Galt Core Heritage Conservation District

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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

Galt City Centre has been identified as an area with heritage significance within the City of Cambridge since at least the 1980s. In 1985, the Main Street Heritage Conservation District was designated, recognizing the significance of a block of commercial buildings on the south side of Main Street between Ainslie and Water Streets.
In 2008, The City of Cambridge Heritage Master Plan recognized Galt City Centre as a heritage “character area” and recommended further evaluation.
In 2013, the City adopted Downtown Urban Design Guidelines which recommended that the existing Main Street Heritage Conservation district be expanded to encompass a greater area. Main Street Urban Design Guidelines that recognized the special heritage character of Galt City Centre were also adopted at this time.
Through 2018, consultation was conducted to determine public support of a potential Heritage Conservation District Study for Galt City Centre and to establish study area boundaries. This consultation indicated public support for a Heritage Conservation District Study.
On October 9, 2018 The City of Cambridge Planning and Development Committee approved the commencement of the Galt Heritage Conservation District Study in 2020 subject to future capital budget approval.
On 28 July 2020, Cambridge City Council directed staff to begin the Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Study and conduct it concurrently with the Galt Core Area Urban Design Height Guidelines, Growth and Intensification Study, and city-wide zoning bylaw review to prepare an updated, coordinated planning framework for the Galt Core Area.
The Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Study was completed in July 2021.
On October 5, 2021 Council endorsed the Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Study and approved work to begin on a Heritage Conservation District Plan.

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 Study

A 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:

Conducting historical research to uncover historic themes and events that have shaped the area over time;
A property survey evaluating the area’s architecture, distinctive property features, views, streetscapes, and topography;
Evaluation of the existing policy framework and heritage protection for the district;
Public consultation sessions to receive input from the community about why the area is significant to them.

The study must use this information to make key recommendations including:

Whether the area holds enough significance to be designated as a Heritage Conservation District;
A draft statement of significance explaining why the district is significant;
A draft district boundary; and,
Draft objectives for a Heritage Conservation District Plan.

The study is then presented to the municipal Council to decide if a Heritage Conservation District Plan should be prepared.

Heritage Conservation District Plan

A 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:

A statement of objectives to be achieved in the designation of the area as a heritage conservation district;
A statement of the district’s cultural heritage value or interest;
A description of the district’s heritage attributes and those of properties within the district;
Policy statements, guidelines, and procedures for achieving the stated objectives and managing future changes;
Description of alterations that are minor in nature that an owner can carry out without obtaining a permit.

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.

Timeline

On July 28, 2020 Council directed staff to initiate the Galt Core Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Project through Report 20-191(CD). The City retained ASI in collaboration with Fotenn Planning and Design and Stevens Burgess Architects in January 2021 to assist with the preparation of an HCD study and plan.
The initial Study Phase concluded in October 2021 with Council endorsement of the recommended HCD boundary and the direction to prepare the Galt Core HCD Plan and Guidelines in accordance with Part V, Section 41 of the Ontario Heritage Act through Report 21-184-CD
A draft Plan and Guidelines was prepared and released to the public in January 2023. Public Information Centres were held on February 15, 2023 (virtually) and March 8, 2023 (in person), to present the draft HCD Plan.
Shortly thereafter, the project was paused to consider modifications to the district boundary and ultimately re-initiated in Q2 2025.
Through the study phase of the project, a recommended boundary for the Galt Core HCD was endorsed by City Council and the study was approved to move forward to the Plan phase.
Following initiation of the Plan phase, additional areas were proposed for consideration of inclusion within the boundary and the project was paused to consider the proposal. In Spring 2025, the project was re-initiated and opportunities to expand the boundary were studied.

Upcoming work

The Project Team is undertaking consultation and reviewing feedback in regards to our Draft Plan and Guidelines for the Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Plan.

Study area

The 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:

Key portions of the river valley edges;
A cohesive collection and grouping of the area’s civic, institutional, industrial, religious and residential buildings, landscape features, structures, and streetscapes that together tell the story of Galt’s early nineteenth-century development, later growth and community solidification in the early twentieth century as a picturesque community, regional hub in Waterloo County, and important industrial centre on the Grand River corridor and Grand Trunk Railway network.
An excellent combination of features that together establish an important setting for the downtown through its inclusion of landmark buildings, exceptionally high quality and unique stone masonry structures, open spaces and public squares, streetscapes, long-range views, and circulation networks.

Recommended Galt Core H.C.D boundary, refined following feedback received during the Second Public Information Centre, with additional areas recommended for potential inclusion pending further study and direction from Council. Note that the currently proposed boundary excludes the Main Street H.C.D.

Recommended Galt Core HCD boundary, refined following feedback received during the Second Public Information Centre, with additional areas recommended for potential inclusion pending further study and direction from Council. Note that the currently proposed boundary excludes the Main Street HCD.

Boundary Area

Based upon best practices in heritage conservation designation and assessment of the areas surrounding the HCD boundary, the consultants recommend adding several properties and landscape features along Water Street North and Park Hill Road East and along Main Street east of Wellington Street.
A total of nine (9) properties are recommended to be added to the boundary including Centennial Park. Seven (7) of these properties were found to hold significant cultural heritage value to warrant inclusion into the HCD boundary area as contributing properties. There are two (2) properties proposed to be included in the expanded boundary as non-contributing properties. The modified boundary comprises a total of 146 individual property parcels. The draft plan and guidelines has been updated to include these proposed modifications to the boundary.
The following figure, within the draft Plan displays the boundary as approved with the study phase and the proposed boundary expansion. Technical Documents can be found on our Engage Page and in the Documents, Reports, Updates below.
Comments were also received requesting that the boundary be expanded west of the Grand River. The areas west of the river could not be included because they are within the boundary of the Dickson Hill HCD. The boundaries of two HCD plans may not overlap. Given the significance of the Queen’s Square area, staff have prioritized the review of properties listed on the heritage register in this area to protect them through Part IV designation.

Galt Core HCD Project Boundaries 2025

Proposed Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Boundary containing the new 2025 Boundary Expansion

It is highly recommended to view our Active Project Page at our Engage Cambridge Galt Core HCD page for all current documents and upcoming engagement opportunities.

For inquires about the Galt Core HCD Project, please send them to heritageinfo@cambridge.ca

Current Engagement Opportunities

Get involved

Community engagement is integral to the success of a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Plan. People who live and work in the area can identify important characteristics of the area and elements that should be retained and celebrated. Consultation also allows for members of the community to express what new development within the District should look like and how best to implement recommended policies and guidelines. The Plan’s engagement program encouraged active discussions with community members and property owners and provided opportunities to participate in the process and provide comments and feedback.

It is highly recommended to view our Engage Cambridge Galt Core HCD page for all current documents and upcoming engagement opportunities.

For inquires about the Galt Core HCD Project, please send them to heritageinfo@cambridge.ca

Galt Core HCD Project Boundaries 2025

Proposed Galt Core Heritage Conservation District Boundary containing the new 2025 Boundary Expansion