How the Queen's Park Heritage Conservation Area was Developed
The recommendation to establish the Queen’s Park Heritage Conservation Area came out of the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study which began in 2013. Council endorsed the Queen’s Park Heritage Control Period in June of 2016 to explore implementation of the policy. The temporary control period included community consultation, and policy and design guideline development. The Queen’s Park Heritage Conservation Area was officially adopted by Council in June 2017. In October 2017, Council endorsed a two-year Implementation Program which would include regulation development and further studies. A complete timeline and further information about the Neighbourhood Heritage Study and the process to develop the Heritage Conservation Area is below.
Click here to view the Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw which brought the Heritage Conservation Area into effect.
May 2013: Council received a delegation from representatives of the New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society and the Queen's Park Residents' Association, identifying concerns about the loss of historic houses in the neighbourhood. Council requested an exploration into heritage conservation options for the area.
November 2013: Council endorsed the creation of a Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study. The Heritage Study’s goal was to explore options to support heritage conservation in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood.
January 2014: Council endorsed the Purpose, Terms of Reference, and Membership of the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Working Group, a taskforce of 12 neighbourhood residents who directed the study.
April 2016: The Study’s final recommendations were provided to Council. Stemming from the two year study, the Working Group suggested that:
- Council consider the creation of a Heritage Conservation Area for the Queen’s Park neighbourhood,
- The consultation process for a Heritage Conservation Area be undertaken during a one year Heritage Control Period,
- A photograph inventory of all publicly visible buildings be taken, and
- The Queen’s Park Historic District design guidelines be updated.
May 2016: Council endorsed the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation Area Review work plan, directing staff to begin a consultation process in the neighbourhood regarding the implementation of a Heritage Conservation Area.
June 2016: A one year temporary Heritage Control Period was established on June 16, 2016. The Control Period Bylaw authorizes the City to reject demolition and renovation applications through a specified review process. The purpose of the Heritage Control Period was to allow the City time to investigate Heritage Conservation Area policy and consult with the community on implementation.
June –August 2016: The photographic inventory, recommended by the Heritage Study, was completed.
November- December 2016: Community consultation took place regarding the implementation of a Heritage Conservation Area for the Queen’s Park neighbourhood. The consultation phase included meetings with stakeholder groups and a series of public open houses.
March 2017: Community consultation was completed regarding the provisions of a draft heritage protection policy and mandatory design guidelines for properties in the Queen's Park neighbourhood.May 2017: Council consideration of a Heritage Conservation Area.
June 2017: Council adoption of the Queen’s Park Heritage Conservation Area
October 2017: Council endorsement of the Implementation Program’s Two Year Work Program.
Two rounds of public consultation were held as part of the Conservation Area Review, one from November to December 2016 and one in March 2017. Both consultation phases included open houses, an online survey and a series of targeted stakeholder workshops. A description and timeline of work undertaken as part of this project are detailed in the Heritage Conservation Area Work Plan and past public consultation materials are available below.
The City hired two consultant teams to aid the policy development process: a community consultation consultant, Dialog Design; and a design team, Donald Luxton and Associates and PWL Landscape Architects. Their reports can be found as attachments to the relevant Council reports below.
Community Newsletter #2 (After Adoption)
Community Newsletter #1 (Prior to Public Hearing)
October 16, 2017 - Council endorsement of the Implementation Program's Two Year Work Plan
June 13, 2017 - Council Consideration of Third Reading and Adoption
June 13, 2017 – Public Hearing
May 15, 2017 – Council Consideration of First and Second Reading
May 9, 2017 - Advisory Planning Commission Meeting (Final)
May 8, 2017 - Design Guidelines Final Draft (Report to Council)
May 8, 2017 - Proposed Approach to Address Potential Impacts to Protected Properties (On-table Report to Council)
May 3, 2017 - Community Heritage Commission Meeting (Administrative Policy)
May 1, 2017 – Final Policy Draft and Administrative Policy (Report to Council)
April 24, 2017 – Additional Information Following Public Feedback (Open Council Workshop)
April 10, 2017 - Round 2 Public Consultation: Report Back (Report to Council)
April 8, 2017 - Presentation to the Queen's Park Residents' Association
April 5, 2017 - Community Heritage Commission Meeting (Policy for endorsement)
March 28, 2017 - New Westminster Design Panel (Final)
March 21, 2017 - Advisory Planning Commission Meeting (Preliminary)
March 8 & 11, 2017 - Public Open Houses (Boards)
March 6, 2017 - Draft Design Guidelines for use in Community Consultation (Report to Council)
March 1, 2017 - Community Heritage Commission Meeting (Design Guidelines)
February 20, 2017 - Proposed Policy Structure (Report to Council)
February 20, 2017 - Regional Stakeholder Consultation (Report to Council)
February 19, 2017 - Presentation to Queen's Park Residents' Association
January 30, 2017 - Round 1 Public Consultation: Report Back (Report to Council)
January 24 - New Westminster Design Panel (Preliminary)
November 30 & December 3, 2016 - Public Open Houses (Boards)
November 28, 2016 - Draft Design Guideline Principles, and Discussion on Possible Degrees of Conservation (Report to Council)
November 28, 2016 - Degrees of Conservation (Presentation)
November 6, 2017 - Presentation with Working Group members to the Queen's Park Residents' Association
October 17, 2016 - Queen's Park Heritage Conservation Area and Control Period: Work Plan and Related Terms of Reference (Report to Council)
May-September, 2016 - Photographic Inventory underway
April 25, 2016 – Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study: Final Recommendations
The purpose of the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study was to examine various ways to retain and enhance the neighbourhood’s character. It began in 2013 and was completed in 2016 with final recommendations to Council. Below you can find Council reports, newsletters, and consultation materials that document the progress of the Study.
