Appendices

Farming Practices in North Gower

(Source: Design Group 2006)

Dairy cattle and port or cash crops

• Droogh Farm, Fourth Line Road
• Seabrook Farm, Church Street

Beef cattle, chickens and cash crops

• Cowell Farm, Fourth Line Road

Cash crops (e.g. cattle corn, soy bean, wheat, barley, alfalfa & timothy hay)

• Freeman Farm, Fourth Line Road
• McEwen Farm, Prince of Wales Drive
• Pratt Farm, Third Line Road
• Seabrook Farm, Roger Stevens Drive
• Stratton Farm, Prince of Wales Drive
• Williams Farm, Roger Stevens Drive

Riding horses

• Craig House Farm, Craig Street
• Quantum Farm, Third Line Road

Strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins

• Shar-way Berry Farm, Prince of Wales Drive

Market garden produce

• Cava’s Organic Farm, Roger Stevens Drive
• Colonial Fruit Farm, Prince of Wales
• Rideau Pine Farms, Fourth Line Road

Heritage Reference List and Designated Buildings in North Gower

This information represents an inventory of potential heritage resources as carried out in the former Rideau Township. “IV” indicates those buildings that have been designated through Part IV of the Heritage Act.

• 1125 Church Street - Listed
• 2332 Church Street - Listed
• 2334 Church Street - Listed
• 2340 Church Street - Listed
• 2343 Church Street - Listed
• 2347 Church Street - Listed
• 2352 Church Street - Listed
• 2359 Church Street - Listed
• 2367 Church Street - Listed
• 2368 Church Street - Listed
• 2371 Church Street - Listed
• 2372 Church Street - Listed
• 2376 Church Street - Listed
• 2377 Church Street - Listed
• 2378 Church Street - Listed
• 2381 Church Street - Listed
• 2391 Church Street - Listed
• 6295 Fourth Line Road - IV - Listed
• 6463 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6472 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6475 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6566 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6576 Fourth Line Road - IV - Listed
• 6581 Fourth Line Road - IV - Listed
• 6583 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6584 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6586 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6593 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6594 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6599 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6606 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6607 Fourth Line Road - IV - Listed
• 6608 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6609 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6613 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6617 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6624 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6652 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6673 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6897 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 6981 Fourth Line Road - Listed
• 2300 James Craig Street - Listed
• 2273 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2310 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2313 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2320 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2323 Roger Stevens Drive - IV - Listed
• 2333 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2335 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2337 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2341 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2352 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2407 Roger Stevens Drive - Listed
• 2659 Roger Stevens Drive - IV - Listed

Municipal Park Inventory

Developed parks with facilities

• Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre 6.3 ha (15.6 ac)
• Meadowbrook Park 1.1 ha ( 2.8 ac)
• Horace Seabrook Park .2 ha(.5 ac)
• Edward Kidd Park .2 ha (5 ac)
• Cenotaph Park .01 ha (.02 ac)
• Four Corners Park .008 ha (.02 ac)
• Edward Craig Park 1.7 ha (4.1 ac)
• Bowling Alley

Parks (grass only)

• Craighurst Drive Park .5 ha (1.2 ac)
• Shell Star 1 Park 1.3 ha (3.2 ac)
• Lenida Drive Park .2 ha (.6 ac)
• Russvern Park .8 ha (2 ac)
• Farmstead Park 1.7 ha (4.2 ac)

North Gower Sidewalk and Storm Sewer Inventory

(Source: Design Group)

In general, sidewalks are available in most parts of the historic village and along the main streets, but not in the newer residential neighbourhoods. Sidewalks are built to varying standards, some being traditional poured concrete sidewalks with curbs and others being multi-purpose asphalt walks without curbs, and are presently in various states of repair (or disrepair) being largely ignored in recent years.

