Cambridge staff could change the way heritage designations are applied to properties, ensuring that residents are made fully aware throughout the process.
A motion brought forward by Councillor Helen Schwery at a meeting on Tuesday says that some residents have had their homes considered for heritage designation without being properly notified.
Schwery’s motion goes on to claim that a heritage designation can negatively impact the value of a property by narrowing the pool of potential buyers, and that such a designation could also cause a homeowner to incur additional costs to upkeep and maintain heritage elements.
“Property owners across multiple jurisdictions have reported increased insurance premiums, policy cancellations, or difficulty obtaining insurance coverage following heritage designation,” reads the motion from Schwery.
Municipalities are given the tools to pass bylaws to formally designate properties of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act. This designation ensures the maintenance of heritage elements and guides the development or redevelopment of properties.
“Sometimes we can do things better, and sometimes we can improve a process to provide a better experience for people within our community,” said Councillor Corey Kimpson.
These changes, as proposed by Councillor Schwery, direct staff to develop a policy confirming notification and consultation with property owners when a property is being considered for a heritage designation, and that council are provided with the written consent of the homeowner when considering heritage designations. In some instances, homeowner consent may be overridden by public interest or cultural significance.
“This Motion strengthens the City’s approach in three critical ways: it improves transparency, ensuring owners understand the full implications of designation; it enhances decision-making, providing Council with complete and relevant information; and it restores balance, aligning the exercise of municipal authority with basic principles of fairness and accountability,” reads a letter of support sent in to council from Cambridge residents Nadir Patel and Joe Romeo.
The motion was approved in an 8-1 vote, with Councillor Nicholas Ermeta representing the only holdout. Ermeta believed that the contents of the motion are already covered by the legal requirements in place under the Ontario Heritage Act.
