Department of Community
& Development Services
Telephone (905) 468-3266
Facsimile (905) 468-0301

1593 Four Mile Creek Road
P.O. Box 100
Virgil, Ontario
L0S 1T0
Submitted on:
August 18, 2011
Report:CDS-11-071
Report To:Community & Development Advisory Committee
Subject:Virgil Elementary School Terms of Reference for an urban design
and land use policy study for the future redevelopment of the site

1. RECOMMENDATION
It is respectfully recommended that:
1.1 The attached draft Terms of Reference for Virgil Elementary School urban design guidelines be advertised, responding consultants considered and a consultant recommended to Council; and
1.2 That a copy of the report and the terms of reference by forwarded to the DSBN for their information.

2. PURPOSE / PROPOSAL
The purpose of this report is to approve Terms of Reference with respect to undertaking an urban design and land use policy study of the Virgil Elementary School and its lands to provide a framework for decision making related to future use(s) and redevelopment of the school and its lands.

3. BACKGROUND
In July 2011, Council approved a report recommending that Staff develop terms of reference to undertake an urban design and land use policy study for the future redevelopment of the Virgil Elementary School and lands.

Virgil Elementary School was declared surplus by the DSBN on June 28, 2011. The lands have been offered to public agencies first and public agencies have 90 days to respond to the DSBN. Should a public agency be interested in acquiring a site(s), the DSBN would enter into purchase and sale negotiations with the respective public agency. Should there be no public agencies interested in acquiring a site, then the lands will be offered for sale to the general public and the DSBN will enter into purchase and sale agreements with private individuals/corporations at that time.

Depending on the nature of potential redevelopment of the site, it is anticipated that planning applications will be required to provide for future reuse of the property. The current zoning in place for the property reflects its traditional use as a school.

Virgil Elementary School is located in the urban area of Virgil and is strategically located adjacent to the core area of Virgil, adjacent to existing commercial uses, urban residential uses and a historical cemetery. The lands are designated Open Space Community Facilities in the Town Official Plan and zoned Institutional (I) Zone in Zoning By-law 4316-09 as amended, which permits a school, church or religious institution, cemetery, government office, arena, park, ambulance detachment, library, day care centre and a secondary dwelling. Virgil Elementary School represents challenges with respect to the potential impact redevelopment may have, both on the existing school building and on adjacent lands.

While the Official Plan has goals that encourage appropriate, creative and economically viable uses of heritage resources and encourages the preservation of buildings and sites with historical and architectural value, it does not provide specific guidance with respect to potential reuse of Virgil Elementary School other than Low Density Residential Use.

4. DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS
Virgil Elementary School is located in the urban area of Virgil and is strategically located in proximity to the core area of Virgil. In addition to the current transition in uses, the property is also undergoing a process of heritage designation, specifically for the original school building. Documentary evidence indicates that there has been a school on the land since at least 1845 and possibly as early as 1829. The original one room stone school that is still part of the school complex today was build in 1872. The original stone building, at the time of its closing in 2011, one of the oldest school buildings in continuous use in Ontario, as such, the property and the one-room stone school are of long standing importance to the community. Through a separate heritage designation process it is proposed to designate the property and several important heritage attributes such as the original school building and some interior attributes from the original building for protection under the Heritage Act.

An urban design and land use analysis will provide a framework to evaluate planning applications and for Council to have a basis on which to make decisions with respect to future reuse and potential alternations to the school building and potential new uses on the lands, as well as provide a framework to establish an appropriate transition between adjacent land uses. This is a proactive approach that will result in a more refined future land use policy and urban design guidelines for the future reuse/redevelopment of Virgil Elementary School and lands.

5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The Planning Reserve has been targeted as the funding source for this project. Staff recommend an upset amount of $7,500.00 for this project.

6. COMMUNICATIONS
Once Council has approved the attached Terms of Reference, it will be advertised, qualified consultants will be interviewed, and staff will recommend a consultant to Council to undertake the study.

7. CONCLUSION
Based on input from Council, staff has prepared a draft Terms of Reference for a qualified consultant who will do a land use analysis of the surrounding area, conduct a workshop with residents, and provide some urban design principles to help guide the future redevelopment of Virgil Elementary School and lands.



Written by,


Cheryl Selig, MCIP, RPP
Planner III

Respectfully submitted,



Barbara Wiens, MCIP, RPP
Principal Planner




Will Walker
Director of Community & Development Services (I)





Mike Galloway
Chief Administrative Officer


ATTACHMENTS
Virgil School ToR.doc Virgil School ToR.doc


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