Town council has approved a new system for evaluating heritage buildings and properties, but it will not be used to force owners into any undesired upgrades or improvements.
“We want to work with homeowners who want a designation,” councillor Barb Tocher said.
She noted the new evaluations – the criteria for which was introduced by heritage committee chairperson Jamie Cheyne – may only be looked at if the owner is seeking a demolition permit.
Cheyne explained to council last week the heritage committee previously lacked “a constant framework” to evaluate demolition requests, meaning decisions were based on personal bias or the perceived merit of the building in question.
“We, as a group, looked at and have come up with an evaluation criteria form which can be used by the members, and if posted on the town’s website, would be available to all who wish to make a demolition request,” Cheyne said.
The new forms will produce a numerical score for each building, ranging from poor to excellent, and focusing on categories such as architecture, history, building integrity, environmental factors and rarity. All individual members’ scores will combine to form a committee total.
“This will provide us with an honest and unbiased approach to deal with the demolition process requests,” Cheyne said.
Councillor John Brennan called the new criteria “an excellent tool” for both the committee and council.
Chief building official Andrew Hartholt asked about the process and Cheyne said it will take the committee “years” to evaluate every building in the town’s heritage inventory, although priority would be given to the buildings with what’s perceived to be the most significant heritage value.
Cheyne said the question committee members will pose when deciding which buildings are the priority is, “If it’s gone tomorrow, would you miss it?”
Council unanimously approved a resolution approving the new heritage evaluation criteria and directing staff to post it on the town’s website at www.erin.ca.
