The Town of Newmarket is proceeding with its plans to designate 48 new properties for heritage protection, while working with opposing property owners through a newly revised report.
Despite 11 objections from local businesses and organizations, as well as multiple concerns brought forth through deputations, Newmarket staff have confirmed the previously discussed properties will eventually be granted protections following a Jan. 13 council committe of the whole meeting.
“We are going to keep this process moving forward as every one of these properties has bylaws that need to be passed,” Mayor John Taylor said. “This will give people with concerns the ability to meet and talk with staff about the best way to move forward and how staff can best assist them.”
“We are encouraging staff to reach out to those showing interest for further meetings to discuss their thoughts and concerns to see what can be addressed. Once we get a synopsis of that back, we will look at that at the bylaw stage as the final touchpoint of that process,” he added.
Taylor passed an amendment on a recommendation in the final report for heritage designation of the 48 properties, which proposed that all remaining non-designated heritage properties be removed from the municipal list of non-designated heritage properties. This decision was supported by Elaine Adam, the chair of the Newmarket Heritage Advisory Committee who spoke to the council this afternoon.
“I commend (the planning department) on working through this herculean task, but the advisory committee have great concerns about removing the remaining properties from the heritage register,” she said ahead of Taylor’s amendment of the recommendation.
Mayor Taylor spoke to the prospect of moving forward with the heritage protection report in the face of notable concern from businesses and organizations such as Creekside Dental and the Newmarket Cemetery Corporation.
“There is still room for discussion for the best way to implement this but we need to move forward with the process,” he said. “This is one of the roles we play and it is not an easy one. Part of our responsibilities are to protect and preserve the community.”
