Town moving forward on more heritage designations in Hillsburgh

ERIN – The town is moving forward on heritage designations for another seven properties in Hillsburgh.

Last year, the town designated 12 Hillsburgh properties, most situated along Trafalgar Road.

One appeal related to the designation of 92 Trafalgar Road is before the Ontario Land Tribunal.

The seven additional properties are also within Hillsburgh’s urban area, and come from a list of 58 total properties in Hillsburgh and Erin the town is pursuing, from an original list of more than 600 created in 2005.

The push to designate the properties is in direct response to provincial government changes stemming from Bill 23.

Previously, if someone wanted to demolish a structure on the town’s list that was built prior to 1929, the town would hear an argument for the rationale and determine whether a demolition permit was issued – and in that way heritage buildings could be protected.

Now, the More Homes Built Faster Act essentially tells municipalities to get formal designations for properties with heritage value by 2025, or they’ll get booted from heritage inventory lists.

In February this year, Archaeological Research Associates presented Erin’s heritage committee with reports on the seven latest properties detailing architectural, historical, cultural or environmental attributes.

Four of the properties have Trafalgar Road addresses, and the remaining three are on Anne, Orangeville, and Station streets.

All have either Italian Renaissance or Gothic Revival architectural styles (all the reports are viewable at the bottom of this story).

At a March 14 meeting, council authorized the town to publish notices about the town’s intent to get the locations designated – part of the legal process.

A property owner can appeal council’s intention to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Once the seven additional Hillsburgh properties are designated (with one more possibly coming later) the town will be moving on to the 39 remaining properties, located in Erin’s urban area.

Town senior planner Michelle Baya told council last month staff intend to move quickly on those remaining designations.

Councillor Jamie Cheyne told the Advertiser some residents “are already balking” at designations.

“All we really care about is not losing the shell of the building,” said Cheyne, who has been on the heritage committee for 15 years.

Because of the new provincial legislation, the committee and town have been forced to drastically reduce what properties it could afford to address both time-wise and financially.

“We wanted to try and designate certain buildings we think that would be missed if they were gone tomorrow,” Cheyne said.

Rapid growth coming into town has brought with it fears that heritage buildings will be levelled to make way for new housing, he added.

“Our whole mantra is our ‘small-town charm’ and part of our small-town charm is our old Victorian buildings, so if they go and you build some brand new brass and glass shiny thing than we’ve lost some of that charm,” Cheyne said.