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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-117-96THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON DN: HERITAGE.GPA Meeting: eneral Purpose and Administration Committee (�o g' File # Date: Monday, September 9, 1996 Res. # �� L V6 Report #: PD- 117 -96 File #: PLN 34.5.1 r� By -law #_12� Subject: PROPOSED HERITAGE DESIGNATION FORMER TOWN OF BOWMANVILLE TOWN HALL 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE; FILE NO: PLN. 34.5.1 Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PD- 117 -96 be received; 2. THAT the request of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee to designate as a historical structure the former Town of Bowmanville Town Hall be approved; 3. THAT the Clerk prepare the required notice of intent pursuant to the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act and report back to Council following the prescribed notification period; and 4. THAT the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee be advised of Council's decision. 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 On April 1, 1996, Council was approached with a request to pursue the designation of the former Town of Bowmanville Town Hall, now part of the Municipal Administrative Centre. Through Resolution number #GPA- 167 -96 Council endorsed the following: "THAT the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee be requested to initiate the process of designation of the Municipal Administrative Centre under the Ontario Heritage Act." 511 REPORT NO. PD- 117 -96 PAGE 2 1.2 The Planning Department has received a copy of the request submitted by the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee ( LACAC) to designate the former Town of Bowmanville Town Hall as having historic and architectural value or interest. The Chairperson of the LACAC has advised that the designation request has been made in response to the Committee's own desire to see the structure preserved for the residents of Clarington. The LACAC has researched the history of the property and has compiled a list of the exterior features which they wish to see designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Their findings have been included in this report as Attachment #1. 1.3 The property has been listed in the former Town of Newcastle LACAC inventory as being of "Primary" heritage value to the Municipality and its inventory number has been assigned at H629. 2. IMPLICATIONS OF DESIGNATION 2.1 The Ontario Heritage Act empowers a municipality to pass a by -law designating a structure to be of historic and /or architectural value or interest. The rational for designating a property is contained in the designation by -law. If known, a brief history of the property would be included along with a listing of the significant architectural interior and /or exterior features. As the structure is a municipally owned building, staff wish to inform Council of the restrictions placed on the property as a result of designation. Council should note that designation of the Bowmanville Town Hall would not make it a museum. Neither would it restrict the use or the sale of the property. It would not impose obligations or expenses beyond that experienced by any property owner and it would not mean that the building could not be altered. For Council's information, the Ontario Heritage Act addresses these issues as follows: REPORT NO. PD- 117 -96 PAGE 3 2.2 Alterations The Ontario Heritage Act stipulates that the owner of a designated structure can not alter the structure where such alteration is likely to affect the reasons for designation, without the written consent of Council. In turn, Council is required to consider any application for alteration of a designated property in consultation with the LACAC. The intent of this policy is to protect the reasons why the structure was designated in the first place by ensuring that all alterations are sympathetic to the architectural integrity of the building. Architectural elements which are not designated can be changed without the involvement of the LACAC. As long as the alteration does not have an overwhelming negative impact on the property's designation, these types of alterations would be at the discretion of Council. 2.3 Removal of Designation Once the building is designated it does not have to remain designated. Council, after consultation with the LACAC, can remove the designation or part of the designation by repealing the designation by -law. The Clerk would be required to prepare a "Notice of Intension to Repeal" the by -law, or part thereof. The Notice would be served on the Ontario Heritage Foundation and be published in the local paper. Any person would have the right to object to the repealing of the by -law. If an objection is received the matter would then be referred to the Conservation Review Board. However, unlike the Ontario Municipal Board, the decisions of the Conservation Review Board are not final. The Review Board's role is to evaluate the proposal and report back to Council. In turn, Council, as authorized by Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act, will make the final decision. REPORT NO. PD- 117 -96 PAGE 4 Should a designated portion of a heritage building be destroyed through means beyond the control of the property owner, such as by fire, the Ontario Heritage Act does not require that the lost feature be restored. The Act is silent on the issue. However, consultation with the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation has confirmed that a listed architectural feature which no longer exists is to be removed from the designation by -law through the by -law repeal process. 