The city’s Community Heritage Commission would like to review applications for the demolition or removal of registered heritage homes before municipal council decides their fate.
While the city is willing to accommodate this request, council is reluctant to put it on paper in the form of a bylaw amendment.
The commission’s request came out of a meeting at which it discussed procedural requirements pertaining to the demolition or removal of buildings on the community register.
“As buildings on the register have been carefully selected for their historical significance to the community, the commission would greatly appreciate the opportunity to review and provide recommendations on their potential demolition or removal.”
Under the Heritage Register Procedure Bylaw, issuance of a permit that would involve the demolition or removal of a structure in the register must be withheld, and the matter referred to council’s next regular meeting. At that point, council can order the temporary protection of the structure for up to 60 days under the Local Government Act. This would give the city time to determine the heritage values of the building and the potential future works and costs required to maintain it in its heritage form.
A staff memo to council notes there are no provisions under the Local Government Act that allow the withholding of a demolition permit so it can first be reviewed by the heritage commission but adds, time permitting, the commission could meet prior to the council meeting.
The commission’s resolution was forwarded to the Feb. 16 regular council meeting. But at a development and planning meeting, councillors expressed no interest in changing the city’s bylaw.
Coun. Chad Eliason, whose own house is in the registry, said a key element to getting people to approve their buildings being included in the registry was that the city would not stand in the way of their development, demolition or rebuilding.
“It was very much a courtesy bylaw, and I know that many people who are on the registry, had they known that council was going to change the rules after the fact, they probably would not have gone on the registry,” said Eliason. “So I urge the heritage commission to trust in council and staff.”
Coun. Alan Harrison concurred, adding it is unlikely council would commit any money towards a building given temporary protection. He suggested the commission’s resolution be amended to say any applications ‘involving demolition or removal be referred to the commission for review and comment,’ and leave it at that.