The Committee considered Development Services Department Report, DSD-2024-343, dated July 8, 2024, recommending approval regarding the Notice of Intention to demolition the Smokehouse located on the property municipally addressed as 1478 Trussler Road.
M. Drake, Senior Planner presented the report. G. Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals, was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.
K. Doehn was in attendance in support of the staff recommendation.
M. Drake noted a revised Statement of Significance (SOS) was provided to the Committee on June 11, 2024, as outlined in Attachment 'C' of Development Services Department report, DSD-2024-343, and the Committee recommended that designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act be pursued.
M. Drake stated the property owner raised objections to the proposed designation, noting concerns related to the condition of the smoke house. For this reason, the property owner advised they would be pursuing demolition of the smokehouse. Heritage Planning staff agreed to revise the draft SOS (Attachment C) based on discussions with the owner, information obtained onsite on June 25, 2024, and additional research. It was noted heritage planning staff committed to sharing a revised draft SOS with the owner in September 2024.
In response to questions from the Committee, M. Drake stated a visual inspection of the exterior and interior of the smoke house revealed significant building deficiencies, including but not limited to: major cracks through parging and mortar, missing bricks, step cracks and missing mortar, deteriorated/missing asphalt shingles, shifting foundation and inappropriate mortar repairs.
It was noted the recommendation arising from this matter would be forwarded for Council's consideration on August 26, 2024.
In response to further questions from the Committee, it was noted under the Ontario Heritage Act, Council does not have the authority to approve or refuse an owner’s Notice of Intention to Demolish. Rather, Council’s options include:
- Receive the Notice of Intention to Demolish, allowing the notice period to run its course, at the end of which the Building Division may issue a demolition permit. And/Or,
- Council may issue a Notice of Intention to Designate, at which point Council would have the authority to deny demolition; however, the owner could object to Council’s decision.