Heritage Planning in British Columbia and Canada

Heritage Planning in Canada
Pitt Meadows is participating in the national Historic Places Initiative, which is a multi-phased program aimed at conserving and celebrating Canada's historic places. The centerpiece of the initiative is the Canadian Register of Historic Places allowing heritage sites from across Canada to be listed and viewable on a single on-line register. Other components include a new standard for the renovation of heritage buildings, certification program for building renovations and federal financial incentives.

More information about the Heritage Places Initiative and Pitt Meadows' nationally recognized heritage sites is available at the following Parks Canada links:
Introduction: Canada's Historic Places Initiative
Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places
Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive Fund
Canadian Register of Historic Places

Heritage Planning in British Columbia
As other British Columbia cities, Pitt Meadows Council is empowered to undertake heritage conservation under the Local Government Act. This legislation provides a "toolkit" for heritage planning, some of which include:
Heritage Inspections - The City can give notice for a property to be visually inspected to determine if it has heritage significance.
Heritage Impact Assessments - Owner or developers can be required to provide information prior to development about the heritage significance of a site or building, and how to maintain heritage character.
Temporary Heritage Protection - A by-law or order by Council can prevent or suspend work on a heritage site or building, to allow for time to discuss the effects of the work and consider recognition or protection.
Recognition of Heritage - Heritage sites and roads can be recognized by the placement of plaques and signs.
Listing of Heritage Places - By resolution, Council may list properties with have heritage value or heritage character on a Community Heritage Register.
Voluntary Heritage Protection - A property owner and the City can agree about how a heritage property or building is to be maintained and regulations such as zoning can be varied to accommodate continued or adaptive uses while giving flexibility for sensitive and profitable development.
Council-initiated Heritage Protection - Through By-laws, Council can designate properties so that works like interior or exterior alteration, landscaping or moving of buildings be subject to guidelines and review before undertaken.
City Financial and Non-financial Incentives - Sites having voluntary or Council protection may be eligible for City property tax reductions, and relaxation of code requirements to accommodate long-term preservation of protected properties.
Under the Land Title Act, the following tool is available:
Heritage Conservation Covenants - A property owner and Council or the Commission may have a legal agreement concerning the conservation of a natural or man-made heritage resource attached to the title of the property.
More information is available in the publication Heritage Conservation: A Community Guide .

Heritage Planning & Conservation Links
The following links provide further information about heritage planning and heritage conservation: Canada Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Canada Foundation is a national, membership-based organization and registered charity established in 1973. www.heritagebc.ca Information is available about publications and resources for heritage property owners, including insurance for heritage buildings. Pitt Meadows Museum and Archives
Information about the museum, events and archival resources.
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals CAHP is a national organization of qualified heritage practitioners that demonstrates and promotes excellence, develops and advocates standards, reaches out to allied organizations and provides services for the betterment of its members. Ontario Heritage Took Kit Although this is designed specifically in relation to the Ontario's legislation, particularly in relation to the Historic Places Initiative.

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Heritage Planning in British Columbia and Canada

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