particular, the cellar spring which still supplies the house with water, the
1 -late roof, two pill;zed verandahs with railed balconies above
, 1 the madm
case -ry, the fireplaces and mantels, and most of the original
stair of chei
woodtrim-are beh%g specifically designated as being of Architectural valve; and
MUMrA6 the XocaJ Arc iitectural cbnservatlon AdvI-sory Q=ymttee of the Town of
Nevcastle has recamend ed that the property "fie Belwnt",, Part of'Loi 32,
Mnoession 2, fox-rxei: Township of Clarke be designated under the tenon' of the
Ontario Heritage Nct; and
MEW -M no notice of objection to the proposed designation has been served
upon the Clerk of the Municipality; and
NOW THUCMIU; IDW (rUNCIL OF THC C)PPORATION OF WE T7/N OF NEXiCAS= HME:3y
ENACTS AS FOLWWS:
1. There is desiqriated as being of Architectural and Historical value of
inteWst, the -real property Imaxi immicipally as "Ole Belgiont", Part c
Lot 32, G:)nwssion 2, fo=r qbwnohip of Clarke, now in the Town of
Newcastle in the llegional Muaicipality of Durham.
2. The Municipal SL.Iicitor is here�)y authorized to cause a copy of this
by-law to be registettd against. the property described 'in the
prece,-_-ding paragraph, in the p -a -)per land registry office.
r
By-law 88-473"
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Municipality of Clarington
Attachment to
Report PSD -051-18
The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington
By -Law No. 2018-xxx
being a by-law to amend designating by-law 88-173 for the property known for
municipal purposes as 302 Given Road, Municipality of Clarington as a property of
historic or architectural value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O.
1990, Chapter 0.18
Whereas the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O., 1990, c.0.18 authorizes the Council of the
Municipality to enact by-laws to designate properties to be of historic or architectural
value or interest for the purposes of the Act;
And Whereas the Municipality of Clarington designated the property, 302 Given
Road, under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1988 by Designating By-law 88-173;
And Whereas the Council of the Municipality of Clarington deems it desirable to
amend by-law 88-173;
And Whereas the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington has
caused to be served upon the owner of the property known for municipal purposes as
302 Given Road, Municipality of Clarington, Notice of Proposed Amendment;
And Whereas the reasons for the proposed amendment to Designation By-law 88-
173 are to correct the legal description of the property, to revise the language of the by-
law to make it consistent with the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act and to clarify
the description of the property's heritage attributes;
And Whereas the Clarington Heritage Committee has recommended that the proposed
amendment be approved in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act;
And Whereas no notice of objection to the proposed designation was served upon the
Municipal Clerk within the period prescribed by the Ontario Heritage Act;
Municipality of Clarington
Attachment 2 to
Report PSD -051-18
Now therefore the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington hereby
enacts as follows:
1. Section 1 of By-law 88-173 is repealed and replaced with the following:
"The property known for municipal purposes as 302 Given Road which is more
particularly described in Schedule "A", is hereby designated as a property which has
historic or architectural value or interest under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage
Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.,0.18, for the reasons provided in Schedule "B"."
2. By-law 88-173 is further amended by appending to it Schedules "A" and "B" attached to
this By-law.
3. By-law 88-173 is repealed from Part Lot 32, Con 2 (Clarke), Part 2 on 40R-28940,
Municipality of Clarington, Regional Municipality of Durham as it does not apply to
these lands.
By-law passed in open session this _th day of 2018
C. Anne Greentree, Municipal Clerk
Adrian Foster, Mayor
Municipality of Clarington
SCHEDULE "A" — LEGAL DESCRIPTION
Attachment 2 to
Report PSD -051-18
Pt Lot 32, Con 2 (Clarke), Being Part 1 on 40R-28940, Municipality of Clarington, Regional
Municipality of Durham
Attachment 2 to
Municipality of Clarington Report PSD -051-18
SCHEDULE "B" - CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE OR INTEREST OF THE PROPERTY
AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE HERITAGE ATTRIBUTES
Description of Property
302 Given Road, "The Belmont", is a two storey brick farm house, located on the north side
of Given Road in Newcastle, built in the Georgian style, with Edwardian Classicism elements
and details.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
The property's physical cultural heritage value lies in it being an excellent example of a
vernacular farmhouse in former Clarke Township in the late nineteenth century. The
building is constructed in the Georgian style with Edwardian Classicism elements and
details. The current house was reconstructed in the late 1890's on the original foundation
after the original house, circa 1814, was destroyed by fire in 1898. The current house has
many of the elements of the original Georgian style house but includes Edwardian elements
not believed to be featured on the original house. The original house was clapboard the
second house is brick.
The property's cultural heritage value lies in its association with Samuel Street Wilmot, his
son Samuel Wilmot and the Newcastle Fish Hatchery, the first fish hatchery in Canada.
Samuel Wilmot was a Deputy Surveyor in Upper Canada and served as a Major during the
Battle of York in 1813 and built the first Belmont residence following the War of 1812.
Samuel Wilmot, regarded as the Father of Canadian Fish Aqua- Culture, resided at The
Belmont and conducted experiments with breeding techniques in the cellar of The Belmont
in the early 1860's which led to the eventual establishment of the Newcastle Fish Hatchery.
The property's contextual cultural heritage value lies in its location and proximity to Wilmot
Creek, where Samuel Wilmot established the Newcastle Fish Hatchery. The creek is
located to the south and west of the Belmont property and was the source of the water that
feeds the cellar spring of the Belmont residence. The visual and spatial association between
the former Newcastle Fish Hatchery and Wilmot Creek and The Belmont is significant to
maintaining the local history of Samuel Wilmot and the Newcastle Fish Hatchery.