The Study was informed by research tasks and neighbourhood consultation, conducted by a Working Group of local residents. More information about the Working Group is available in the next dropdown.
Reports to Council
April 25, 2016 – Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Final Recommendations
January 11, 2016 – “Speak Up About Heritage” Consultation Event Report Back
November 16, 2015 – Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Draft Principles and Strategies
July 13, 2015 – May 28, 2015, Public Open House Report Back
April 27, 2015 – Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Update (nearing completion)
December 8, 2014 – Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Update (study mid-point)
May 12, 2014 – Members Appointed to the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Working Group
January 13, 2014 – Purpose, Terms of Reference, and Membership of the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Working Group
November 4, 2013 – Work Plan for the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study
Newsletters
Newsletter #3 | Newsletter #2 | Newsletter #1
Open House Materials
November 21, 2015: Speak Up About Heritage Open House
May 28, 2015: Open House
March 6, 2014: Open House
October 29, 2014: Open House
Residential Feedback Survey
In January 2015, as an element of the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study, the Working Group commissioned a 15 questions survey for residents of the neighbourhood, in order to gather more information from the community. Click here to view the questions and survey results.
In 2014, City Council endorsed the purpose, terms of reference, and membership of the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Working Group.
Click here to view the Working Group's Terms of Reference (updated February 2017).
The Working Group consisted of:
- the Chair of the New Westminster Community Heritage Commission;
- two members recommended by the Queen's Park Residents' Association;
- two members recommended by the New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society; and,
- eight residents from the Queen's Park neighbourhood (appointed by City Council).
The Queen's Park residents and property owners were selected from interested individuals who represented a variety of circumstances, such as the age of the house, property size, and interest in the built environment, as well as potentially those with real estate or development experience.
All members of the Working Group were confirmed by Council. The Chair of the Working Group was the Chair of the Heritage Commission, Councillor Jaimie McEvoy. At the first meeting, the Working Group identified a Vice-Chair, David Brett.
Terms of reference for the second term of the Working Group, which outlined their involvement in the Heritage Conservation Area Review was endorsed by Council on October 17, 2016. The Working Group's final meeting was held in July 2017.
Meeting Schedule and Agendas
The Working Group's final meeting was July 2017.
2017 Working Group Meetings
January 10, 2017 February 7, 2017 Agenda Package March 7, 2017 Agenda Package March 29, 2017 Agenda Package May 2, 2017 Agenda Package June 6, 2017 Cancelled July 18, 2017 Agenda Package August 8, 2017 Cancelled 2016 Working Group Meetings
January 21, 2016 June 21, 2016 Agenda Package October 4, 2016 Agenda Package November 15, 2016 Agenda Package December 6, 2016 Agenda Package 2015 Working Group Meetings
January 22, 2015 Agenda Package February 26, 2015 Agenda Package March 26, 2015 Agenda Package April 23, 2015 Agenda Package May 28, 2015 Open House June 25, 2015 Agenda Package July 23, 2015 Agenda Package August 27, 2015 Agenda Package September 24, 2015 Agenda Package October 22, 2015 Agenda Package 2014 Working Group Meetings
May 22, 2014 Agenda Package June 26, 2014 Agenda Package July 24, 2014 Agenda Package September 4, 2014 Agenda Package September 25, 2014 Agenda Package October 23, 2014 Agenda Package November 27, 2014 Agenda Package The exploration of, and consultation for, the potential Heritage Conservation Area in the Queen's Park neighbourhood was undertaken during a temporary, one year, Heritage Control Period. Houses built before 1967 in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood were subject to the Control Period from June 2016 to June 2017. The purpose of the Control Period was to minimize the loss of houses and street character while the City explored the option of a Queen’s Park Heritage Conservation Area.
While the Control Period was in place, the City was authorized to reject applications for demolition, exterior renovations, or new builds. Heritage Alteration Permit applications were reviewed by City staff, a Technical Review Panel, and by the Community Heritage Commission (CHC). Their recommendations were used by Council, or the Director of Development Services, in their consideration of the application.
Reports to CouncilOctober 17, 2016 – Queen's Park Heritage Conservation Area and Control Period: Work Plan and Related Terms of ReferenceSeptember 19, 2016 – Queen's Park Heritage Control Period: Clarification of Scope and Process
August 29, 2016 – Consideration of Heritage Alteration Permit Applications during the Heritage Control Period in the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood
July 4, 2016 – Heritage Control Period Administrative Policy
June 13, 2016 – Heritage Control Period Bylaw and Heritage Alteration Permit Procedures Bylaw - For Three Readings
April 25, 2016 – Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study Final Recommendations
Stemming from the Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Heritage Study recommendations, City staff conducted a photographic inventory of all the publicly visible buildings and landscapes in the neighbourhood. These photographs provided valuable documentation of the distinctive character of Queen’s Park’s. The information gathered throughout this process assisted the City in updating the Queen’s Park Design Guidelines for new buildings.