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Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Project
Project overview
On July 28, 2020, Council initiated a Heritage Conservation District Study for the Galt Core Area in the City of Cambridge. This page is intended to provide information about the ongoing study process, highlight opportunities to get involved, and serve as a resource on heritage conservation districts. Updates will be posted to this web page throughout the duration of the project. To receive an email when an update is posted, click subscribe at the bottom of the page.
Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs) are areas protected by a by-law passed under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. HCDs are usually groups of buildings or structures, such as neighbourhoods, which have a unique historic character. District designations are put in place to help conserve and enhance historic areas, guide future development so that it has a positive impact on local areas, and help maintain a sense of place and pride in our unique communities.
There are two phases of work required to designate an HCD in Ontario. The first is a heritage conservation district study phase which examines the history and character of the area and its buildings and structures. The study makes recommendations as to whether the area should be designated as a district and what its boundaries should be. If the study recommends designating the area as a district, the second step is a heritage conservation district plan. The plan is developed, in consultation with the local community, and includes policies policies for conserving and enhancing the district's character.
The Galt Core Heritage Conservation District project is currently in the plan phase.
Background |
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Heritage Conservation District Process |
Designating a heritage conservation district under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act requires two phases of work, a heritage conservation district study and a heritage conservation district plan. Heritage Conservation District StudyA heritage conservation district study involves detailed research of an area to understand whether it holds heritage significance, and what makes it significant. This process includes:
The study must use this information to make key recommendations including:
The study is then presented to the municipal Council to decide if a Heritage Conservation District Plan should be prepared. Heritage Conservation District PlanA heritage conservation district plan is prepared to help manage change in the district to ensure that the district’s significance is conserved and enhanced. The plan must contain:
The plan will be designed to conserve and enhance the value that was identified by the heritage conservation district study. Draft policies and guidelines are refined through public consultation. When a Heritage Conservation District Plan is complete, a statutory public meeting is held at which the public can provide comments on or objections to the plan. Council may then pass a designation by-law under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act which puts the plan into force. TimelineThe Heritage Conservation District Project will be divided into two Phases: A Study Phase (Phase 1) and a Plan Phase (Phase 2). The Study Phase was completed in Summer 2021 and City Council directed staff to begin preparing a Heritage Conservation District Plan for on October 5, 2021. The Plan Phase is scheduled to be completed by summer 2022. The purpose of the Plan Phase is to create a document outlining objectives and detailed guidelines to help promote development that conserves the heritage values identified during the Study Phase. Progress to date
Upcoming work
Study areaThe area that was evaluated as part of the the Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Study included all of the lands east of the Grand River, south of Park Hill Road, west of Wellington Street and north of Concession Street. After being evaluated, the authors of the study recommended a revised boundary for the proposed district that excluded the lands north east of the intersection of Ainslie Street and Thorne Street, and those south east of the intersection of Water Street and Thorne Street. The recommended district boundary and the original study area boundary are mapped below. This boundary was chosen because The recommended boundary outlined below was chosen because it includes an expression of:
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Current Engagement Opportunities |
Get involvedPublic engagement is an important part of the designation of a heritage conservation district because it helps ensure that the heritage conservation district plan reflects what the community values about its heritage. You are encouraged to get involved in the plan process. Please be aware that in an effort to continue physical distancing and keep our community safe, we will be holding many of our community engagement activities online. If you are not able to access online materials, please contact us for alternate formats. Information about our public engagement sessions, resources, surveys and more will be posted below for you to access. Check back often as this page will be updated regularly as the plan progresses. We will conduct Public Information Centres throughout the plan process. All residents, property owners, business owners, developers, and any other interested parties are invited to attend and participate in open houses to ask questions, share information, and provide feedback on the study. Public Information Centres are your opportunity to help shape the future development of your area. Information about the time, date, and location of public meetings will be posted here as they are scheduled. Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Plan Open House #3 On October 5, 2021, Cambridge City Council endorsed the findings of the Galt Core HCD Study and directed staff to begin preparing an HCD Plan for the Galt Core Area with the assistance of ASI in collaboration with Fotenn Planning and Design and Stevens Burgess Architects. Public meetings were held in January 2022 and April 2022 to share in-progress work completed as part of the HCD Plan phase and to receive input and feedback from the public on draft Plan objectives and sample policies and guidelines. An on-line survey was hosted by the City in April 2022 to receive specific feedback and input on potential heritage permit processes to be integrated into the HCD Plan. A draft HCD Plan has now been compiled and the City is seeking feedback from the public, property owners, and other stakeholders as part of this Open House. Once the HCD Plan is finalized, Council will vote on whether or not to designate the district under the Ontario Heritage Act and put the plan into force. The purpose of an HCD Plan is to provide policies and guidelines to help manage change in the area and to ensure that its heritage values is conserved and enhanced. The policies and guidelines will be developed based upon the findings of the HCD Study, public input, and the existing and future land-use planning context and associated guidelines and policies. Please note that the recommended boundary for the HCD was determined based on work conducted as part of the HCD Study phase. The recommended boundary is smaller than the study area which was assessed during the Study phase (see included boundary map).
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