The Bluewater Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) says it wants to improve communication and its relationship with local council after a recent decision to repeal the heritage designation of a well-known local house.
On April 20, council for the Municipality of Bluewater voted in favour of removing a heritage designation for 41 Main Street in Bayfield, also known as the Orlagh House.
Built in 1868, the house was the residence of Dr. Ninian Woods, a physician and the first reeve of Stanley Township and Bayfield.
Kelly Vader, chair of the Bluewater Heritage Advisory Committee, said they were concerned with how this could impact future decisions.
"It could set some kind of a precedent that would, perhaps, encourage other property owners of heritage properties to also want to repeal the designation if they felt that it negatively affected the value of their property or something," she said.
The application to repeal the designation was made by, of all people, former HAC chair Dave MacLaren. He said they were having issues selling the historic home, because of the insurance rates quoted to prospective buyers because of the home's designation.
Emails shared with council showed quotes for new buyers of over $7,500 a year, with other companies avoiding insuring the property altogether.
"When he met with us, he certainly understood the value of the property from a heritage perspective, he just was in a tight spot because of financial concerns with being able to sell his property," said Vader. "He didn't question the fact that his property had heritage value, he just was concerned that it was affecting his ability to move on."
While they were sympathetic to the situation, the HAC recommended not repealing the designation, saying "it does not address the issue identified in the application and would be a significant loss to the community of Bayfield."
However, council went against the recommendation. Vader said it was the first time in her over five years on the committee that council ignored a recommendation.
She said council may have been considering the wrong factors when they did that.
"Our biggest concern was that the factors that council used in reaching their decision was more based on the insurance challenges versus the actual historical value of the property. We are known as a heritage village, the Conservation District of the downtown and the heritage value of that district is one of the key factors that draws a lot of tourists," Vader said.
The committee approved a letter in a special meeting on Tuesday night, that will be sent to council in the coming month. During the meeting, HAC members noted the MacLarens were able to address council during the meeting, where the decision was rendered, which seemed to go against procedure.
"The whole point of our letter is we'd just like to learn from this with council," said Vader. "Maybe we can develop new processes that this doesn't happen again? Maybe we attend council when something like this is being heard so we can speak to it?"
The decision could still be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. The deadline to appeal was Friday. CKNX reached out to Bluewater's Clerk to see if any appeals were received, but has not heard back.
The OLT said the Municipality has 15 days after Friday's deadline to forward any appeals.