BC Binning House: 2968 Mathers Crescent

Heritage Alteration Permit - Archived Applications

July 2022

The application for a Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) for 2968 Mathers Crescent has been closed.

June 2019

The proposed application for a Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) has been placed on hold at the request of the applicant.

January 2019

The proposed Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) was considered by the Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) on January 10, 2019. The committee passed the following motion:

THAT the Heritage Advisory Committee DOES NOT SUPPORT the application as presented due to the following concerns:

The subdivision of the property compromises the National designation and municipal bylaws;
The site has existing heritage protection that should be enforced;
The offer in exchange for the proposed subdivision is insufficient;
The proposal compromises the intrinsic value of the BC Binning house and property.

Applicant Presentation

Staff Presentation

Memo to the HAC

Heritage Rationale

Revised Conservation Plan (December 2018)

Package for HAC

Revised proposal November 2018

Following reconsideration by the Design Review Committee, the applicant has prepared a response package that:

pulls the cantilevered wall back 2' from the new J House
clarifies the height of the art box on the J House

Revised Drawing Package

Update November 2018

The revised proposal was considered by the Design Review Committee at its meeting on November 1, 2018, and recommended support of the proposal with further review by staff of the following items:

further design development of the cantilevered wall to consider both access from below and the design of the planting above to reflect something that is more comfortable for the users of the J House
limit the height of the art box so that it is consistent with the sections

Further to the recommendation, the committee commented and appreciated the efforts made by the applicant to address the previous comments, however, noted its concern about the preservation and long-term maintenance of the Binning House, its contents and public access in a substantial way and that these items be addressed through the potential Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA).

Next Step:

The next step in the review process for the proposal is consideration by the Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC). The date for consideration of this proposal by the HAC is to be determined.

Background

The District has received an application for a Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) for 2968 Mathers Crescent.

The proposed HRA would enable the subdivision of the property into two fee simple lots as an incentive for enhanced protection of the BC Binning House, beyond the existing bylaws, complete restoration of the house in accordance with the Conservation Plan from Donald Luxton (April 2017), and public access to the site.

The BC Binning House has a rich history. In 1997, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada because:

it is an early and remarkably intact illustration of architecture in the Modern Era;
it is clearly associated with the changing social, economic, and political conditions of the day;
it demonstrates meaningful interrelationships between form and function; and architecture and art; and
its design has had a lasting and important impact on the work of artists, architects, and other Canadians across the country.

The heritage value of the BC Binning House is significant because of its pioneering role as a demonstration site for principles of Modernism in architecture, and its contribution to the development of the West Coast Style.

It is associated with B.C. Binning, who was an artist, cultural leader and founding director of the Department of Fine Arts at the University of British Columbia. Binning is recognized as a pivotal figure in the Modern movement in British Columbia.

The Binning House is listed on West Vancouver's Community Heritage Register and is eligible for municipal conservation tools and incentives enabled under the Local Government Act. The HRA is the legal framework between the District and the property owner that will provide for the ongoing and enhanced legal protection of the Binning House.

The Design Review Committee considered the proposal at its November 16, 2017 meeting and passed the following recommendation:

THAT the Design Review Committee commends the applicant for the restoration of the Binning House and that the committee recommends RESUBMISSION that addresses the following concerns:

Access to the new J House;
Volume, scale and proximity of the J House in relation to the Binning House;
Provide a landscape plan for the entire site;
Provide details of the green roof and planting materials;
Consider the volume and sitting of the proposed new garage and caretaker suite; and
Reconsider the extent of manipulation of the landscape to accommodate the proposed driveway.

The applicant is currently working on revised plans for submission.

Design Proposal Booklet

Heritage Designation Bylaw 4157, 1999

Heritage Maintenance Bylaw 4187, 1999

Process for Consideration