What is a heritage conservation district?
The Ontario Heritage Act plays an important role in enabling a municipality to designate the whole or any part of an area within that municipaity
as a Heritage Conservation District.
This allows City Council to protect and enhance the special character of groups of properties in an area. This area can be either residential or commercial in nature.
The character is established by the overall heritage quality of buildings, streets and open spaces as seen together.
How is a Heritage conservation district designated?
The City Council may choose to pass a by-law to define an area within the municipality as an area to be examined for designation as a heritage conservation district.
While the Ontario Heritage Act does not require a study or plan for the area, such an examination provides background to the historical, architectural and character defining features that make the area special.
Design guidelines may also be developed for the proposed area.
The local community is encouraged to participate in this process. Their efforts are co-ordinated by one of four Preservation Panels that act in an advisory capacity to both the community and the Heritage Preservation Services. office of the City of Toronto.
Heritage Preservation Services staff assist the Toronto Preservation Board in advising Toronto City Council on matters stipulated in the Ontario Heritage Act.
The Toronto Preservation Board is an advisory body comprised of seven (7) citizens appointed by City Council, the Chair of each Community Preservation Panel* and three (3) members of City Council.
Community Preservation Panels have been established for each area represented by a Community Council.
After the examination and approval by the Toronto Preservation Board , City Council passes a by-law that establishes the heritage conservation district.
Once designated under the OHA, the municiplaity through City Council is able to establish and administer guidelines designed to protect and enhance the
special character of groups of properties in an area as redevelopment proceeds.
The character is established by the overall heritage quality of buildings, streets and open spaces as seen together.
Existing Heritage Conservation Districts include Rosedale, Wychwood Village, Cabbagetown, Harbord Village and the Union Station Area.