• From Main Street on Roger Stevens East, sidewalks go as far as 2311 on the north side (just before Co-op). On the south side, the sidewalk ends at 2320 and the storm sewer ends at 2316.
• From Main Street on Roger Stevens West, on the north side, sidewalk and storm sewer ends at 2363. On the south side, the sidewalk ends at Perkins Lumber. There is no sidewalk between Perkins Lumber and Centennial Town Hall.
• On Perkins Drive, from Roger Stevens, there is a sidewalk and storm sewer on the north and east sides. On the south and west sides of Perkins Drive, there is open ditch and creek for drainage.
• From Fourth Line Road on Church Street, there is a sidewalk and storm sewer on the north side to North Gower-Marlborough Public School. On the south side from Lenida Street east on Church Street, there is a sidewalk and storm sewer to Lenida Street west on Church Street.
• Carolin Court has no sidewalks and uses sub-drainage.
• On Main Street south from Roger Stevens, there are sidewalks and storm sewers to 6683 (Royal Bank) on the east side. On the west side, there are sidewalks to the old MTO lot.
• On Main Street north, there are sidewalks and storm sewers to Prince of Wales. From Prince of Wales and Main Street to the bowling alley, there is a sidewalk and storm sewer on the west side. Prince of Wales from Main Street to James Craig Street, there is a sidewalk and storm sewer on the south side. From James Craig Street there is a storm sewer and sidewalk on the east side for a short distance, but not as far as Michelangelo Court. On the west side, there is open drain to just north of the Cornerstone Wesleyan Church.
• On James Craig Street, there is a storm sewer but no sidewalk except from Andrew Street to Roger Stevens Drive on the west side.
• Community Way has no sidewalks but has sub-drains and open ditches.
• Willisbrook Drive has no sidewalks and uses open ditches.
• Recreational pathways (asphalt) link Meadowbrook subdivision to Edward Kidd Crescent and James Craig Street to Michelangelo Court.
• Unofficial paths on private property, but widely used by village residents, link Fourth Line Road to Union Cemetery and Craighurst Drive, and Maple Forest Estates to the Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility. Both of these are unmaintained dirt tracks made available for public use by the generosity of private landowners.

Village Centre – Residential and Commercial Descriptions

Residential Characteristics

Within the Village Centre, the streetscape in older residential areas has an informal character. Several factors combine to create the informal village character. Large lots with wide frontage allow for a driveway to the side of the house and a separate garage to the rear of the property. The typical site plan of residential lots displays evidence of the early multiple uses that were accommodated on a single lot, such as small barns, outbuildings and sheds. Landscaping features that are typical include informal hedges between properties, large trees such as spruce, pine and maple along the perimeter of the lot, and informal plantings of shrubs and perennials throughout the property. The house is subordinate to the landscape because of the size of the lot relative to the house and because of the visual impact of the mature vegetation.

This area features a mix of late 19th and early 20th century classically inspired, Gothic Revival-inspired or Queen Anne Revival-inspired houses. The classically inspired, side gable, 1 ½ storey house is symmetrical, generally horizontal in its proportions and has a gable centrally located over the front door. The Gothic Revival, front gable, 2 storey house is generally vertical in its proportions and has a steeply pitched roof. The Queen Anne Revival house is 2 ½ storeys in height and has a complicated roofline with multiple gables and bays. Porches with shed roofs are common to each of these building types.

Commercial Characteristics

Building types in heritage commercial areas have two general forms. The first is the domestic building form that has been adapted to commercial use, and is common on the Fourth Line north of Roger Stevens Drive. The second is the flat–roofed, usually one-storey building form. These flat-roofed buildings usually feature a decorative cornice or parapet. The architecture and site plan of both of these building forms reflect the late 19th century origins of the community; the buildings are close to the road, have a wide frontage, the driveways are to the side of the building and outbuildings are to the rear. Commercial use is frequently directly adjacent to residential use. Informal hedges provide a visual screen between uses. Porches with shed roofs are common in both of the above forms; the shed roof may function as an awning. Gravel parking lots are typical and contribute to the informal character of the typical commercial use building.

