Please visit the City's EngageSTC project page for the most up-to-date information about the study and to offer your feedback.
The City is pursuing a potential Downtown Heritage Conservation District to help manage change in the downtown to ensure its character is maintained for future generations. The downtown is the city's urban growth area. We know changes are coming, and we want to find a unique solution that maintains our history, while welcoming change and investment. Currently, the City has five Heritage Districts that have been effective at conserving the City's heritage. You can learn more about them here.
Designation of a HCD takes place in two distinct phases: the Study Phase and the Plan Phase. At this time, we are only working on the Study Phase, which identifies what is significant by:
- Identifying and evaluating the key historical, architectural and heritage buildings landscape features
- Reviewing the current planning and regulatory context re: heritage designation
- Establishing a clear, defensible rationale for the appropriate boundaries of a Heritage Conservation District
- Obtaining meaningful input and support from local stakeholders, business owners, and residents through effective public consultation
If the Study Phase identifies all or part of the Study Area to meet the threshold criteria from Ontario Regulation 9/06 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Council may decide to proceed with the Plan Phase, and prepare an HCD Plan for the recommended boundary. An HCD Plan provides policies and guidelines for conservation, protection, and enhancement of the area's special heritage character.
While we have consultants doing research and evaluating the downtown for heritage potential, we'd like your input, as well. Please visit our EngageSTC project page to fill out our survey and stay up to date on the project.
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