The Corporation of the City of Kawartha Lakes

Minutes

Kawartha Lakes Municipal Heritage Committee Meeting

KLMHC2025-005

Thursday, April 17, 2025

5:00 P.m. - 7:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

City Hall

26 Francis Street, Lindsay, Ontario K9V 5R8

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. The City of Kawartha Lakes is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Please contact [email protected] if you have an accessible accommodation request.

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1.

Call to Order

A. Hart called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. with the following members present: Councillor Richardson, T. Barnett, J. Hartman, S. McCormack, I. McKechnie, J. Pitcher, and S. Sims.

Regrets: A. Adare, K. Virag-Cavanagh

Absent: T. Richards

Staff: E. Turner, Economic Development Officer - Heritage Planning, S. O'Connell, Deputy Clerk and L. Barrie, Director of Development Services

1.1

Land Acknowledgement

A. Hart read the Land Acknowledgement.

2.

Administrative Business

2.1

Adoption of Agenda

A. Hart noted that there was no Closed Session agenda for this meeting so items 7 and 8 would be deleted to the agenda.

• KLMHC2025-035
  Moved By I. McKechnie
  Seconded By S. McCormack

  That the agenda be adopted as amended.

  Carried

2.2

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest disclosed.

2.3

Adoption of Minutes

2.3.1

Minutes of the March 6, 2026 Municipal Heritage Committee Meeting

• KLMHC2025-036
  Moved By S. Sims
  Seconded By T. Barnett

  That the minutes of the Municipal Heritage Committee meeting held on March 6, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

  Carried

3.

Presentations and Deputations

3.1

Lindsay Downtown BIA Downtown Banners

M. McFarland, Executive Director

M. McFarland provided a presentation to the Committee regarding the Downtown Lindsay BIA's plan to install historic-themed banners into downtown Lindsay. The banners are scheduled to be installed for the summer and early fall and the BIA intends to develop an associated social media campaign.

Councillor Richardson said that it was an exciting project and that the social media component was a great add one. She asked what the window for having them up in future would be. M. McFarland replied that it would be June to about October this year when the veteran's banners went up and in future, they would be installed in the spring. A. Hart suggested that the BIA also reach out to Maryboro Lodge for photos.

3.1.1

KLMHC2025-025

Lindsay Downtown BIA Downtown Banners Presentation

• KLMHC2025-037
  Moved By J. Hartman
  Seconded By I. McKechnie

  That Report KLMHC2025-025, Lindsay Downtown BIA Banners, be received; and

  That that presentation from the BIA be received for information.

  Carried

3.2

Changes to Committee Terms of Reference

S. O' Connell, Deputy Clerk

S. O'Connell provided an overview of the changes to the Committee's terms of reference that were discussed and adopted by Council in March. The amended terms of reference for City committees now no longer allow task forces and working groups to be formed to advance Committee business. Committees that have awards programs, including the Municipal Heritage Committee, are now also allowed to meet in closed session to adjudicate awards nominations.

A. Hart voiced concern that that Committee had been very transparent in its subcommittee process with minutes reported back at the next meeting and S. O'Connell replied that the recommendation had been made by the Ombudsman because the working groups weren't publicly accessible meetings, even if minutes were reported. T. Barnett said that he was concerned that the regular meetings would go on for 2 or 3 hours which wasn't really fair to volunteers and S. O'Connell replied that that type of feedback was going to be reported back to Council for further consideration on the future of the subcommittee structure. A. Hart said that he thought the Committee would likely have to change its workplan without subcommittees and S. O'Connell replied that the Committee could report back to Council as part of its annual report that certain items had not been completed because of the elimination of subcommittees. S. Sims said that she was concerned that there would be additional work for staff and also asked how practical work such as doing site visits would be accomplished. S. O'Connell let her know that staff were having a discussion right now as to how this would work as there were also some concerns about liability. J. Hartman said she felt it was detrimental to the work of the Committee. I. McKechnie asked how this was working in other municipalities and S. O'Connell let the Committee know that this was specific to Kawartha Lakes and a direct result of an Ombudsman investigation. Councillor Richardson noted that she was taking notes as the Council representative and would take the Committee's concerns back to Council when the discussion came up again later this year. T. Barnett asked what the definition of a closed versus open session was when talking about subcommittees and S. O'Connell replied that working groups were considered closed because they did not have a posted agenda and meeting time meaning that the public could not attend. S. McCormack noted that minutes were still taken so the Committee was being transparent and S. O'Connell said this still counted as a closed meeting because the public could not attend. A. Hart asked if there was the possibility of having a special meeting so that the Committee could do site visits together and S. O'Connell let him know that that was something that was being considered.

3.2.1

KLMHC2025-026

Changes to Committee Terms of Reference

• KLMHC2025-038
  Moved By I. McKechnie
  Seconded By T. Barnett

  That Report KLMHC2025-026, Changes to Committee Terms of Reference, be received; and

  That the presentation from staff be received for information.

  Carried

4.

Correspondence

There was no correspondence reviewed by the Committee.

5.

Reports

5.1

KLMHC2025-024

Heritage Planning Update

E. Turner reviewed the activities of the heritage planning program for March and early April with the Committee. She also let them know that the City had received a Young Canada Works internship position for 2025-2026 and that a report was going forward to Council on April 22 to approve receiving the grant and hiring for the position.