Description of Village Centre and Proposals

(prepared by Design Group as part of 2004 community plan)

The Village Centre

General Description

The Village Centre contains North Gower’s historic settlement, with many of its original houses still intact. It also encompasses historic Church Street and beautiful Perkins Drive along the shores of Stevens Creek. It is the Village Centre that most demonstrates North Gower’s unique character and heritage; it defines the village for its inhabitants and visitors alike, and shapes its identity. Growth of the village has tended to spread outward from the centre along the main roads in all directions, but development in vacant lands within the village has occurred to fill gaps in the village landscape in recent years. The Village Centre remains its social and commercial focus, fostering a vibrant village life both in the Centre and beyond.

Within the Village Centre several distinct areas may be identified each with its own character and design, all located geographically within the Centre but each contributing its own flavour to the whole. Collectively, they provide the village and its residents with the services and amenities needed to sustain day-to-day living and commercial operations. These areas are comprised of:

• Fourth Line Road
• Roger Stevens Drive
• Church Street
• Perkins Drive
• Andrew Street, James Craig Street & Prince of Wales Drive
• Community Way and the Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility

Within the Centre may be found the diversity of small-scale commercial activities, recreational facilities and mixed housing that defines North Gower as a vibrant rural community.

Objectives

The overall objective is to reinforce the separate and distinct functions of each of the areas of the Village Centre while building strong links between them and contributing a strong focus and sense of community.

The Village Centre should provide a unique identity for the village. It is the community’s gathering place, its social core, its commercial heart and the foundation of the village’s past, present and future.

Proposals

To: Enhance the visual impact of the area by modifications to the streetscape, which include placing services underground, improving sidewalks, and enhancing street planting and signage in a way which creates a consolidated character to the Village Centre;

• Encourage development of small businesses within the Village Centre and multi-purpose usage of existing or new buildings
• Encourage upkeep and enhancement of existing properties that have been designated through Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, by providing matching grants to property owners (refer to Appendix 2)
• Provide secure and convenient parking facilities throughout the core while facilitating and promoting safe pedestrian access, when there is a demonstrated need for these facilities or when opportunities arise for acquiring properties
• Facilitate development of multi-purpose, and multi-family residential units within the Village Centre
• Restore existing natural resources and develop parklands and a network of pedestrian routes both within the Village Centre and between the Centre and the remainder of the village.

Fourth Line Road North

General Description

This area is mainly a commercial district, mixed with private residences, some multiple-family housing and some public buildings. Businesses currently operating along this end of Fourth Line Road include hair salons, a restaurant, an auto service center, and an antique store; public buildings include the North Gower Branch of the Ottawa Public Library which is situated in the former township fire hall, the Rideau Archives housed in the former Town Hall, and the North Gower Bowling Alley. Historically, this was the main street and business sector for North Gower, but then and now, still has several residential buildings, making it a quaint balance of both. This area serves both incoming and outgoing traffic south towards Kemptville and north towards Richmond and Ottawa.

Objectives

This area is the village heart or center of the village. Visitors to the village form their opinions and memories of North Gower on the basis of their first impressions along this street. The long-term objectives of the plan in this area is to improve its visual impact and develop its potential as the “main street” in town, re-enforcing its heritage character and building on the strengths of the current streetscape.

Proposals

To:

• Encourage upkeep or improvement of existing buildings and landscapes in keeping with the heritage character of the older homes already present on the street.
• Re-develop the street to introduce landscaping features such as heritage lamp posts, hanging flower baskets in the summer, and seasonal flags or other decorative items at other times
• The street should be reconstructed to install underground wiring and services, re-design and re-surface sidewalks to encourage pedestrian use of the street; increased vegetation and tree planting, and signage directing visitors and locals to the Information Kiosk at the Bridge Street bridge.
• Encourage commercial development, multi-use buildings that provide housing and business opportunities, and provide off-street public parking, when required.
• Develop a multi-use pedestrian/cycle pathway along the footpath which currently runs across private land from the flashing light on Fourth Line to the Union Cemetery.

