Part 1: Heritage Designations Approved, Language Debate Emerges, and Enforcement Planning Added — 10/04/2023
- PECConnect
- Oct 4, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 5
The Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee met virtually on October 4, 2023, with the meeting livestreamed and recorded in line with the county’s procedural bylaw. The session opened with standard procedural business, where the agenda was confirmed without changes, no pecuniary interests were declared, and the minutes from the September 6, 2023 meeting were adopted as circulated. With no announcements raised at the start, the committee moved directly into its scheduled items.
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Deputation on language and heritage terminology
The committee received a deputation from Steve Staniek, who raised broader themes around Canadian heritage, cultural identity, and the language used in public infrastructure naming. His presentation focused on a request that the term traffic circle be formally recognized under the Ontario Heritage Act for the intersection at County Road 1 and the Loyalist Parkway, instead of the more commonly used term roundabout. He connected this request to wider discussions about how language reflects cultural and historical identity in public spaces.
Committee members asked questions about how traffic engineering terminology is defined and whether there are practical differences between the terms. Staff clarified that provincial standards govern highway infrastructure and signage, meaning the municipality does not control formal traffic design terminology. The deputation was ultimately treated as a cultural and heritage-related submission rather than an operational traffic change, and the committee passed a motion to receive the deputation, formally acknowledging it without taking further action.
Heritage designation report and recommendations
The committee then reviewed a Development Services report dated October 4, 2023, recommending the designation of four properties under Part 4 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Staff confirmed that all four property owners had been engaged in the process and had provided consent for designation, including agreement on the identified heritage attributes associated with their properties.
Discussion among members focused on transparency in the designation process, particularly around notice requirements, timelines, and how costs such as advertising are managed. Members also explored whether future designation work could be bundled to reduce administrative and communication expenses. After this discussion, the committee passed a motion recommending that Council proceed with designation, including approval for notice requirements and authorization for staff to complete all required steps under the Act.
Permit updates and committee work
An update was provided on the heritage permit master list, which showed relatively limited new activity since the previous meeting. Staff highlighted a follow-up item involving the Faulkner House in Picton, where recent alterations did not fully align with the originally approved permit. Staff explained that if the property owner wishes to retain the changes, a new heritage permit application would be required to bring the property back into compliance with heritage requirements.
The committee also received brief updates from its various working groups, including heritage designation, street naming, cemetery matters, and heritage permits, with staff noting that each group continues to progress ongoing items between formal meetings.
Work plan review and next steps
The meeting concluded with a review of the committee’s work plan, where members noted completed items and discussed upcoming priorities. Staff confirmed that an upcoming presentation on an enforcement protocol is scheduled for the November 8, 2023 meeting, which is expected to clarify how heritage rules are applied and enforced. The committee then passed a motion to receive the work plan discussion, formally acknowledging the update.
The next meeting was set for November 8, 2023, after which the meeting was adjourned.
Key Takeaways
Heritage designation work is progressing with owner participation, but still involves careful procedural steps. The committee advanced four property designations, with emphasis on consent, transparency, and proper notice requirements before final approval by Council.
Language and cultural framing continue to appear in heritage discussions, even when tied to infrastructure. The deputation on “traffic circle” terminology showed how heritage conversations can extend beyond buildings into place naming and cultural identity.
Compliance and enforcement remain ongoing concerns. Updates on permit discrepancies and upcoming enforcement protocol discussions highlight a continued focus on how heritage rules are applied and followed in practice across the County.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 46:46. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.
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