Tribunal recommends against repealing heritage designation as the municipally-owned property retains cultural heritage value.
The Township of South Stormont sought to repeal the heritage designation of a municipally-owned property known as the Raisin River Heritage Centre, intending to demolish it.
Several community members and the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario objected to the repeal, referring the matter to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Applying the test for repeal of designation, the Tribunal found that the property continues to retain cultural heritage value or interest, a point conceded by the Township's own expert.
Consequently, the Tribunal recommended that the designating bylaw not be repealed and advised the municipality to consider adaptive reuse rather than demolition in fulfilling its statutory duty to protect heritage properties.
OLTOntario Land TribunalApr 19, 2022
