I have been advised that the Revised Heritage Conservation District Policy and Procedures document will be going to the November 24 Meeting of the Toronto Preservation Board. At this time neither the agenda or the revised document have been posted.

Over the past ten years the number of HCD's in Toronto has accelerated because of the practice of the City partnering with communities to get them done, a practice pioneered in Cabbagetown. However the City had concerns about varying standards in the process and documents and has been seeking to make the process more standard, to make implementation easier for City staff.

The draft document received extensive discussion over the last year, and Scott Barrett of Heritage Preservation Services advises it has been amended in accordance with public comment. There were several public meetings as well as meetings with heritage consultants. The overarching concern was that the new standards were onerous, overly bureaucratic and would introduce much higher costs to communities seeking to Heritage Conservation District Status. 

Keep an eye on this website for the document and the agenda. And if this is a subject of interest to you, make sure you pencil in the date, be prepared to offer comment at the TPB and the following Community Council meeting.

Watch this space: