SORE is pleased to report that Council recently received an important draft report of Urban Strategies Inc and GBCA Architects concerning the Rand Estate and the John Street East Character Area. The report, a “Character Area Study” is required by the Town’s new Official Plan. It was commissioned in 2022 and recently completed and delivered to Council. The Study creates a “Heritage and Development Framework” for the Rand Estate.
The Study is of most immediate relevance to the proposed Marotta Rand subdivision, which is headed to
a hearing next March by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) after being appealed there directly by the developer.
Some of the key conclusions and recommendations of the Study are set out below:
- “The area’s cultural heritage is significant, well documented and highly valued, and much of it must be conserved under Town bylaws.” (emphasis added)
- “The character of the area is multi-faceted, and there are opportunities to both conserve valued features and enhance others.”
- “The layout and design of new development [on 588 Charlotte and 200 John] also should be
respectful of the historic landscape by recalling once character-defining elements, such as
pathways, hedgerows, orchards and formal landscape elements.” (emphasis added) - “New development should also improve public access to and through the area.”
- “preservation of the Rand Estate’s historic wall and mature trees across the area, and the
development of new treed open spaces, will be vital to retaining much of its historic character
and connecting distinct places to one another.” - “The adaptive re-use of heritage buildings and other structures with uses that complement
existing and planned uses in the area shall be strongly encouraged.” - “The restoration or interpretation of significant but lost heritage landscape features shall be
strongly encouraged.” - “New streets and other infrastructure shall minimize adverse impacts on existing natural
features”. - “A tree preservation and planting plan that has regard for the area’s historic estate lot
landscapes” is required with any application - “Landscape management and design plans shall support a minimum tree canopy of 30%
for…each property where new development is proposed.” - “New streets, driveways and pathways should be aligned to conserve and provide public
exposure to cultural heritage features where feasible.” - “The common open spaces identified in the Heritage and Development Framework shall be
designed to provide public views and access to natural and cultural heritage features.” - “The axial walkway and circular mound [on the Rand Estate] between the whistle stop and the
main house shall be reflected and interpreted in the design of a future street and pathway
network.” - “Designated heritage structures shall stand apart from new development, generally by at least 5 metres, to reinforce their cultural significance. Landscaping that recalls their historic
- significance shall be encouraged.” (emphasis added)
- “A future street and pathway network in the area shall include a continuous public connection
for pedestrians and cyclists from the Heritage Trail to John Street East, via the Whistle Stop.”
(emphasis added) - “Existing mature trees and hedges at the edges of existing residential properties shall be
maintained and enhanced.” - New residential construction must be “in keeping with the scale, massing and character of
existing historic houses.” - “All new housing shall minimize adverse impacts on cultural heritage features”. (emphasis
added) - “The visual impact of front garages and driveways shall be minimized.”
- “Front yard setbacks for new development shall be a minimum of 4 metres from the sidewalk.”
- “At least 50% of the front yards of new development shall comprise soft landscaping”.
- New roads and pathways “should be as narrow as possible where they travel through existing
stands of trees. The roadway should be no wider than 6 metres.” (emphasis added) - “The three common open space areas to be built [on 200 John and 588 Charlotte] in
conjunction with a future neighbourhood in the Residential area are intended to interpret and
celebrate features of the former Rand Estate…In addition to containing restored heritage
features, such as the pool gardens, bath house, sheds, and the whistle stop gazebo, these open
spaces should include seating, and the western one should have trees planted in a manner that
recalls the former estate’s hobby farm…The open space containing the pool gardens should be
planted with species used by the Dunington-Grubbs.” (emphasis added)
The Character Area study represents over a year’s worth of work on the part of two highly respected
consulting firms and an investment of close to $100,000 by the Town. SORE believes that the conclusions and recommendations in the Study are entirely sound and appropriate for the most
important heritage estate property in Old Town, one that the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
recently called “provincially significant”.
The Study builds on the tour de force 850-page heritage report by Town heritage planner Denise Horne that was accepted by Council at its special meeting in April attended by hundreds of NOTL residents. We applaud the Study’s call for a pedestrian walkway connecting John Street East and the Commons to the Heritage Trail at the Whistle Stop, in order to give the public access to this extremely important cultural heritage estate.
Our assessment is that the proposed Marotta subdivision in front of the OLT, which seeks to jam as
many residential units as possible onto this site, cannot be said to remotely reflect the guidance
provided to the Town in this Study. We further believe that the OLT, which is required to consider the
“best evidence” in making its decision, will give great weight to the Study. We hope that Council will
pay careful attention to the Study’s conclusions and recommendations when considering the Town’s
position opposite the upcoming OLT hearing.