Report to: Development Services Committee Date of Meeting: May 16, 2006

SUBJECT: Intention to Designate under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act

Zion Cedar Grove United Church

7046 11^th Line

PREPARED BY: Peter Wokral, Heritage Planner ext. 7955

RECOMMENDATION:

That as recommended by Heritage Markham, the Zion Cedar Grove United Church – 7046 11^th Line be approved for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest;

That the Clerk’s Department be authorized to publish and serve Council’s Notice of Intention to Designate as per the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act;

That if there are no objections to the designation in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be authorized to place a designation by-law before Council for adoption;

And That if there are any objections in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to refer the proposed designation to the Ontario Conservation Review Board.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Zion Cedar Grove United Church has been evaluated as a Group 1 building listed on the Markham Inventory of Heritage Buildings. This classic late nineteenth century rural church constructed of brick, is significant both architecturally and for its historic association with the community of Cedar Grove. It is recommended that Council designate the Zion Cedar Grove United Church under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in order to protect and conserve this heritage resource and to encourage a more sensitive approach to improving accessibility to the church.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable.

The building is listed on the Town of Markham Inventory of Heritage Buildings

The subject building is located at 7046 11^th Line. It is included in the Markham Inventory of Heritage Buildings. The inventory provides a register of properties in Markham that are of cultural heritage value and interest.

The subject building is also located within the Little Rouge and Greenbelt Plan area.

The Zion Cedar Grove United Church is a fine example of a late 19^th century Gothic Revival country church built in 1890.

The Zion Cedar Grove United Church is a classic late nineteenth century rural church, rectangular in plan constructed of red and yellow brick. The church is distinguished by two wooden double leaved doors with gothic cast iron hinges, original hardware and topped with pointed wooden transoms. Centred on the wall above the two entrance doors is a bullseye window with a stained glass trefoil with smaller punched trefoils in the cusps of the larger window frame. The main hall or nave of the church is divided into three bays by brick buttresses distinguished by paired gothic one over one windows with stained glass transoms. Stained glass transoms are used throughout the building on almost all the windows. The main hall of the church is raised high on a rusticated foundation composed of massive cut blocks of limestone and granite fieldstone. One of the foundation blocks at the north east corner has the date of construction 1890 boldly carved into it.

The current brick church occupies the same site as two earlier churches. In the 1820’s the Mennonites joined with the Presbyterians to build the first church constructed of logs. This church was replaced by a clapboard church in 1857. By the 1880’s Cedar Grove had become a thriving village boasting a hotel, two stores, a cider mill and four sawmills. The clapboard church was moved up the road to serve as a farm drive shed and the current brick church was built in 1890.

The Statement of Significance- Reasons for Designation is attached as Appendix ‘A’.

The building has been evaluated using the Town’s heritage evaluation system

The building was evaluated by Heritage Markham and staff using the Town’s Heritage Building Evaluation System. The Zion Cedar Grove United Church was evaluated as a Group 1 Heritage Building. Group 1 buildings are those buildings of major significance and importance to the Town and worthy of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The building has been assessed using the Ministry of Culture’s Designation Criteria

The Government of Ontario on January 25, 2006 passed a regulation (O.Reg. 9/16) which prescribes criteria for determining a property’s cultural heritage value or interest for the purpose of designation. Municipal councils are permitted to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or interest if the property meets the prescribed criteria.

The purpose of the regulation is to provide an objective base for the determination and evaluation of resources of cultural heritage value. The prescribed criteria help ensure the effective, comprehensive and consistent determination of value or interest by all Ontario municipalities. The criteria are essentially a test against which properties can be judged; the stronger the characteristics of the property compared to the standard, the greater the property’s cultural heritage value. The property may be designated if it meets one or more of the criteria.

The subject property has cultural heritage value or interest as it meets the following criteria:

The property has design value or physical value because it:

Is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type expression, material or construction method, and
Displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit.

The property has historical value or associative value because it:

Has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community and it
Yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture,

The property has contextual value because it:

Is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area, and
Is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings, and
Is a landmark.

Heritage Markham has recommended designation

The designation process under the Ontario Heritage Act requires a municipal council to consult with its municipal heritage committee when properties are considered for designation. The historical research and heritage attributes related to this heritage resource were reviewed by Heritage Markham on May 10, 2006 and the committee has recommended that the resource be designated as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

The building is located within the Greenbelt Plan and the Rouge North Management Plan areas.

The Greenbelt Plan primarily protects natural and agricultural lands but also contains policies to protect and maintain man-made cultural heritage resources.

The Rouge North Management Plan lists the identification, protection and conservation of cultural heritage both natural and built, as one of its primary goals and objectives.

See Appendix ‘B’

Alterations are planned for the church

At this time the congregation has united with the neighbouring congregations of Box Grove and Whitevale and the Trustees have hired an architectural firm to produce a design to improve accessibility to the church. Staff has had the opportunity to review the proposed alterations and are of the opinion that they would significantly compromise both the exterior and interior character defining elements of this valuable heritage resource. By designating this church it is hoped that the heritage character of the church can be maintained for future generations through the exploration of alternate accessibility options.

The preservation of the heritage resource is consistent with Town policies

The Town of Markham Official Plan, the Greenbelt Plan and the Rouge North Management Plan contain Cultural Heritage policies and objectives related to the protection and preservation of heritage resources and how they are to be treated within the development process of an area. These policies support the preservation of heritage resources on their original site, and the integration into new development proposals. The designation of this resource will ensure that its heritage attributes are addressed and protected.

Provincial planning policies support designation

The Ontario Government’s current Provincial Policy Statement which was issued under Section 3 of the Planning Act and came into effect March 2005 includes cultural heritage policies. These policies indicate that significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved. Designation provides a mechanism to achieve the necessary protection. The policies further indicate that development and site alteration may be permitted on adjacent lands to protected heritage property where the proposed development has been evaluated and it has been demonstrated that the heritage attributes of the resource will be conserved.

Designation acknowledges the importance of the heritage resource

Designation signifies to both the owner and the broader community that the property contains a significant resource that is important to the community. Designation doesn’t restrict the use of the property. However, it does require the owner to seek approval for property alterations that are likely to affect the heritage attributes described in the designation by-law. Council can also prevent, rather than just delay, the demolition of a resource on a designated heritage property.

The designation of this cultural heritage resource is supported by staff. The owner has been notified of the proposed designation at the Heritage Markham meeting on May 10^th.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Accessibility to the site is encouraged; however, there are several options that can be explored to accomplish this objective without compromising the character defining elements of the heritage resource. The provision of an exterior ramp, interior stair lifts, or an alternative rear or side access, are some of the options to be considered to significantly improve accessibility.

ENGAGE 21^ST CONSIDERATIONS:

Heritage designation helps achieve a quality community by recognizing, promoting and protecting heritage resources, which strengthen the sense of community.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Acceptance of this recommendation to designate the property located at 7046 11^th Line under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act will require the Clerk’s Department to initiate the following actions:

publish and serve on the property owner, the Ontario Heritage Trust and the public through newspaper advertisement, Council’s notice of intention to designate the property as per the requirements of the Act: and

prepare the designation by-law for the property

RECOMMENDED BY:

__________________________________ __________________________________

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director of Planning & Urban Design Commissioner of Development Services