Fourth Line Road South

General Description

The southern corridor of the village extends less than one kilometre from the Village Centre. This area extends from the village’s only traffic light, intersects with historic Church Street at the United Church, includes a bridge that crosses historic Stevens Creek and then intersects Community Way which leads to the village’s major recreation area. Beyond this area are working livestock and grain farms. The community has supported a mix of light and heavy commercial enterprises in this area which include: a funeral home, automotive (sales/repair/gas) and heavy farm mechanical industries, a welding shop, variety store and gas station, hair stylists, a home-based renovation enterprise and a wine/beer making store. Intermingled with these businesses are residential homes including two pre-Confederation homesteads.

Objectives

This area has the capacity to support many small businesses (craft/flower shop, tea room, home-based businesses etc.) within walking distance of the Village Centre. The objective in this neighbourhood is to provide a multitude of services and amenities to meet the needs of all residents in the village, linking the Community Centre to adjacent residential neighbourhoods and the Village Centre by a network of pedestrian walkways.

This section of the Fourth Line Road also carries considerable heavy vehicular traffic en route to/from highway 416 and requires significant traffic route changes and signage to make it safe for pedestrians and visitors. An information kiosk sign (“?”) will direct visitors to an appropriate location to advertise the services available in and around the village.

Proposals

To ensure:

• Re-development studies and consultations with the community are undertaken for development proposals
• Appropriate signage directing visitors to a proposed Information Kiosk in the Village Centre
• Undertake traffic study (cars and trucks) along Fourth Line Road to assess current traffic situation to respond to residents’ concerns
• Safe pedestrian passage and linkages to the Village Centre and the Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility site
• Develop multi-use pedestrian/cycle pathways to connect to a village-wide system

Roger Stevens Drive East

General Description

The character area is the main arterial route from the Village Centre to the major four-lane highway (416) to the east of the village. The dominant use of this area is single family residential with two duplex residences. Small lot sizes (all residences on the north side of the street encroach on road allowance), excessive large truck traffic and infrastructure insufficiencies (e.g., storm sewers) are major constraints to the development of the area.

Objectives

The long term objectives for this area is to develop Roger Stevens Drive East as a people-friendly mixed residential and commercial use area and the main entrance route to the village from Highway 416. Potential commercial uses, such as an art gallery, bed and breakfast accommodation, flower shop etc., in combination with single family and multiple family housing units are envisioned.

Proposals

To: Review the Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility Master Plan and ensure acquisition of lands in accordance with results of the review as opportunity arises

• Pursue development of a corridor of public property with carefully designed, well-lit pedestrian pathways along Stevens Creek, connecting this street with the Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility site to the south, Fourth Line Road at the Stevens Creek bridge to the east and the residences on Michaelangelo Drive should be pursued as land becomes available
• Undertake traffic study along Fourth Line Road to assess current traffic situation to respond to residents’ concerns
• Provide secure and convenient parking facilities throughout the core while facilitating and promoting safe pedestrian access, when there is a demonstrated need for these facilities or when opportunities arise for acquiring properties

Roger Stevens Drive West

General Description

The area is highly diverse in its use with a lumber yard / builders retail centre which also represents a major employer in the village. Additionally, the fire station servicing the North Gower area is located in this block. Adjacent to the fire station is a former township building used by firemen and a senior citizens’ group. This building is currently in poor repair and its future is uncertain. Residential properties are interspersed on both the north and south sides of the street. Between the intersection with Perkins Drive and the entrance to the Craighurst Subdivision, the mix includes a seniors’ residence, weekly Farmers’ Market, a retail operation (Stevens Creek Country Market) and private residences. Roger Stevens Drive West is the major arterial route from Smiths Falls and the surrounding cottage /recreational areas. Accordingly a very high volume of traffic is experienced for daily commuters as well as the weekend cottagers particularly during the summer months.