Description of Heritage Attributes
Key attributes of the property that reflect its values as an example of a vernacular farmhouse
in former Clarke Township in the late nineteenth century include:
Exterior:
- The three bay symmetry on the south fagade;
Municipality of Clarington
x The original foundation;
x Pillared verandas on the south and east facades;
x Wooden dentils and brackets on cornice;
x Bay windows in front parlour rooms;
x Wood -sash windows; and
x The mature trees in the front yard
x Curved carriageway that arrives at the main entrance.
Interior:
x The cellar spring;
x Fireplaces and mantels;
x The centre hall plan
x The main staircase made of cherry wood;
x The original wood trim; and
x Bricked arches in the cellar.
Attachment 2 to
Report PSD -051-18
Municipality of Clarington
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Attachment 3 to
Report PSD -051-18
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Attachment 4 to
Municipality of Clarington Report PSD -051-18
302 Given Road (The Belmont House)
The Belmont House was originally built in 1814 by Major Samuel Street Wilmot. The house
was located on a large farm parcel just to the east of Wilmot Creek and west of Newcastle
Village. Historic depictions indicate that the house was two and a half storeys tall and built of
frame construction with wood siding in the Georgian style.
The original house was destroyed by fire in the 1890's. The Belmont House was then rebuilt
in 1898 using the same foundation and with similar massing and form as the original by
Major S.S. Wilmot's youngest son, Samuel Wilmot. The second Belmont House was built in
the Georgian style with Edwardian features with a low-pitched, hipped roof. It has a red brick
construction with a centered roof pediment, pillared porch, symmetrical bay windows and
dentils along the cornice.
Major S.S. Wilmot was the deputy surveyor of Upper Canada and while in this role he
surveyed Clarke and Darlington townships as well as the road from Kingston to Toronto. He
also served as a member of the House of Assembly and when the War of 1812 erupted, he
served in the rank of a Major at the Battle of York in 1813. After the war he purchased 400
acres of property in Clarke Township including the farm property where the Belmont House
sits today. Major S.S. Wilmot died in 1856 leaving the Belmont property to Samuel Wilmot.
Attachment 4 to
Municipality of Clarington Report PSD -051-18
Samuel Wilmot was an active local magistrate for upwards of 30 years and also occupied
several important positions as a municipal councillor, having been elected warden of the
United Counties of Northumberland and Durham and Reeve of Clarke (being elected several
years in succession by acclamation). However, he is best known as the father of modern
fish aquaculture as he established the first fish hatchery in Canada along the banks of
Wilmot Creek in the 1860's.
Salmon were common in the Great Lakes and used to spawn in the mouth of the Wilmot
Creek prior to European settlement. The Mississauga First Nations were known to have
frequented the area for centuries to hunt and fish at Lake Ontario and at Wilmot Creek just
south of the area of Wilmot's hatchery. They amassed knowledge of the spawning habits of
the salmon which was undoubtedly used to ensure their food supplies over the winter. When
European settlers arrived around the late 1700's, the substantial increase in fishing led to
conflicts with the First Nations in the area over the increasingly scarce salmon resource. A
local farmer in the area collected Indigenous artifacts such as arrowheads, skinning tools
and pottery from land immediately to the south of the Belmont property demonstrating the
historical presence of the Mississauga First Nations in the area.
After settlement, ongoing overfishing and the construction of dams altered the natural state
of the creek to the point where salmon stopped spawning in the creek in the early 19t"
century. The collapse of salmon spawning in the creek's watershed motivated Samuel
Wilmot to build an experimental hatchery using spring water piped in to the cellar of the
Belmont House to simulate actual stream conditions. The concept was to restock the
stream. The success of the experiments led Wilmot to move the operation outside to the
banks of the creek where he built a small reception house structure in which salmon were
intercepted in their run up the creek by a small weir and kept there until they were ready for
spawning. Several nurseries and retaining ponds were created along Wilmot Creek as part
of the fish breeding operation. The government provided funding to expand the operation
and the Newcastle Fish Hatchery was established in 1868. The hatchery reached its
maximum production in 1876 when 1.5 million eggs were hatched. Wilmot was appointed
as the Superintendent of Fish Culture in Canada in the same year. In this position, Wilmot
established a network of hatcheries across Canada. The Newcastle hatchery ceased
operations and closed in 1914 after it was acknowledged that restocking did not increase
fish populations as was hoped.
By 1877 Wilmot had welcomed visitors to the landscaped hatchery grounds and also
established a natural history museum on the top floor of the reception house — the very first
museum in the area. This museum housed a collection of exotic specimens of fish and other
animals including a 280 lbs sturgeon, a 600 pound tuna and a 10 foot long Greenland shark.
The reception house and museum were removed at an unknown date.
There was also a grist mill on the property located near to where the reception house was
located. The mill produced hydro -electricity for the village of Newcastle in the early 20th
Municipality of Clarington
Attachment 4 to
Report PSD -051-18
century from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. after which coal oil lamps and candles were used. The mill
was dismantled sometime around the 1940's with the boards and beams being stored in a
barn on the property and the granite mill stones adorning the front lawn of the property for
over 50 years. The barn was has since been removed from the property.
The property was owned by the Wilmot family until the 1930's. The property was purchased
in 1938 by Frederick Graham and his family which included his son and daughter-in-law,
Alfred and Lena Graham. Alfred Graham was involved in local politics and served as the
youngest Reeve in the area. The Graham family maintained the property to a high standard
and it was a popular spot for people to visit for picnics before being sold in the 1980's. After
this date, the size of the property decreased as a result of various projects including the
Highway 115/35 interchange which bisected the property and the Highway 2/115
interchange.