Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - 2 Valleyanna Drive

Originally the gatehouse to Dr Herbert Alexander Bruce's "Annandale" estate, which served as the physical and visual entryway to his 100-acre property, the building was designed by renowned architect Eden Smith in 1920-21, and is situated on a rectangular-shaped portion of the property fronting Bayview Avenue. In 1956-7, after Valleyanna Drive was created, the gatehouse, then called "Uplands," was sold to Frederick E. Fletcher and his wife, Barbara Jean Fletcher, who converted the building for residential use. The adaptive reuse involved conceptually re-orienting the converted gatehouse to the quieter residential street of Valleyanna Drive by filling in the original carriageway and introducing the front entrance on the east elevation. It also involved conducting interior alterations and adding the octagonal dining room wing at the northeast end of the property, which created its present L-shape plan. Following research and evaluation undertaken according to Ontario Regulation 9/06, the provincial criteria prescribed for municipal designation, it has been determined that the property at 2 Valleyanna Drive merits designation under Part IV Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its design and physical, historical and associative, and contextual value. An application was made to amend the Zoning By-law for the property at 2 Valleyanna Drive to permit a three-storey residential addition containing 4 units, retaining and converting the existing gatehouse into a three-bedroom dwelling within the proposed development. A Preliminary Report on the application was adopted by North York Community Council on September 10, 2020 authorizing staff to conduct a community consultation meeting. The applicant appealed the Zoning By-law Amendment application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) (previously the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal or LPAT) on March 30, 2021. Properties on the Heritage Register will be conserved and maintained in accordance with the Official Plan Heritage Policies. Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations for the property, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.

3. If there are objections in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council direct the City Clerk to refer the designation to the Conservation Review Board. 4. If the designation is referred to the Conservation Review Board, City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate staff to attend any hearing held by the Conservation Review Board in support of Council's decision to designate the property.