Council has had its first look at plans for the new 8,500-square-foot Hillsburgh library located on Station Street next to the mill pond.
Wellington County planner Sarah Wilhelm presented a planning impact statement, which included an overview of the location, to council at a public meeting on July 12.
The county is looking to re-zone the property, which they purchased in the fall of 2015, from residential to industrial to permit the library.
The two-acre parcel also includes the adjacent mill pond, but the pond is not part of the rezoning bylaw amendment application.
“We’re looking to double or more than double the current branch,” said Wilhelm.
“It is considered undersized and as part of the full rejuvenation of the county library system, this is one of the branches that we’re looking at redoing.”
The concept plan includes an addition of 7,050 square feet, the addition of two patio areas, the existing patio and a 29-space parking lot. The existing pool and garage are slated for demolition.
The site concept plan is all that was revealed at the meeting – the potential design is yet to come.
“Exterior design, I’m afraid that I can’t share any details about that, but we will obviously be continuing to evolve in the design and have that available at the site plan stage,” said Wilhelm.
The house is not designated under the heritage act, but it is listed on the town’s heritage inventory. The inventory identified features of note including the house’s open veranda, soffit details, rounded windows unique to the area, stone window work, quoining, stained glass window and a two-storey bay window projection.
Wilhelm noted the county is planning to retain the dwelling and the heritage features of note as part of the library development.
“Having this heritage building in public hands will help protect it and ensure that it will be protected over time,” she said.
Mill pond
The library property includes the adjacent mill pond, however the dam and bridge are owned by the town. Those structures are currently undergoing an environment assessment.
“The county will continue to follow that process and consider any potential impact on the library development,” said Wilhelm.
“The plan for the pond at present – well, essentially we want to keep it as it (is).”
Traffic study
The county undertook a traffic impact study for the property.
Some of the recommendations included relocating the driveway of the parking lot to the curve in Station Street and reducing vegetation to improve visibility.
The report also recommended sidewalk improvements.
“They’re very deteriorated,” said Wilhelm.
Public concerns
Three members of the public spoke up at the meeting.
Former mayor Rod Finnie thought it was a “wonderful proposal” but he is concerned about the location of the driveway and its impact on traffic.
Pauline Fowlett raised her concern about the deteriorated sidewalks.
“If people are going to travel from the downtown area, all the sidewalks are going to need to be replaced from Trafalgar Road straight through to the facility,” she said.
Mayor Allan Alls joked, “I was going to comment that the sidewalks are the Erin standard.”
He added he knows the town has “a lot to do in the sidewalk area.”
Martin Rudd, an Erin environmental and sustainability advisory committee member, said he thinks the parking lot is too large for the area. He added he would like to see the garage kept rather than demolished and would like to see the building sustainable.
Council questions
Councillor John Brennan was also concerned with the driveway, citing the sharp right turn as an issue.
“We need to have a conversation with (the engineer) on how to best configure that entrance,” said Wilhelm.
Councillor Matt Sammut said it is going to be “quite a facility for Hillsburgh” but asked what the normal size was for a library.
“The minimum requirement for a library in this community is said to be about 5,000 square feet – that’s minimum … (the) Puslinch library is about 5,800 square feet and frankly we found it to be a bit too small,” said Murray McCabe, chief librarian for the county.
Sammut also asked if the house was fully usable.
“The idea is to preserve the home as much as possible, but really to have a second floor will take away from the other features to add in the library,” replied McCabe.
Tara McLaughlin, of VG Architects, said the children’s area will potentially be located in the house.
“Having two floors would have to have stairs and elevators within that area and so we’re looking to have that as an open two-storey space within the existing heritage walls of the dwelling,” she said.
Sammut asked if the sidewalk reconstruction would be a county or town cost.
“I think you know the answer to that,” said Alls.
“Wouldn’t the county pay into a sidewalk fund like any other business?” asked councillor Rob Smith.
Wilhelm confirmed the county would meet town requirement like any other business.
The county will return to council after addressing concerns and outstanding issues to bring forward an amending bylaw.