Objectives

The objective for this area is to ensure that future development of the retail segment provides services/amenities that are beneficial to the residents of the community and encourage visitors to “stop and shop”. As the business of the existing lumber yard expands, it will outgrow its present location making relocation outside of the core area necessary. It is also apparent that relocation of the Fire Station from the current location is imminent due to restriction placed on it by the lack of available room for expansion. The combination of the two relocations will provide a valuable land resource within the core area the future use of which should be considered carefully.

Proposals

To:

• Provide appropriate signage for the proposed Information Kiosk
• Ensure safe pedestrian passage from the intersection with Fourth Line Road west to the North Gower Farmer’s Market
• Undertake traffic study (cars and trucks) to assess current traffic situation to address residents’ concerns
• Redesign the intersection of Roger Stevens Drive and Fourth Line Road to make it safer and more attractive, in keeping with its prominent position within the village.

Church Street

General Description

The Church Street area is comprised of residential single family homes, a few multiple family units, a public school (kindergarten to grade five), two churches, service providers, and other small commercial enterprises. The street itself is a collector for traffic from several subdivisions and dwellings for traffic en route to/from Prince of Wales Drive and Highway 416. The institutions periodically place heavy demands on street parking. The street receives moderate to heavy pedestrian traffic including many children. The dwellings along the street are typically late 19th-early 20th century architecture with front porches and gardens in the back. The churches date from the last quarter of the 19th century.

Objectives

The long term goals are to encourage the restoration and maintenance of the historic architecture and residential character of the street, promoting Church Street as a Heritage District and encouraging safe pedestrian access.

Proposals

To ensure:

• That this area has “heritage lighting” (perhaps with gas lights) which increases illumination, providing greater safety and protection, while enhancing the historic nature of the area.
• That pedestrian traffic is encouraged, rest areas (benches) and paths in associated green spaces will be constructed to compliment sidewalks.
• That the heritage character of the street is maintained by encouraging architecture/building styles for new structures or renovations that complement existing structures.
• Undertake traffic study along Church Street to assess current traffic situation to respond to residents’ concerns
• Protection of Stevens Creek in this area, including the development of green space and paths along its shores
• That the bridge at the easterly end of Church Street provides a suitable entry point for this historic neighbourhood.

Perkins Drive

General Description

Perkins Drive runs from Church Street to Roger Stevens Drive and is bounded on one side by single family homes. The Post Office is also prominent on the north side as well as the end bay of the North Gower Mall. Fronting Stevens Creek on the south side is Horace Seabrook Park and the Cenotaph. The predominant use is single family residential, while the Park is used mostly by seniors who enjoy the shuffle board and benches and mothers with young children who play on the swing set.

Objectives

The long term goal for this area is to restore the Stevens Creek shoreline and enhance Horace Seabrook Park so that it becomes a meeting place for villagers and a venue for both winter and summer functions.

Proposals

To ensure:

• Concerted efforts are undertaken to restore the creek and its shoreline to a healthy natural state, which facilitates its usefulness as a fish and wildlife habitat and a place of natural beauty
• Further develop the park through the addition of varied seating and playground equipment, additional lighting and signage
• Park facilities should be enhanced, through the addition of a small stage, bench seating, access to electricity and other facilities, to make it suitable for small fairs, outdoor art shows or musical and theatrical presentations
• A Village Information Kiosk should be installed at the corner of Perkins Drive and Church Street as a central place for local information and maps
• Residential use of the street should continue as primarily single family homes with no major changes.

