[All] FW: Cultural Heritage Landscape Study for West Montrose

Tue Jan 19 13:26:31 EST 2010

The area around West Montrose may be a provincially significant cultural
heritage landscape (
http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/heritage/landscape.htm), which is a
relatively new planning designation.  A region of Waterloo study in 2006 and
a study by the Heritage Resource Center at the University of Waterloo, begun
in 2006 and completed in 2009,  conclude that the combination of the covered
bridge, century old stone buildings, Old Order Mennonite culture including
horse and buggy traffic, natural features etc, make the area a provincially
significant cultural heritage landscape (
http://news.therecord.com/article/412370). The provincial policy statement
states that  *2.6.1* *Significant built heritage resources* and *significant
cultural heritage landscapes* shall be *conserved*.

However, last week when Woolwich staff presented a proposal to council that
the township complete its own study to determine if the area is a
significant cultural heritage landscape, and if so, what that might imply
for subsequent planning changes, some members of the public and two members
of council were vehmently opposed. Bear in mind that council was not even
voting on whether to designate the area, they were only voting on whether to
complete their own study to see IF the area should be designated.

Opposition from residents seems centered on the idea that a CHL designation
will prevent people from making modifications to their homes or landscapes
without a laborious heritage process. This is not likely, particularly for
the majority of residents, who live in homes built in the 1970s-1908s, but
in any event, such restrictions would be determined through a public
consultation process. In addition, there has been opposition from farmers
who forsee being able to sell or rent their land for other zoning purposes
such as aggregate extraction or subdivision development. Again, it is
difficult to evaluate this opposition when the location and possible zoning
restrictions associated with the CHL are unknown.

The issue is also hair-trigger because there is a pending proposal to rezone
100 hectares from agriculture to aggregate extraction about 180 m from the
covered bridge (and another proposal that will follow fast on its heels to
similarly rezone the adjacent 70 hectares).  However, it seem quite clear
that such a rezoning will change the area forever, and the question arises,
is this development consistent with the PPS (2005). The answer to that
question depends, in part, on if the area is a significant cultural heritage
landscape.

We need Woolwich council to see e-mails and hear voices  to support the
decision to do a study.

Bill Strauss sbill at region.waterloo.on.ca

664-1180

Ruby Weber rubyweber at rogers.com
669-5459

Sandy Shantz sshantz at woolwich.ca
669-8981

Mark Bauman mbauman at woolwich.ca
664-3318

Murray Martin  mmartin at woolwich.ca
664-1493

Cheers,
Kim Cuddington

2010/1/19 Lynne Hare <lchare at golden.net>

>  Yes it is
> Lynne
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Susan Koswan <dandelion at gto.net>
> *To:* 'Susan H. Bryant' <shbryant at artsmail.uwaterloo.ca> ; 'GREN'<all at gren.ca>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 19, 2010 8:38 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [All] FW: Cultural Heritage Landscape Study for West
> Montrose
>
>  I’m confused. I found this on the Region’s website:
>
>
>
> The bridge was recognized as an historic site by the Ontario Archaeological
> and Historic Sties Board in 1960. In 1975, the bridge was designated as a
> heritage site. Photostatic copies of the plans and specifications are
> available at the Woolwich Township offices, Elmira, and the Waterloo
> Historical Society archives in the Kitchener Public Library.
>
>
>
> Is the issue now about having the surrounding area, rather than just the
> bridge, given a special heritage designation?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Susan K
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* all-bounces at gren.ca [mailto:all-bounces at gren.ca] *On Behalf Of *Susan
> H. Bryant
> *Sent:* January-18-10 11:47 PM
> *To:* GREN
> *Subject:* [All] FW: Cultural Heritage Landscape Study for West Montrose
>
>
>
> This just in from Lynne Hare of Bridgekeepers.
>
>
>
> Susan B.
>
>
>
> *From:* Lynne Hare [mailto:lchare at golden.net]
> *Sent:* Monday, January 18, 2010 10:38 PM
> *To:* Susan H. Bryant
> *Subject:* Cultural Heritage Landscape Study for West Montrose
>
>
>
> Hey Susan,
>
>  Hope you had a great holiday season.
>
> I feel guilty always calling on you in time of need.
>
> last week the Planning staff presented recommendations to go forward with a
> Cultural Heritage Landscape study to see if West Montrose fit the P.P.S
> criteria. This has been in the works since 2005. I will attach the Planning
> departments proposal as it gives great insight to the issue. It was passed
> in the meeting( 3-2 strauss & weber were NO's), to go ahead with the study
> but further review the Interim Bylaw wording (#2  recommendation). We
> thought it would *all *be re-addressed Feb 9th but have been blindsided.
> They plan to vote tomorrow evening regarding the first recommendation to go
> forward with the study. This designation could potentially stop the pit or
> at least allow for set backs & reduce the environmental impact. Capital
> paving is not happy, had all their big wigs out last Tuesday.
>
>    There has been a lot of misunderstanding in the community as Dr.
> Shipley's original recommendations were for both a Cultural Heritage
> Landscape & a Cultural Heritage District( which has very stringent
> regulations & restrictions). This misunderstanding has also carried thru to
> council. Most letters of objections are the result of one misguided resident
> creating fear about  the CHD which is not even part of the proposal.
>
>   We need e-mails and voices from perferably Woolwich residents to support
> the decision to do a study.
>
>   Could you please help with emails and if possible come a speak in favor
> of studying this issue.
>
>   Please forward to Gren but it's better they live in the Township. If you
> have any questions plaese call 669-2767.
>
> Bill Strauss sbill at region.waterloo.on.ca
>
> 664-1180
>
> Ruby Weber rubyweber at rogers.com
> 669-5459
>
>
> Sandy Shantz sshantz at woolwich.ca
> 669-8981
>
>
> Mark Bauman mbauman at woolwich.ca
> 664-3318
>
>
> Murray Martin  mmartin at woolwich.ca
> 664-1493
>
>
>
> ********************
>
> Use your own words and say what is important yo you.
>
>
>
> 1) Support staff's request to collect more information before making a
> decision
>
>
>
> 2) There is a distinction between "Cultural Heritage Landscape" and
> "Heritage Conservation District"
>
> Most opposition is against a Heritage Conservation District which is not
> being proposed.
>
>
>
> 3) Cultural Heritage Landscape does not have to put restrictions on
> individual homes. In its broadest interpretation
>
> Cultural Heritage Landscape is only about land use under the planning act.
>
>
>
> 4) I support protecting the uniqueness of the West Montrose area
>
>
>
> 5) You are not voting for or against the Cultural Heritage Landscape
> designation, you are voting to study this important issue.
>
>   Lynne
>
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