Planning and Environment Committee Considers Heritage Designations Amid 2027 Provincial Deadline

The Planning and Environment Committee considered a series of heritage designations amid concerns about owner consent, maintenance costs, insurance, public notice and a provincial deadline that will remove protections for listed properties on January 1, 2027. The committee advanced designations for 255 Delort Road and 1875 Richmond Street, declined to pursue designations for several other properties, and deferred or redirected decisions involving Diocese of Huron properties to allow further submissions.

Topics Discussed

Heritage designations and the 2027 provincial deadline

Staff and delegates said properties on London's heritage register will lose their listed status on January 1, 2027. The city will then lose the 60-day demolition-notice period for listed properties and its ability to designate properties through certain planning processes. Staff said a Part IV designation could still be pursued later if no planning application is active.

Mr. Matalier said the province had left the city with two options for listed properties: "Either they lose all heritage protection on January 1st or they get a full designation."

Staff also said that, without designation, the municipality would have few tools to control changes to privately owned buildings or prevent demolition.

Heritage maintenance funding and tax relief

The committee directed staff to examine Collingwood's approach when developing heritage maintenance agreements and funding recommendations for the Multi-Year Budget. The direction included a recommended budget cap and excluded heritage conservation easement agreements.

Shawn Lewis said, "I'm not going to support heritage designations with all that that entails and all of the long-term um implications on that without the property owner's approval."

The committee also discussed a proposed heritage property tax-relief program. Staff will consider the program through future budget and strategic-planning processes. Susan Stevenson cautioned that approval was not guaranteed, asking property owners: "Do you feel that you fully understand the implications of this and that the tax relief may not be passed by a future council? Like it's proposed, but there's nothing, there's no guarantees."

203 Bathurst Street and owner opposition

City Centre Storage representative Tanya Lundy opposed designating 203 Bathurst Street, saying the business has maintained and operated at the property for more than 35 years. She said designation could increase costs for specialized contractors, heritage studies and approvals.

The committee also discussed the potential effect on jobs and community services operating from the property. Lewis said, "if we have to consider whether we're going to have a heritage designation or whether we're going to have an owner potentially close and lose jobs, I'm going to side with jobs every time."

The committee received the report and took no further action on the proposed designation.

Diocese of Huron properties and public notice

The committee considered opposition from the Diocese of Huron regarding 30 Bromley Avenue and 4307 Colonel Talbot Road. Susan Stevenson objected to the timing and availability of information about the files, saying: "I'll just reiterate again my concern for this process and the fact that the information isn't available publicly right in front of us with due consideration or time for the public to speak to us and to be involved. They're going to hear about this after the fact."

Stevenson also said the deadline had left little time for residents to understand the process and participate in it, calling the issue one with a "dramatic impact."

The committee referred the 30 Bromley Avenue matter to the December 1 PAC meeting. A separate Ward 9 file involving the Diocese was sent to the October 14 Municipal Council meeting without a recommendation, allowing additional written submissions.

Designations approved or declined

The committee approved heritage designations for 255 Delort Road, known as "Woodhole," and the retained portion of 1875 Richmond Street. The owner of 255 Delort Road asked that tax relief be considered because of maintenance costs. Staff said the rear portion of 1875 Richmond Street had already been severed for potential integration with the adjacent Catholic high school site, while the retained corner property was being considered for adaptive reuse.

The committee took no action on 1057 Waterloo Street after the owner raised concerns about insurance, maintenance costs and the effect of designation on the family property. It also recommended against designating 415 Baseline Road and Main Street in Lambeth.

Motions

• Heritage Property Tax Relief Program: Directed staff to examine the Collingwood model and develop heritage maintenance agreements, funding recommendations and a recommended budget cap for the Multi-Year Budget. The direction excluded heritage conservation easement agreements. Passed 5–0.
• Heritage evaluation delegation report: Received the report. Passed 5–0.
• Items 2.1 and 2.2: Considered together on consent. Passed 5–0.
• 203 Bathurst Street, Item 2.4: Received the report and took no further action on the proposed heritage designation. Passed 5–0.
• 30 Bromley Avenue, Item 2.5: Referred to the December 1 PAC meeting. Passed 4–1.
• Diocese-related Ward 9 file: Forwarded to the October 14 Municipal Council meeting without a recommendation to allow further correspondence. Passed 5–0.
• 255 Delort Road ("Woodhole"), Item 2.7: Proceeded with the heritage designation. Passed 5–0.
• 1875 Richmond Street, Item 2.8: Proceeded with the heritage designation. Passed 5–0.
• 1057 Waterloo Street, Item 2.9: Received the report and took no action on the proposed designation. Passed 5–0.
• 415 Baseline Road and Main Street, Lambeth: Recommended against heritage designation.
• Items 2.4 and 2.9: Pulled from consent by Susan Stevenson for separate consideration.

Attendees

Councillors identified in the meeting material as present or participating included:

• Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis
• Susan Stevenson
• Sam Trosow
• Jerry Pribil
• Peter Cuddy
• Elizabeth Peloza
• Corrine Rahman