Heritage Whitby Advisory Committee Minutes

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 7:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.

Hybrid Meeting

Whitby Town Hall

Present:

• Margaret Clayton
• Deanna Hollister, Chair
• Lisa Johnson
• Richard Klingler
• Rick McDonnell
• Don Mitchell
• Paul Rolland, Vice-Chair
• Vincent Santamaura
• Terry Standish

Regrets:

• Brian Winter, Honourary Member

Also Present:

• Councillor Leahy, Mayor's Designate
• Edward Belsey, Senior Manager, Policy and Heritage Planning
• Lori Tesolin, Supervisor, Policy and Heritage and Principal Planner
• David Johnson, Staff Liaison, Planner II Heritage
• Heather Ellis, Council and Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary)

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest

There were no declarations of conflict of interest.

3.

Approval of Previous Minutes

• Recommendation:

  Moved by Terry Standish

  That the Heritage Whitby Advisory Committee minutes of March 14, 2023 be approved.

  Carried

4.

General Business and Reports

4.1

2023 Roebuck Street Mural Jury Panel

Re: Heritage Whitby Advisory Committee Representative

David Johnson advised that the Creative Communities Division was seeking a volunteer to sit on the 2023 Roebuck Street Mural Jury Panel.

Paul Rolland volunteered to sit on the Jury Panel.

4.2

Municipal Heritage Register Subcommittee Update

David Johnson advised that the Municipal Heritage Register Subcommittee reviewed Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, and the impacts to the Municipal Heritage Register. Mr. Johnson stated that the work plan for the Subcommittee would be reviewed at the next Subcommittee meeting.

Discussion ensued regarding:

• streamlining the process for updating the Municipal Heritage Register;
• reformatting the previous Municipal Heritage Register spreadsheet; and,
• utilizing the summer student.

A question and answer period ensued regarding:

• whether staff was able to locate the previous files completed by the 2018-2022 Municipal Heritage Register Subcommittee; and,
• including the Concession, Lot, and Plan Number, with the property descriptions.

4.3

Heritage Newsletter

David Johnson stated that releasing the Heritage Newsletter annually was preferred and that a yearly newsletter would be completed in the summer with the assistance of the summer student.

5.

Council Update

Councillor Leahy provided an update regarding:

• the 2023 Budget;
• Envision Durham; and,
• Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act.

A question and answer period ensued regarding:

• the status of the 16 and 18 Durham Street property; and,
• whether there was an update for the Rowe House and Pumphouse.

6.

Other Business

6.1

Asa Werden

Margaret Clayton provided an overview of information she found while completing background research on Asa Werden. Highlights of Ms. Clayton’s research on Asa Werden included:

• Mr. Werden's purchase of 200 acres of waterfront land in 1926 which has since been developed;
• providing money loans at low interest rates to those in need;
• acting as an arbitrator to settle disputes without litigation; and,
• an interest in educational matters.

6.2

404 Ontario Street

Rick McDonnell requested an update regarding 404 Ontario Street.

Edward Belsey advised that Council approved demolition of the building located on 404 Ontario Street.

Discussion ensued regarding:

• whether heritage permit applications seeking to build beyond the lot ratio for the Heritage District of 22 percent could be regulated early on in the application process;
• looking at the Heritage Conservation District as a whole for lot ratio coverage;
• preparing a comprehensive zoning by-law update; and,
• inconsistencies between the Planning Act and the Heritage Act, and which one takes precedence.

6.3

Indigenous Member

Vincent Santamaura requested an update regarding the potential addition of an Indigenous Member to the Committee.

7.

Next Meeting

Tuesday, May 9, 2023 - 7:00 p.m.

8.

Adjournment

• Recommendation:

  Moved by Terry Standish

  That the meeting adjourn.

  The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.