Andrew Street, James Craig Street and Prince of Wales Drive

General Description

This area is currently a mixed-use neighbourhood with both commercial enterprises, such as a grocery store and a builder’s shop, and a mix of housing which includes some unique heritage homes built in North Gower’s early days. While Prince of Wales Drive is mostly residential, it also serves as a main gateway (see also B.5.8.2) to the village and, as such, carries considerable traffic. Taylor’s Drain runs through this neighbourhood, crossing both Prince of Wales and James Craig Street.

Objectives

The long term goal in this neighbourhood is to develop the gateway to the Village Centre along Prince of Wales to provide a pleasant and distinctive welcome to North Gower and ensure safe vehicular traffic patterns. This area has the capacity to encompass office and pedestrian scale retail, as well as bed and breakfast visitor accommodation, without jeopardizing its attractiveness as a residential area.

Proposals

To ensure:

• Safe vehicular traffic flow as it enters the village (a traffic is in order to determine the best way to control traffic flow)
• Good directional signage to redirect through traffic readily and to make local traffic safe; parking is provided in small off-street lots at suitable locations, both in this area and elsewhere in the Village Centre, when required
• The two bridges in this neighbourhood should be enhanced, to mirror the Stevens Creek bridge on Church Street, for instance, and provided with better lighting, making them more attractive and distinctive and providing this area with an attractive “signature”
• In keeping with the vision of a pedestrian-oriented village, the sidewalk along James Craig should be extended its full length, connecting at the north end with a sidewalk which would continue north on Prince of Wales Drive at least to Michaelangelo Drive; again enhanced lighting should be provided along these routes.

Community Way and Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility

General Description

The Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility (ATRF) is located at 2300 Community Way on a 16-acre site built 20 years ago. Presently this Facility has a building manager and all active and passive recreation activities are managed by a volunteer Recreation Association (RA) Executive which has a facility service and maintenance agreement with the City of Ottawa.

The Recreation Association (RA) provides a community-driven venue for residents of all age groups to proactively develop and support outdoor/indoor recreation, arts and cultural activities and programs. The space in the Facility can be divided into three separate meeting rooms depending on the number of people and it is also home to the North Gower CO-OP Nursery School. The RA, North Gower Lions Club and local volunteers maintained the Facility as an Emergency Evacuation Site during the Ice Storm of 1998 for 10 days.

Currently the site has two baseball diamonds (lighted), a canteen (with washrooms), a gazebo, a “mountain” for winter activities, play structure, swing set, four tennis courts, a multipurpose outdoor surface (rink) and two soccer pitches. The site is heavily used by various clubs (seniors, walkers, snowmobile, Lions), baseball leagues (Slo-pitch) and organizations (soccer and baseball) for tournaments and fund-raising events. The building manager takes weekend bookings for weddings and dances (Fiddlers) and weekday bookings for evening activities (Guides/Scouts, Karate, dance lessons, aerobics, blood donor clinics, first aid training), benefits (fund-raising), meetings and local presentations. Special community events such as Canada Day, Winter Carnival, Community Christmas and fund-raising events (Lions, Nursery School and Firefighters) are held annually.

Objectives

This facility and site will continue to be a focal point for major community events for many years and will attract visitors from neighbouring villages and other cities. In future, all pedestrian village pathways (linkages to subdivisions) will lead to the Facility and site. A full-time Recreation, Arts and Culture Co-ordinator at the Facility is required. Property adjacent to the current site should be acquired to develop and build additional soccer pitches, baseball diamonds, a lawn bowling surface, a water park, an arena (ice) will support the growing and changing needs of the community for active and passive recreation to maintain our healthy rural lifestyle.

Proposals

To ensure:

• Review the Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility Master Plan and ensure acquisition of lands in accordance with results of the review as opportunity arises
• Implement recommendations of Master Plan review
• Appropriate signage directing visitors to the proposed Information Kiosk “?” in the Village Centre
• Safe pedestrian passage and linkages between the Village Centre and the Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility
• A full-time Recreation, Arts and Culture Co-ordinator is hired to manage the needs of the community.