HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 28, 2020
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Minutes/Meeting Summary
Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee
October 28, 2020
7:00 pm
Electronic Meeting
Attendees: J. Dempsey
J. Irwin
W. Jamadar
E. John
R. Smiles
C. Sopher
E. Martelluzzi, Planner II Heritage
R. Perera, Committee Coordinator
Guests: Stan Karwowski, Director, Finance & Treasurer
Mike Jones, Supervisor, Taxation
B. George, Local History & Genealogy, Pickering Public Library
Absent: S. Croteau
D. Felin
A. Khan
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Welcome & Introductions
E. Martelluzzi welcomed everyone to the electronic
meeting.
2. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3. Review and Approval of Agenda
Moved by W. Jamadar
Seconded by R. Smiles
E. Martelluzzi reviewed the agenda items. Agenda
approved.
Carried
4. Approval of Minutes
-June 24, 2020
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Moved by E. John
Seconded by J. Dempsey
That the minutes of the June 24, 2020 meeting of the
Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee be approved.
Carried
5. Business Arising From Minutes
There were no items of business arising from the
minutes.
6. New Business
6.1 Heritage Property Tax Relief Draft By-law
E. Martelluzzi referred to a Memorandum circulated
to the Pickering Heritage Advisory Committee dated
October 23, 2020, regarding a Draft Heritage
Property Tax Relief By-law, and noted that since she
had circulated the Memorandum to the Committee,
there had been a number of minor administrative
changes to the Draft By-law. E. Martelluzzi provided a
brief overview of the changes to the Draft Heritage
Property Tax Relief By-law.
E. Martelluzzi noted that at the September 28, 2020
Council meeting, staff were directed to report to
Council with a Heritage Property Tax Rebate
Program, based on the Notice of Motion presented at
the July 27, 2020 Council meeting. She added that
the Heritage property tax relief is a financial tool for
municipalities to help owners of eligible heritage
properties continue to maintain and restore their
properties. She noted that section 365.2 of the
Municipal Act, provides municipalities the option of
establishing a program to provide property tax relief
(between 10 to 40 percent) to owners of heritage
properties and that Municipalities must first pass a
by-law to adopt the program. She advised that staff
had consulted with the City’s Finance and Legal
departments to draft a by-law.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
She noted that the program would provide an
incentive to owners to make regular investments in
the ongoing maintenance and conservation of their
properties.
She advised that the number of eligible properties
based on the criteria is approximately 50 properties,
both within the Whitevale Heritage Conservation
District and outside of the District, and added that this
number excludes properties that are currently owned
by the provincial or federal governments. She noted
that the eligible properties also excludes properties
within the District that are on the list as not having
historical or architectural significance, as noted in the
Whitevale Heritage Conservation District Guide.
E. Martelluzzi provided an overview of the minimum
criteria for an eligible property as set out in the
Municipal Act.
She further advised that the Municipal Act allows
municipalities to provide between 10 and 40 percent
of tax relief, noting that the Notice of Motion
presented at the July 27, 2020 Council Meeting
requested a heritage property tax relief program of 20
percent. She added that the rebate would be applied
to the City of Pickering portion of municipal taxes,
with the Province of Ontario providing the education
portion.
She advised that a Heritage property owner may
apply to the program at any time, but no later than
the last date in February for the year following the
year for which the rebate is being requested. She
added that once staff receive the application form,
they would work with the City’s legal staff and the
owner to complete and register a Heritage Easement
Agreement on the City, and consult the Finance
Department to enroll the property in the program. She
added that Staff would also require a site visit to the
exterior and/or the interior of the property to ensure
the property is intact and is being maintained as per
the heritage easement agreement.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
She advised that a section would be added to the
Heritage Pickering site describing the program and
application process, and a publicly available list of the
participating property owners would also be on the
website.
She added that eligible property owners will receive
notification and information regarding the program
through a mailed letter.
She advised that it is recommended that Heritage
Pickering endorse the Heritage property tax rebate
program and by-law, adding that Heritage Pickering’s
recommendations would be included in a
Recommendation Report to Executive Committee
and subsequent Council meeting.
S. Karwowski, Director, Finance & Treasurer, noted
that in order to receive the grant, applicants would
need to have their taxes in good standing with the
City, noting that the City would strive to be fair to the
tax payer while preserving heritage properties.
A question and answer period ensued between
Committee Members and Staff regarding:
the maximum tax refund that would be
granted should all 50 properties receive the
grant;
how the rebate would appear on a tax return
statement;
how individuals who receive the funding would
be held accountable for the proper use of the
funds;
how a new owner of a home included in the
program would be affected and whether the
new owner could opt out of the program;
opting out of the program after a number of
years; and,
how heritage properties, specifically
properties within the Whitevale District, would
be evaluated should they have had recent
renovations to heritage attributes.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Moved by R. Smiles
Seconded by W. Jamadar
That Heritage Pickering recommends that Council
approve the draft Heritage property tax relief by-law.
Carried
6.2 Summary of proposed Regulations under the
new Ontario Heritage Act
E.Martelluzzi noted that she does not have any
materials for Committee to review at the moment, and
that she would provide an update to the Committee
once the regulations come into effect.
7. Correspondence
There were no items of correspondence.
8. Other Business
E. Martelluzzi noted that the City approved a heritage
permit for a side deck and a back extension for 472
Churchwin Street.
She added that the City is currently reviewing an
application for 560 Park Crescent for a number of
changes.
She further added that the City had issued a minor
heritage permit for an addition to the side yard for a
property located in Byron Street.
C. Sopher noted that construction to replace the
Whitevale Heritage Structure in Whitevale Park had
begun. He further added that the Whitevale district
had become popular during the COVID-19 pandemic
with a large volume of visitors coming to visit
Whitevale.
E. Martelluzzi to provide a
summary at the next
meeting.
9. Next Meeting November 25, 2020
Adjournment
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Meeting Adjourned: 8:01 pm
Copy: City Clerk