A new strategy aimed at preserving local heritage buildings will finally be coming to Delta council.
A couple of years in the making, the civic heritage advisory commission had acquired the services of consultant Donald Luxton to help come up with a draft report in 2014, which examined priorities and options for heritage conservation, but an action plan had remained at the discussion stage.
"The strategy will address the options for council to consider. It will be a council report in the new year and I'm really excited about it. I'm really looking forward to moving forward on this," said Coun. Jeannie Kanakos, chair of the commission.
Kanakos noted the strategy will also be the result of community input that included focus groups. She acknowledged that it's taken time to move it through.
Preserving heritage structures has been making news for several years due to a number of contentious development projects on sites with heritage homes as well as the demolition of the historic Kittson House on Highway
10. In addition to having heritage conservation areas, as well as a number of incentives for owners of heritage buildings looking to redevelop, Delta
currently has a couple of so-called heritage inventories: the Rural Heritage Inventory adopted in 1998 and the Urban Heritage Inventory adopted in 2000. Being on an inventory
means the property is flagged for discussion for incentives for preservation and maintenance of the property with the owner, but that doesn't prevent a building from ultimately being knocked down.
Around 177 properties were originally on the inventories, but that number has fluctuated as buildings were demolished and new buildings added.
Adopted in 1999, the Delta Heritage Register is the official register of sites of heritage significance. Properties are added by council and do not require the owner's approval, but it has been council's policy to seek voluntary agreements. It currently includes 37 properties and two tree resources, four municipally-owned sites, 10 properties on the former Roberts Bank back-up lands and 23 additional sites whose owners have agreed to inclusion.
Properties on the register are automatically added to a provincial heritage register and are eligible for inclusion on a Canadian register, however, being on it also doesn't guarantee protection.
Delta does have a "Heritage Designation" that can be imposed, which offers long-term heritage protection against demolition. It's noted on the property title, however, the municipality could be liable for any loss in property values.
The draft report noted the renewed focus of the heritage program should recognize the importance of sustainably initiatives.
"Heritage conservation is inherently sustainable; it minimizes the need to destroy building materials and retains established land use patterns and infrastructure."
The new strategy would form an updated program, but the inventories and register must first be updated.
