Report to Development Services
Committee:                   Date
of Meeting: September 19, 2006

TO:                                    Mayor
and Members of Council

FROM:
Jim Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services

Valerie
Shuttleworth, Director of Planning & Urban Design

PREPARED BY:
George Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner

DATE:
September 19,
2006

SUBJECT:                          REQUEST
TO INSTALL METAL TILE ROOF

St.
Dimitriji Solunski Macedonian Orthodox Church

201 Main Street North

Markham
Village Heritage Conservation District

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report titled
“Request to install metal tile roof, St. Dimitriji Solunski Macedonian
Orthodox Church, 201 Main Street North, Markham Village Heritage Conservation
District,” be received;

AND THAT the applicant be
permitted to install a metal tile roof on the church in a dark grey colour that
will blend with the predominant roof colours of other buildings within the
Markham Village Heritage Conservation District, subject to obtaining a Building
Permit for the work based on the change of materials from asphalt to metal.

1.
Purpose                2. Background         3. Discussion             4.
Financial         5. Environmental

6. Accessibility       7. Engage 21st             8. Affected Units       9. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

To recommend to Council that St.
Dimitriji Solunski Macedonian Orthodox Church be permitted to replace an
existing asphalt shingle roof with a metal tile roof as an exception to the
Heritage District design guidelines, due to the unique architectural character
of the building.

BACKGROUND:

The church is
architecturally unique in Markham
Village, and requires a
new roof to protect interior artwork

This church was constructed in 1993 in an interpretation of
the Byzantine architectural style typical of this denomination.  The
current request from the church to replace the roof was first before Heritage
Markham at its June 14, 2006
meeting.  The church is interested
in replacing the existing asphalt shingle roof with a metal roof material that
resembles clay tiles.  The present
asphalt roof is relatively recent but has been leaking.  The church administration is concerned
about the ability of asphalt shingles to keep the building sealed, particularly
to protect the wall murals on the interior.

Heritage Markham’s review of
this proposal concluded that the metal roof was not appropriate for the
Heritage Conservation District, and recommended asphalt shingle as the
appropriate material.

The applicants did not agree with Heritage Markham’s
recommendation to use asphalt roofing

The applicants
received this recommendation, and commented to staff that asphalt shingles have
not served the building well, and that they wished to have further discussions
with Heritage Markham concerning the use of metal roofing in a tile
pattern.  Staff have since seen a
similar church in Richmond Hill
with the metal roofing, and this roofing works well with the style of
architecture.  The applicants also
mentioned that they wanted to show the committee photographs of other examples
of similar churches with this type of roof treatment.

Heritage Markham
agreed to the use of metal roofing in an appropriate heritage colour in this
special case, but not in a tile pattern

The applicants met
with Heritage Markham at the committee’s July 12, 2006 meeting.  Heritage Markham agreed to recommend that a metal roof
would be acceptable for this unique building within the Heritage Conservation
District, but in a local traditional pattern rather than in the form of clay
tile, and in an appropriate heritage colour.  The congregation contacted Heritage
Section staff following the meeting to say that they do not agree with the
recommendation, and wish to appear before Council to present their case for a
metal tile roof.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Metal roofing is not prohibited in the Heritage District, but tile is
not an approved material

The Design Guidelines contained in
the Markham Village Heritage Conservation District Plan do not prohibit metal
roofing, but state:

“Roofing materials should reflect the historical materials found
in surrounding older buildings. Wood shingles are preferred, but asphalt
shingles are considered a compatible second choice.”

The distinctive Eastern European
architecture of the church clearly does not suit a wood shingle roof, so when
the building was constructed, black asphalt shingles were chosen to meet the
guidelines.  Although the use, or
prohibition of use of metal roofing is not specified in the Design Guidelines,
tile is a material that is specifically listed as a roof cladding not to be
used:

“Roof cladding materials which will not be used include tile,
plastic and other    synthetics.”

Tile roofing differs from shingles
in that it has a rounded profile rather than a flat profile.  It is most often seen on houses of
Spanish or Mediterranean design.

The tile pattern is complementary to the architectural style of the
church

The Design
Guidelines for the Heritage Conservation District also state that “When a new roof is proposed for an existing
building, the style should be similar or complementary to the established roof
pattern of the period.”
The applicant has demonstrated that the tile pattern is appropriate to
the Byzantine architecture of the church.

Staff support the use of a metal tile roof in this unique
case, subject to the colour being dark grey to blend with the Heritage District

After much
consideration of the applicants’ proposal and a review of the District
Guidelines, staff is of the opinion that the proposed metal roofing is
appropriate to the architectural style of the church and can be supported in
this case due to the special character of this building.  However, the red colour for the proposed
tile roof as proposed by the applicant is out of character with the prevailing
greys, blacks and browns of roofing in the Heritage District, therefore staff
recommend that the metal tile roof be of a dark grey colour to blend with the
character of the Heritage District and to complement the grayish-white tones of
the masonry walls of the church.

A Building Permit is required for the installation of a
metal tile roof

The Building
Department has advised that a Building Permit, not a Heritage Permit, is
required for the installation of a metal tile roof as it represents a change in
materials.

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE (Separate Attachment):

There are no financial
considerations in the report.

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The use of appropriate materials
on buildings within Heritage Conservation Districts contributes to a Quality
Community.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Building Department has
advised that a Building Permit is required for the proposed work, and the
applicants have been advised of this.

RECOMMENDED BY:

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

Director of Planning
& Urban Design

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

Commissioner of Development Services

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1: Applicant/Location Map

Figure 2: Existing building
elevation

Figure 3: Similar church with
metal tile roof

Appendix ‘A’: Heritage
Markham
Extract, July 12, 2006

Appendix ‘B’: Letter
from applicant requesting to appear before Council

FILE PATH:  Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\MAINSTN\201\DSCSept19.dot

FIGURE 1:

APPLICANT:             Bill
Branov, President                           Tel.
905-471-5555

St.
Dimitriji Solunski                             Fax  905-471-5580

Macedonian
Orthodox Church

201 Main Street North

Markham, ON
L3P 1Y4

LOCATION MAP: