Wellington Heritage Conservation District

Wellington Heritage Conservation District Plan receives final approval from Ontario Land Tribunal

The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) approved the Wellington Heritage Conservation District Plan in Fall 2024.

The plan is now available to view on the municipal website.

What is a Heritage Conservation District?

A Heritage Conservation District (HCD) is an area of special character, combining buildings, landscape features, and their settings that, together, make up a district that has an identifiably distinct “sense of place”. HCD designation is a tool that Ontario municipalities have for managing change in beneficial ways. Designation allows the County to manage change within the District in ways that will conserve and enhance District character. Designation also celebrates what is special about the District, building community pride and encouraging compatible improvements to both public and private properties. Proposed changes of a major sort are regulated by the County, using policies and guidelines produced as part of the District Plan.

Project Background - The Wellington HCD Study:

The Wellington HCD Plan is formed based on the findings of the Wellington HCD Study which began in October 2019. For the study, heritage planning consultants Bray Heritage assessed Wellington's eligibility for an HCD designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. The consultants worked closely with the County for the Wellington study, conducting interviews and discussing with municipal staff, members of Council, the Prince Edward Heritage Advisory Committee, and multiple residents. Through the study, they found that Wellington met the criteria and recommended that Council proceed with the development of a plan to implement the HCD designation.

In May 2021, Council adopted the study recommendations and directed staff to work with Bray Heritage to prepare an HCD Plan that would lay out the policies and guidelines for the study area in Wellington. Documents and information regarding the study can be found here.

Previously, Council approved the HCD Designation for Picton Main Street in 2013 which came into effect following the Ontario Municipal Board decision in 2015.