Sharon Heritage Conservation District

• Memo "Heritage Conservation Districts" September 21, 2021
• P2021-27 "Sharon Heritage Conservation District Study" October 19, 2021
• P2022-08 "Terms of Reference for the Sharon Heritage Conservation District Study" April 5, 2022
• Memo "Sharon Heritage Conservation District Project Update" July 21, 2022
• Memo "Sharon Heritage District Conservation (HDC) Study Update" February 22, 2023
• Presentation "Sharon Heritage District Conservation Study " February 22, 2023
• Sharon HDC Study
• Sharon HDC Study Appendices
• Sharon HCD Property Inventory

Yes, the following is a list of other Ontario municipalities that have adopted HCD Plans and links to those plans: 

• Town of Caledon, Bolton Heritage Conservation District Plan 
• Town of Whitby, Brooklyn HCD Plan & Werden’s Neighbourhood HCD Plan
• Town of Innisfil, Cookstown HCD Plan

What are the criteria for establishing an HCD?

The Ontario Heritage Act requires that a minimum of 25% of the properties within the HCD area meet at least two of the criteria outlined in Ontario Regulation 9/06 in order for the area to be eligible for designation as an HCD. The criteria are as follows:

i.  The properties have design value or physical value because they are rare, unique, representative or early examples of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

ii.  The properties have design value or physical value because they display a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit.

iii.  The properties have design value or physical value because they demonstrate a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.

iv.  The properties have historical value or associative value because they have a direct association with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

v.  The properties have historical value or associative value because they yield, or have the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture.

vi.  The properties have historical value or associative value because they demonstrate or reflect the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

vii.  The properties have contextual value because they define, maintain or support the character of the district.

viii.  The properties have contextual value because they are physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to each other.

ix.  The properties have contextual value because they are defined by, planned around or are themselves a landmark.

At this stage in the process, the Town’s heritage consultants (TMHC & LHC) have reviewed all properties within the study area and have determined that more than 25% of the properties in the study area meet two or more the above listed criteria and therefore the proposed HCD area is eligible for designation as an HCD.

Heritage Conservation Districts are meant to promote awareness of local history and to protect and encourage public interest in the preservation of the Town’s cultural heritage resources. The HCD Plan develops place-based policies to encourage the celebration and protection of the Town’s built cultural heritage giving the area public recognition and encouraging a sense of place and community for the area.

If Council proceeds to designate the Sharon HCD under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act, this decision can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.  Any person who objects to the passing of the by-law may appeal to the Tribunal by giving the Clerk of the municipality notice in writing setting out the objection to the by-law and the reasons in support of the objection, accompanied by the fee charged by the Town and Ontario Land Tribunal within 30 days of the publication of the notice of passing of the by-law. 

An HCD is not meant to prevent development but rather to set out policies to guide development and change to ensure that the heritage attributes of the HCD are maintained and that the proposed development will not negatively impact the character of the HCD area.

Any development within the boundaries of an HCD will require a heritage permit from Municipal Council (in some cases, this may be delegated to staff). A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), prepared by a qualified heritage professional, will be required to assess the impacts of the proposed development on the heritage attributes and character of the HCD. A Terms of Reference for an HIA will be adopted by the Municipality to outline what is required to be considered, addressed and included in an HIA. Any recommendations identified in an HIA may be imposed as conditions of development approval by the Town to ensure that the development is carried out in such a way that the heritage character of the district area is maintained.

The HCD Plan and Guidelines will provide direction on changes to properties designated in an HCD. Certain projects will require a heritage permit from Municipal Council. The HCD Plan will set out criteria for identifying what types of alterations require a permit. For example, general maintenance of a property in an HCD is generally not affected by designation and would not require a heritage permit. Similarly, interior renovations and alterations are exempt from requiring a heritage permit in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act. Demolition or erection of a new building or addition will require a heritage permit.

Where a heritage permit is required, it must be obtained before issuance of a building permit. Property owners are encouraged to consult with the Town’s Building and Planning Staff early in the planning process when planning a project in an HCD to determine what is required to reduce the chance of delays.

Permitted uses are regulated by the Town’s Zoning By-law and Official Plan. HCD designation would not affect the use or any change in use of a property within the district area.

Some municipalities have adopted tax incentive programs for designated heritage properties. The Town of East Gwillimbury has not adopted such a program to date. As such, the HCD designation will not impact your property taxes. 

With respect to property insurance, the age of a building rather than the designation status is typically considered in the calculation of insurance premiums. Please refer to the Government of Ontario’s webpage on heritage properties and home insurance: Heritage properties and insurance | ontario.ca.

No, an HCD does not require property owners to restore their property to its original or historic appearance. The HCD Plan will recognize the need to incorporate modern materials in renovations of historic homes for the purposes of energy efficiency, cost savings, updates to engineering, building, and accessibility standards, and availability of older materials. The HCD plan will set out guidelines for carrying out renovations to historic buildings to ensure that the overall character and heritage attributes are maintained.
In cases where a building is entirely or partially destroyed by natural causes (i.e. fire), the HCD plan will not require a replacement building to replicate the original or to replace lost heritage attributes. A replacement building can be different than the original building, however the HCD Plan will set out guidelines around new development that will apply to the reconstruction of the building to ensure that it maintains the heritage character of the district area.