Keswick Cemetery Master Plan

Overview

The Town is developing a new master plan for the Keswick Cemetery in 2023. The cemetery is located at 565 Varney Rd. An update to the 2001 master plan is needed to guide the Keswick Cemetery through the next 20 years and beyond.

To facilitate future planning and capital investment works, the Town is working with a professional landscape architectural firm, E. Lees and Associates Consulting Ltd., to carry out a master planning exercise to create the new Keswick Cemetery Master Plan. The project includes public consultation elements so the community has a formal opportunity to weigh in on any recommendations for future work at this cemetery.

Once the updated master plan is approved, the Town intends to move forward with the gradual and phased implementation of site works identified in the master plan. 

The Town has set a schedule to complete this project by October 2023. The approved budget allocation for this project is $80,000.

Why this work is needed

The primary task of the consultant is to provide expert analysis and recommendations which will be used by the Town to improve the layout and operation of the Keswick Cemetery over the next 20 years and beyond. The scope of this project includes a review of the property to understand current cemetery operations. The consultant will work with the Town, interested members of the public and other stakeholders to understand challenges facing cemetery operations (i.e. ponding and drainage issues), and to develop solutions to enhance this facility over the coming years.

The consultant will review current and proposed site conditions for compliance with all applicable bylaws, regulations, and acts including the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act (2002), to ensure the cemetery meets all legislated requirements in Ontario. Where the Town or cemetery is not in compliance with a legislated requirement, the consultant must propose recommendations to bring the Town and cemetery into compliance. Other important items which must be considered as part of the master planning exercise include:

• Location of parking and roadways
• A phased tree-planting plan to allow Town to plant trees in advance of site development with the goal of more mature tree canopy cover on the site
• Flow of traffic at entrance and routing of funeral processions
• The existing columbarium wall and proposed plan previously prepared by the Town to be incorporated into the new master plan
• Facility capacity based on plot layout plan
• Trail system and amenities for visitors
• Future trends in the industry (i.e. green burials, diversity of cultures using the facility etc.)

The master plan must include Class “D” rough order of magnitude construction cost estimates for all recommended site work. A proposed phasing plan for all recommended site works must be included as part of this exercise. The phasing plan must include a colour-coded site plan to visually depict the phasing of all proposed site works. The phasing plan must be easily understood by Town staff, Council and members of the public. This information will be used to guide future capital planning decisions by the Town. The consultant will also conduct a review of service offerings and fee schedules relative to cemeteries in the surrounding areas. The consultant will provide recommendations to align services offered and fee schedules with current market rates while ensuring the cemetery meets all legislated requirements in Ontario

Recommendations developed through the master planning exercise must be supported by current and emerging industry standards, trends, best practices, as well as all applicable by-laws, regulations, acts and legislation

Public engagement

Join us at the Georgina Historical Society’s Harvestfest on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 at the Georgina Pioneer Village!

The Town of Georgina is developing new master plan for Keswick Cemetery. This plan will outline the future vision for Keswick Cemetery to meet the long-term needs of the residents of Georgina. As a follow-up to the online project survey earlier this summer, Town staff and LEEs + Associates will be at Harvestfest to hear community feedback on the future of this cemetery. Our booth with feature the work completed to date as part of this project.