On October 30 Council agenda there is a staff report presenting the feasibility, process an cost to embark on a study for a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) in Schomberg; this report was requested by Council in September in response to a motion by Councillor Asselstine requesting this. (To see the motion go to 12.1 in September Council agenda).  The report is very thorough in terms of describing the process which is very foreign to most persons. I want to be supportive but I am concerned about the cost, as I elaborate further, and I am concerned about our ability in terms of resources to do the work.  As reviewed on page 10 of 37 our Heritage Staff resources are very stretched and the proposed HCD consultant does not solve the problem. The report presents the facts about two issues which are very misunderstood and about which there are myths well entrenched in the minds of some; specifically that heritage labels (listed, designated, HCD) seriously negatively impact property values and that insurance rates soar; as reviewed this is simply false and there is ample evidence that these are myths.  The numerous benefits of a HCD are briefly reviewed including one which is particularly relevant to this particular HCD given the vibrant commercial feel of Main Street today: a HCD is a mechanism for providing assurance that its unique charm and heritage character will continue.

Until I see the 2024 budget I don’t know if we can afford it or what we will have to forgo in order to support it.  And perhaps more importantly I think an important financial factor needs to be assessed:  impact of a new property tax classification which would be lower than current.  Many municipalities in Ontario have such classifications for designated properties as a means to incent designation and to encourage high maintenance standards; I don’t know how such is managed in HCD’s.  I bring this up as I think such an assessment needs to be done as part of the feasibility study and it could make a difference in how people respond to the idea of a HCD.