Heritage Conservation Districts

Downtown Heritage Conservation District

The fourth District as proposed by the Heritage Conservation District Study is currently underway. This project launched in January of 2026 and will look to implement an HCD in the downtown core of the Village of Stouffville. The District will stretch from Albert Street in the west to Stouffer Street in the east, capturing the commerical and industrial core of the Village. These lands are among the first to be developed in the Community following the first survey by David Gibson of the lands of Abraham Stouffer into village lots in 1826.

What is a Heritage Conservation District?

A heritage conservation district is a collection of heritage resources that have a special character or association. Once created, municipalities can manage and guide future change in the area through the adoption of a District Plan with policies and guidelines for conservation, protection, and enhancement of the area’s special character.

How is a Heritage Conservation District created?

The process to establish an HCD is carried out in two phases. The first phase in the HCD Study, which entails an analysis of the cultural heritage significance of the study area to determine if it, or a portion of it, should be considered for an HCD.

This work involves researching the development of Stouffville and inventorying the properties, streetscapes, and open spaces of the study area. This information is compiled into an HCD Study Report, which recommends a heritage conservation district boundary (if appropriate) for consideration by Whitchurch-Stouffville Council. This phase has been completed with the findings of the report being endorsed by Council at the May 18^th, 2022 Council Meeting.

The second phase of an HCD project is the creation of Plan and Designation By-laws for each of the HCDs. These documents provide a policy framework for changes within the HCDs. Currently, the Town has three designated HCDs with supporting plans. The fourth district, covering the downtown area from Albert Street to Stouffer Street is currently underway.

Three Heritage Conservation Districts have previously been Designated

The Town has completed the designation of three Heritage Conservation Districts (HCD) under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act as of June 5, 2024. These districts generally encompass the residential expansions of Stouffville after the arrival of the railway in 1871 into the first quarter of the 20^th Century. These three districts include:

• Church Street/Village Centre North
• O’Brien Avenue/Village Centre South
• West Main Street/Stouffville Junction

Each of these districts has an associated Plan and Designation By-law which can be found in the sidebar, while the map below shows their locations. The Plans provide policies and guidelines to guide change in the HCDs in a way that will protect and enhance the existing heritage resources.

Please feel free to reach out to staff if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.