2.4 Demolition The Ontario Heritage Act does not prohibit a property owner from demolishing a designated heritage building. The owner is to apply to Council for permission and receive consent in writing. Council, in turn, is to consult with the LACAC and within 90 days consent or refuse the application. Demolition can be prohibited for a further period of 180 days from the date of Council's decision. After the 180 days has passed the municipality can not refuse to issue a demolition permit. Once the building is demolished the by -law is to be repealed and the repealing by -law is to be served on the property owner and the Ontario Heritage Foundation. Notice is published in the local paper, reference to the property is deleted from the municipal Register and a copy of the repealing by- law is registered against the property in the land registry office. 3. COMMENTS 3.1 The designation of the Former Town of Bowmanville Town Hall would conform both to provincial policy on heritage conservation and to the heritage conservation policies contained within the Council Adopted Official Plan. The Municipality currently owns five designated buildings, the Visual Arts Centre, the Orono Town Hall, the Newcastle Village Community Hall, the Bowmanville Museum and the Clarke Museum. Designation of such a predominant structure as the former Bowmanville Town Hall would be in keeping with past practises to promote 514 REPORT NO. PD- 117 -96 PAGE 5 community pride and spirit by conserving our architectural heritage for the residents of Clarington. Therefore, staff has no objection to designating the structure pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act as having historic and /or architectural significance. 3.2 Planning staff have consulted with the Property Manager on the designation of the Municipal Administrative Centre and the Manager has stated support for the request and does not object to the list of exterior features to be designated. 3.3 It is therefore recommended that the Clerk prepare, send and publish the required notice of intent pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act and report back to Council following the prescribed notification period. Respectfully submitted, (") r ",LQ - -- & 3) u- Reviewed by, Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P., R.P.P., W. H. Stockwell Director of Planning Chief Administrative and Development Officer IL *FW *cc Attachment No. 1 - Features to be Designated Attachment No. 2 - Key Map September 3, 1996 Interested parties to be notified of Council and Committee's decision: Mrs. Janie Dodds LACAC Chairperson 3917 Concession Road 8 R.R. #1 Orono, Ontario LOB 1 MO Mrs, Diana Grandfield 631 Mill Street RR #8 Newcastle, Ontario L1 B 11-9 Attachment #1 Former Town of Bowmanville Town Hall 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville Constructed between 1903 and 1904, the former Town of Bowmanville Town Hall was designed by A. R. Denison of Toronto. It is the only example of the Beaux Arts style found in Bowmanville. This architectural form takes its name from the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris where architects of the late nineteenth century were taught to design buildings based on Classical and Renaissance prototypes. The symmetrical facade contains a recessed centre portion between slightly projecting end bays. Horizontal rustication is evident on the lower storey as the brick has been laid to give the effect of broad horizontal bands. The recessed portion of the upper storey contains three large windows set between projecting brick pilasters which are topped with decorative capitals. The roof line cornice, with its rectangular brackets and semi- circular pediment, the octagon bell tower, and the stone window dressings, door trim and scroll brackets all add to the appearance of stately importance. On April 20, 1903, the council for the former Town of Bowmanville approved the construction of this new town hall building. John Kydd was engaged as superintendent of the work under the direction of Mr. Denison, and the corner stone was laid on August 29, 1903, by John Hoskin Esq. The building was officially opened on February 24, 1904, and was multi - purpose in nature. The lower floor held the municipal offices and the library, and the basement contained a detention cell with a heavy metal plated door and barred windows. The Hall's most impressive feature was the upper floor auditorium which was utilized as an opera house. It is significant to note that in the late 1980s the town hall was revived to commodate the needs of a growing municipality. 1988 saw the official opening of a new post- modern addition. Designed by A.J. Diamond, Donald Schmitt and Company, the rehabilitation of the old section and its melding with the new administrative office portion won an award of excellence from the Ontario Architects Association (OAA). The renovation was very sympathetic to the original construction as all exterior facades were maintained and new elements were carefully amalgamated. The west wall has been retained and can be seen upon entrance into the main reception area. The original north entrance has been replaced by a window and additional windows have been added where needed. The cast iron opera house seats have been refurbished and reupholstered and are now the balcony seating for the council chambers. The former Town of Bowmanville Town Hall is recommended for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act for its historical significance and the following exterior architectural features: 516 Exterior: • the low- hipped black slate roof • the octagon bell tower and its balcony • the heavy cornicing, rectangular brackets and pediment • the original brick facade with its horizontal rustication • the fieldstone foundation • the brick pilasters and decorative capitals • the galvanized tin trim and facades, bell tower and tower balcony • the decorative stone work on the windows and main entrance • the double doors of the front entrance with their heavy brass handles • the balcony over the main entrance with its stone scroll brackets 517 Attachment # 518