An open letter to the council of Mississippi Mills:
Congratulations, you are in the process of dealing a blow to the concept of Heritage Designation in Mississippi Mills from which it may take years to recover.
Did you read the booklet “a tool kit for Heritage Conservation Districts”, it says:
The property owner is a key player in a designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. As early as possible in the process, designation should be discussed with owners to ensure that they are actively engaged in the process. There are many myths and misconceptions about designation that may need to be clarified. Once they understand the process, many owners are interested in designation as a way of expressing pride in their property and ensuring it is protected for the future.
Municipal Heritage Committees across Ontario have built positive relationships with owners of designated properties to support them in their conservation efforts, and owners value the advice and information committee members and municipal staff provide.
How could that concept have been so badly mismanaged? There was no real contact with the actual owners and when there was you made every effort to make sure that the information was all one sided. The Guidelines and Policies, which will determine how the Municipality will govern the HCD, were never part of the information meetings that the public was invited to. These guidelines outline in detail how the property owner MUST conform, not a big deal if you do not own property in the district! Copies of those Guidelines and Policies should have been delivered to everyone in the area. SMALL details like will everyone in the HCD area receive a 25-40% tax break? Who will fund the resulting tax shortfall? Which pocket will it come out of, our Provincial pocket or our Municipal pocket? Neither entity is in any position to take on any more debt. If everyone in the HCD area receives a tax break, will a homeowner outside the HCD appreciate subsidizing the taxes of someone with a similar home in the area?
The Heritage Conservation District designation was used as a tool in an effort to stop the legitimate efforts of a local businessman to follow through on a provincial government initiative to generate green power. This with more recent efforts has all the earmarks of a crusade. A sad aside to this bungle is the fact that in the resultant chaos many of the legitimate questions that people had on the Enerdu project were never answered.
Now it appears that you are going to pass a bylaw, which will FORCE the owners to be part of the Heritage Conservation District. So much for getting the trust of the owners, so you can work together on this project.
There are many significant heritage properties in Mississippi Mills that deserve protection for the interest and enjoyment of future generations. Properties that are in need of help right now and with the right approach you still may be able to find owners that would like some help. How about the Dickson Mill in Pakenham? Most buildings do not do well over winters with no power or heat. The buildings that you want to designate in the proposed HCD are in most cases well maintained by their owners.
Back up, rethink the situation and engage in a process where you can entertain some willing partners and develop a base of significant properties and owners that will encourage further individual designations. The process you seem so determined to follow, in the conscription of reluctant owners will do nothing but sour them and others against the concept.
Thank You.
Brian Gallagher
For the Concerned Property Owners Group.
