www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 2, 2007 - 5 Is your home on the Town's cultural heritage list? ter, councillors moved ahead with approving the register, despite objections from local lawyer Blair Taylor who argued that property owners received no notice Town council has formally approved a list of of the plan. Oakville properties that are of "cultural heritage value "There is a huge impact with regard to being on or interest." the register," he said, noting that his client discovered Although not officially designated under the his property was on the list only hours before Monday Ontario Heritage Act, the properties are considered night's meeting at which the issue was discussed. potential candidates for designation by Heritage "It is grossly unfair to those 125 property owners Oakville. out there who have no idea that this is going on," said About 125 homes, churches, Taylor, noting that extensive pubinstitutions and commercial prop- "I think heritage is becomlic consultation is always undererties including six buildings at ing more of an issue over taken on development applicaAppleby College, St. Luke's time, as we feel the pressure tions. Anglican Church and two farm Taylor asked council to hold to redevelop in areas of buildings at Bronte Creek off on adopting the register until Provincial Park are on the regis- south Oakville." it held a public information ter. meeting and gave 30 days public Under changes to the Ontario Ward 6 Councillor notice of its intent to deal with Heritage Act passed in 2005, Tom Adams the issue. municipalities are permitted to "With all due respect, the create a register of non-designated properties of process is wrong," he argued. "A decision is being interest. made without the people who are most directly If an application is received by the town to demol- affected by this even knowing it's taking place." ish a property on the list, council has a 60-day winAlthough council opted to adopt the register, dow to consider whether it wishes to pursue formal Adams said that staff has been directed to report back designation of that property. on creating a public process to discuss the list with "What the registry does is allows council to have affected property owners. more time to determine whether a property should He added that property owners have the right to be designated as a heritage property," said Ward 6 request the removal of their property from the list, if councillor Tom Adams. "I think heritage is becoming they can provide adequate reasons. more of an issue over time, as we feel the pressure to A full list of properties on the register is available redevelop in areas of south Oakville." on the town's web site, as part of council's Jan. 29 After hearing in-camera legal advice on the mat- agenda package. SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Trafalgar Township Historical Society meeting Are you the descendant of a family who lived in Trafalgar Township long ago? Then the Trafalgar Township Historical Society would like to hear from you. The group is holding its annual general meeting Feb. 7 and is welcoming everyone from relatives of some of Trafalgar's earliest settlers to new residents who want to learn more about the history of north Oakville. The session will start at 7 p.m. in the one-room schoolhouse at 2431 Dundas St. W., just east of Bronte Road (Regional Road 25). The special guest speakers will be Sean Fraser of Heritage Trust and his associate, Kiki Aravopoulos. They'll be discussing how to get designations for heritage properties. A new board of directors will also be elected that evening. The Trafalgar Township Historical Society is concentrated on preserving the agricultural history of the northern part of what is now Oakville. For more information on the society call vice president Liz Benneian at (905) 257-0250 or visit www.trafalgartownshiphistory.ca. By Kim Arnott NO PAYMENT, NO INTEREST FOR ONE FULL YEAR or PAY NO TAX O.A.C. G61V Furnace · Call For FREE In-Home Estimate H.V.A.C. SYSTEMS HEATING · AIR CONDITIONING · FIREPLACES 905-845-4009 www.atlantisair.com Any Style... Every Room F I NA L W E E K. sale ends thursday february 8th. W W W. F R E E D M A N S H O E S . C O M · 35 Models on Display · In House Cabinetry · Lincensed Gas Fitters ONTARIO HEARTH LTD. 3585 Laird Rd., Unit 2 Mississauga Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10-5, Sat. 10-4 NOW OPEN O A K V I L L E P L A C E 240 Leighland Ave. Telephone: 905-842-3418 905.569.2404 www.ontariohearth.com