Markham uses the following policies and legislation to protect our heritage resources:
Heritage Conservation District Plans (See "Heritage Districts")
Markham incorporates heritage conservation into land use planning through the Markham Official Plan. This document reflects the community’s vision for change and growth, and sets out goals and objectives for land use and development. The heritage policies in the official plan provide direction for the protection of Markham’s cultural heritage resources.
Official Plan Extract: Heritage Policy [PDF]
The Ontario Heritage Act Legislation is available through the Ministry of Culture website.
The Act provides the policy framework for the protection of heritage properties, including archaeological sites. It defines the municipal and provincial roles in heritage conservation, including the role of two provincial agencies: the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Conservation Review Board.
Relevant sections of the Act include:
Conservation Principles - Ministry of Culture [PDF]
Markham strives to implement the policy of the Ministry of Culture for heritage properties. The guiding principles for the conservation of built heritage properties and are based on international charters which have been established over the century. These principles provide the basis for all decisions concerning good practice in heritage conservation around the world.
Markham understands that good land use planning includes the use of the Planning Act to help protect and conserve our local heritage resources. Markham ensures that our cultural heritage resources are given proper consideration in the planning process. We achieve this objective by:
The Planning Act requires that decisions affecting planning matters that commenced on or after March 1, 2005 “shall be consistent with” the Provincial Policy Statement.
Section 2.6 of the Provincial Policy Statement [PDF] identifies the conservation of built heritage, cultural heritage landscapes and archaeological resources as provincial priorities for land use planning. When considering alterations to properties of cultural heritage value or interest, Markham is generally guided by the following policies and principles:
Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada
Developed collaboratively by federal, provincial, territorial and local governments, the above document provides sound and practical guidance to those involved in the conservation process.