Grimsby Council Focuses on Heritage Protection Deadlines and Provincial Planning Changes

Grimsby councillors and the Heritage Advisory Committee focused on heritage protection deadlines, the impact of provincial planning changes, designation of 91 Main Street East, and protections for Grimsby Beach. Council passed resolutions asking the province to extend or maintain heritage register protections, directed staff to prepare a memo on Bill 98 and site plan review, approved the designation of 91 Main Street East, and asked staff to explore demolition protection in Grimsby Beach.

Topics Discussed

1. HERITAGE REGISTER DEADLINE

Staff and councillors discussed the provincial deadline affecting properties listed on the municipal heritage register. Bianca said provincial changes first required municipalities to protect listed properties by Jan. 1, 2025, before an extension under Bill 200 moved the deadline to Jan. 1, 2027, which she said is "coming up quite quickly."

Council also heard that about 484 properties could lose register protection in January 2027. One speaker said the town is facing "about 484 properties falling off the register in January of 2027, leaving these buildings with no protections." The town has asked the province to extend the deadline to Jan. 1, 2030, and council added language requesting the province to "maintain the register indefinitely or if more appropriately extend the deadline."

Councillor DeFlavio said the register is "a very important planning tool" because it gives the town time to review whether a property should be designated. He said, "It was basically saying these are things that we think meet the criteria, may meet the criteria for designation, but it requires ... the completion of the designation process."

2. TOWN HERITAGE DESIGNATION WORK

Council reviewed the town's heritage work since 2023. Staff reported consultation with more than 200 property owners, the start of designation work on 63 buildings, and completion of 49 buildings. Of those, 47 were resolved through council without going to the Ontario Land Tribunal. The town also awarded 13 heritage grants and issued 26 tax relief rebates.

Council's resolution stated that protected heritage properties are not obstacles to development and warned that removing protections could expose cultural heritage resources to "irreversible alteration or demolition."

3. BILL 98 AND LOSS OF SITE PLAN REVIEW

Council discussed concerns about Bill 98 - Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act and the reduction of site plan review tools. Staff said site plan review is used to address impacts on adjacent heritage properties and that without a Planning Act application, there is no way to require mitigation.

The Mayor criticized the change, saying, "with removing site plan, it makes it like a cookie cutter type thing where developers love it because they have one set of plans and they can build wherever they're building and you just have no real community anymore."

Councillor DeFlavio said heritage protection can be lost through small design changes, adding, "by removing those details, you're removing heritage." Councillor Adams also said broader review improves applications, stating, "the more eyes you have on any application the better ... the more people that look at it the more chance there is that somebody might see something that slips through the cracks."

Council received the Bill 98 material and directed staff to prepare a memo and recommended resolution for council endorsement.

4. 91 MAIN STREET EAST HERITAGE DESIGNATION

Council approved the designation of 91 Main Street East under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act (File: HR 26-07 / HR2607). Staff said the property met six of the nine criteria under Ontario Regulation 9/06.

Mike described it as "an orange brick farmhouse of Italianate style," adding that the style was "commonly associated in Grimsby with the residences of wealthy fruit farmers along the main street corridor." Council also heard the property is associated with the Nellis, Walker and Cole families and reflects the historic farming character of the corridor.

5. GRIMSBY BEACH PROTECTION

Council discussed how planning changes and the loss of register protection could affect Grimsby Beach. Staff said policies from the secondary plan were moved into area-specific policies in the Official Plan and said the change in format did not reduce their force.

Councillor DeFlavio said residents are worried change could become piecemeal if the secondary plan framework is weakened. He said, "I think the fear in the community is that ... change is inevitable but for us to make sure that the change is gradual and kind of guided by that secondary plan. I think the fear is that it's going to be piecemeal instead."

Council supported asking staff to examine demolition protection tools for the area. The adopted motion said staff should "explore opportunities for demolition protection in Grimsby Beach to pair with the Grimsby Beach specific policies."

Motions

• Interim Chair Appointment — Amy was nominated and approved to chair the meeting in the absence of the chair and vice-chair. Passed
• Approval of Minutes — Minutes were approved with the meeting date corrected from April 14 to May 12, 2026. Passed
• Resolution on Municipal Heritage Register Deadline / Ontario Heritage Act Amendment — Council supported requesting the province to extend the deadline for notices of intention to designate properties listed on the register to Jan. 1, 2030, and added language asking the province to "maintain the register indefinitely or if more appropriately extend the deadline." Passed unanimously
• Bill 98 — Council received the item and directed staff to provide a memo with a recommended resolution for council endorsement on the importance of site plan review to heritage planning. Passed
• 91 Main Street East Designation (File HR 26-07 / HR2607) — Designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Passed unanimously
• Grimsby Beach Demolition Protection Resolution — Staff will explore demolition protection options for Grimsby Beach to pair with the area's specific policies. Passed unanimously

Attendees

• Amy
• Councillor DeFlavio
• Mayor
• Bianca
• Mike
• Councillor Adams

The notes provided do not include a complete attendance list, so only participants specifically identified in the meeting summary or significant quotes are listed here.