Town of Richmond Hill
January 30, 2008

Richmond Hill Council moves to protect additional David Dunlap Observatory features

Cultural Landscape Heritage and Key Heritage Attributes Added to Designation

At its meeting on Monday, January 28, Richmond Hill Council stated that the Town will undertake any necessary process to amend the description of heritage attributes of the David Dunlap Observatory lands within the designation process to include additional heritage attributes. This means that, in addition to those already identified, more features of the property could be protected.

In October 2007, Richmond Hill Council passed a resolution that all historical buildings on the property be recommended for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. The designation recognized the significance of the buildings and surrounding property and would provide
the Town with the ability to protect them. At that time, Council also requested that a Cultural Heritage Landscape Assessment Study be prepared for the site. That report was completed by Cultural Heritage Consultant Andre Scheinman and recommends that, in addition to those features listed on the current designation, additional heritage
attributes, including landscape features, be added.

Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow said, "Council has been committed from day one to take whatever steps it can to protect the community's interest. The consultant’s report and comprehensive inventory will give the Town a stronger tool that it can use to provide guidance to how changes can be managed and what should be protected if the property is
subject to development in the future.”

In order for the designation to come into effect, a process must be followed:

- including the Town publicly stating its intent to designate;

- a 30-day public notice period where objections can be filed with the Conservation Review Board; followed by a Conservation Review Board Hearing and recommendation; and a final decision made by Richmond Hill Council.

Two objections to the notice of intent have been filed and the Town awaits notice by the Conservation Review Board of the Hearing.

This amendment would mean that even more features of the property could be preserved. It is important to note that the designation does not mean that there would be no future development on the property, however, it does enable the Town to better manage the process and protect the identified heritage resources, as well as apply a sensitive approach to development activity.

The Town has already expressed its intention to consider bidding on Parcel B (the portions of the property where the Elvis Stojko Arena and Observatory Park are located). "We continue to reach out to other levels of government and actively pursue partners to purchase the property, however, we cannot do it on our own," added the Mayor.

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