Niagara-on-the-Lake Estate Lots Study

The Old Town part of Niagara-on-the-Lake has an established reputation as one of Canada’s most attractive communities, a reputation based largely upon the beauty of its historic buildings and landscapes. However, this valued physical setting has not been supported by adequate heritage planning policies and there have been several instances of insensitive infill development. Much of this development involved infill on so-called “estate lots”, many of which were properties originally constructed as summer homes for wealthy American owners. Since then, these large estates had come under increasing development pressure due to changes in market demand and rising property values. In response to these pressures, the Town had been relying on a 1980s study of estate lots to guide development but this approach had been shown to be inadequate in withstanding challenges by property owners. Bray Heritage, with Letourneau Heritage Consulting Inc., was retained to provide an assessment of this estate lot study and to recommend strategies for addressing development pressures on these larger lots. Using a combination of historical research, site analysis and policy review, the Estate Lots Study provided the Town with strategies and draft policies for strengthening their heritage planning process. And as a contribution to an update of the Town’s Official Plan, the Study has led to further recommendations for amendments to the Town’s Official Plan in order to provide a clear and robust framework for cultural heritage resource conservation in Old Town and in the municipality as a whole.