Panel on Property Standards

Earlier OMB decision raises lingering concerns

January 12, 2010
7:30PM to 9:30PM

The pressing need for minimum property standards to protect vulnerable and culturally significant heritage properties will be the topic of a panel discussion at the next meeting of the St. Thomas Elgin Branch of the Architectural Conservancy.

Panelists include Joseph Muller, Cultural Heritage Planner for the City of Hamilton, and Laurence Grant, Historian with the North American Railway Hall of Fame. Also invited are cultural planners from the cities of Windsor and London, as well as the property standards officer for the City of St. Thomas, Wade Woznuk. In addition, members of the Municipal Heritage Committee are expected to be in attendance.

Minimum property standards have been a contentious issue since the Ontario Municipal Board struck down a St. Thomas bylaw aimed at protecting the Alma College property. Municipalities across the province have been evaluating options in the wake of the OMB decision and, as a result, preservationists fear that many significant heritage properties are at risk. Local preservationists point to Alma Chapel as a prime example.

The question to be answered is: can heritage preservation be served with existing property standards or do municipalities need special powers aimed at protecting heritage properties, with their more complex needs?

This meeting is open to the general public. Admission is free.

For More Information Contact:
Serge Lavoie
ACO St. Thomas Elgin Branch
(t)519-859-7763
slavoie@sympatico.ca

Location Information:
Elgin Military Museum
30 Talbot Street
(f)St. Thomas