Frequently Asked Questions

Designation is a way for property owners and the community to protect and promote awareness of local history. The Ontario Heritage Act enables municipalities to designate properties of cultural heritage value or interest through a by-law. Designation can apply to individual properties or a neighbourhood or district. Generally, if a property or district is designated, it gains public recognition and protection from demolition or unsympathetic alteration, so cultural heritage value is conserved.

An HCD is a geographical area that features a community’s unique identity, giving it character and a sense of place. These defined areas are protected under municipal by-laws passed by Council under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. An HCD may be defined by the buildings in the district and how they are connected to the history of a community’s development, as well as features like trees, landscapes, roads, and even local events and traditions. The Ontario Heritage Act is special legislation which allows district designation to protect a community’s character-defining elements while at the same time providing detailed guidance for redevelopment that occurs over time.

To guide change in a community, it is important to identify and protect the places in a community that have cultural heritage value. An HCD ensures that changes in the area are guided by clear planning and permit application process that conserves a community’s heritage character, even as change and development occur. 

To learn more about the benefits of having a Heritage Designation, visit: https://lincoln.ca/heritage-culture/heritage-properties/benefits-heritage-designation

The Town of Lincoln is experiencing considerable growth. Beamsville has been recognized as an area of special interest with architectural, cultural, and historical value that may warrant protection, especially along King Street, as this area contains the highest concentration of properties of interest. The Town wants to know if the area should be designated as a Heritage Conservation District to preserve the heritage attributes and guide future planning decisions. The Town has identified that this is the best time to plan before more growth and change happens, not after. In addition to this area in Beamsville, the study will include a cursory review of the Town as a whole to identify the potential for future additional studies in different locations.  

An HCD Plan for Beamsville can encourage better design for new construction while maintaining a sense of cohesion in the district. The HCD will ensure that future developments, renovations, and restorations in the boundary will complement the district's character. It only takes a few incompatible developments to detract from the area's character. The HCD can generate tourism and enhance Beamsville's identity, pride, and civic involvement.  

You can make changes to a property within an HCD; however, a heritage permit may be required depending on the type of change. For example, any significant change to the public face of your property (i.e. the street-facing front, sides and rear, but usually not the rear). In other words, proposed major changes to a property in the district would be regulated by the Town using the policies and guidelines in the HCD Plan. Routine maintenance, minor repairs, changes to the interior, planting flowers, trees etc., generally do not require a heritage permit.  

Property owners are not required to restore their designated properties to their original appearance or to remove any alterations or additions to the property. The policies and guidelines of the HCD Plan will direct property owners on appropriate changes to their properties while ensuring demolition, alterations, and new construction are subject to the HCD Plan policies and guidelines set to preserve the district's character.

Studies by The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario indicate that real estate sales values in HCDs generally rise more consistently than in surrounding areas. In addition, being in an HCD will not directly cause property taxes to increase. Property taxes increase when the assessed value of a property increases.

The HCD Study will be provided to the Town of Lincoln Council, who will vote on whether to move forward in the HCD Plan stage. The HCD Plan is prepared under a different scope of work and in consultation with the public and property owners.

At the HCD Study stage, the project team may identify contributing properties that have special historical, aesthetic or architectural value in the HCD study area.  Should Council decide to move to the HCD Plan phase, unique policies and guidelines will be developed for properties that contribute to the heritage character of the King Street Corridor. Similarly, different policies and guidelines will be developed for non-contributing properties.