• KLMHC2025-039
  Moved By S. McCormack
  Seconded By J. Hartman

  That Report KLMHC2025-024, Heritage Planning Update, be received for information.

  Carried

5.2

KLMHC2025-027

Municipal Heritage Committee Subcommittee Review

E. Turner reviewed the subcommittees that the Committee currently had in place and noted that any work would have be shifted into the main structure of the Committee with the change to committee terms of reference discussed earlier in the meeting. A. Hart asked how it would work with the Osprey Awards and if the winners would be revealed ahead of time. S. O'Connell replied that the Committee would review it in closed and Council would also review them in closed so they would be confidential until the winners were officially announced. E. Turner asked the Committee if they wanted to continue to discuss outreach in the main meetings and the Committee agreed. It was agreed to table this discussion until there was more direction from the Clerk's office at a future meeting.

• KLMHC2025-040
  Moved By S. Sims
  Seconded By I. McKechnie

  That Report KLMHC2025-027, Municipal Heritage Committee Subcommittee Review, be received for information.

  Carried

5.3

KLMHC2025-028

Osprey Heritage Awards

The Committee decided to table the discussion regarding the Osprey Awards until a future meeting.

• KLMHC2025-041
  Moved By S. McCormack
  Seconded By T. Barnett

  That Report KLMHC2025-028, Osprey Heritage Awards, be received for information.

  Carried

5.4

KLMHC2025-029

Historic Plaque Program

E. Turner introduced the proposed historic plaque program which is included on the Committee's 2025 work plan. She let the Committee know that this was the first opportunity to start thinking about what the program might look like. The current allocated budget will allow for the creation of about 3 plaques in 2025. A. Hart suggested that he would like to see the plaque program tie into the Scugog River project. I. McKechnie agreed that the plaques in 2025 should focus on the Scugog River, noting that the currently panels are faded. J. Hartman asked how it fit into the existing plaque program and E. Turner replied that the existing bronze plaque program for designated properties would continue and the new program was intended to compliment it with plaques that included information and photos about sites. I. McKechnie noted that many other jurisdictions did plaques of this type and they were very successful. A. Hart noted that they were very useful for important sites that no longer existed. S. Sims suggested that a different area of the City be focused on each year. E. Turner asked the Committee what they wanted to do regarding suggestions from the community as this plaque program was largely being driven by community requests for one. I. McKechnie said he thought this would be a very democratic way of deciding on sites. A. Hart said he was concerned that taking suggestions from members of the public meant that everything could not be done and that the Committee should have the final say. T. Barnett said that the plaques needed to be in visible locations where people actually visit. A. Hart agreed that they needed to be accessible to most people. I. McKechnie suggested that they could be used to explain viewscapes.

• KLMHC2025-042
  Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By J. Pitcher

  That Report KLMHC2025-029, Historic Plaque Program, be received; and

  That staff report back with a summary of the Committee’s discussion for review and next steps.

  Carried

5.5

KLMHC2025-031

Zoning By-law Amendment Application - 46-66 William Street North, Lindsay

E. Turner reviewed the revised submission for the proposed development at 46-66 William Street North with the Committee. A. Hart expressed his concern that the report continued to minimize the impact on nearby and adjacent heritage features. S. McCormack asked if the Committee was able to continue to comment on it and E. Turner replied that they were, but needed to focus their comments on the ZBA itself and that the applicant has agreed to discuss aesthetic and urban design matters as part of the site plan approval process which the Committee will participate in. A. Hart agreed that finishes needed to be discussed as part of the site plan process. Councillor Richardson noted that the proposed development was originally 10 storeys and had been reduced to eight, and also that there were economic drivers at play. S. McCormack noted that there was still a concern regarding the height and its potential negative impact on the adjacent listed property. J. Hartman suggested that the building should look less modern. L. Barrie noted that the Committee was welcome to submit comments that let the applicant know that they wanted to participate in the site plan application process and that they would be looking for urban design changes.

• KLMHC2025-043
  Moved By J. Hartman
  Seconded By S. Sims

  That Report KLMHC2025-031, Zoning By-law Amendment Application – 46-66 William Street North, Lindsay, be received; and

  That comments be provided to Planning staff through the Chair.

  Carried

5.6

KLMHC2025-032

Alteration Application - 746 Janetville Road, Manvers Township

E. Turner reviewed the proposed alteration application for 746 Janetville Road with the Committee. A. Hart said he was supportive of the application as long as they were not going to make design changes to the staircase. Councillor Richardson said she had met the new owners of the property and that they were committed to the heritage of the property. She also noted that the stairs needed some TLC which was the intention of the application. The Committee was supportive of approval.

• KLMHC2025-044
  Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By S. McCormack

  That Report KLMHC2025-32, Alteration Application – 746 Janetville Road, Manvers Township, be received; and

  That the proposed alteration be approved.

  Carried

6.

New or Other Business

There was no new or other business.

7.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be Thursday, May 1 at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall (26 Francis Street, Lindsay).

8.

Adjournment

• KLMHC2025-045
  Moved By J. Hartman
  Seconded By T. Barnett

  That the Municipal Heritage Committee Meeting adjourn at 6:37 p.m.

  Carried