Building custom home in heritage area (Stouffville)

So generally speaking, based on my experience, if you live in a heritage area but are not a heritage home in Stouffville you are still subject to a heritage review.

For a minor variance this just equated to paying an extra $500 on the fee so that department could review it. I spoke with the guy at the Town ahead of time, he basically said he didn't have any issues with the variances/addition proposed, and then everything went through smoothly.

In theory, if you ignore them, they may just deny you the building permit or something along those lines.

Really I'd just call up the guy and talk everything over with him. He was pleasant to deal with and seemed pretty reasonable.

What area of the Town are you in? And what are they asking for? My house was pretty simple - it was a heritage area, but in no way a heritage home, so it was basically just a pay $500 and carry on your way. Yay money grabs.

forumghost1 wrote: ↑ Has anyone dealt with the heritage board in stouffville or any other town? We have a home which was build in the 1800s. since then it have been updated over and over to the point where there is almost no historic value. We hired a historian to do a historic impact assessment and they confirmed that it does not have historic value. As such the town has officially removed it from the heritage inventory and it is no longer considered a heritage home.

The problem is that now that we have this new found freedom and are about to demolish and build, the heritage board is demanding multiple changes to our design which would compromise it overall.

My question is, do we need to follow their input? or can we proceed how we please? how much power over our build do they have and if we proceed otherwise what are the potential consequences?

Thanks for any help on this matter.

This is a question for the town and by-law - first, I'd clarify with them why the heritage board would be "demanding" changes if it is no longer a heritage property. Are they aware of this change in categorization of your property? Or was it that it's changed from designated to non-designated but still a heritage property?

You never "need" to follow anyone's input, if you're prepared to deal with the consequences - potential fine, legal action, neighbours that may put up a stink, etc.

https://www.townofws.ca/en/residents/he ... nning.aspx