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Midwestern

Planned Meaford Development Sparks Heritage Debate

Preserving downtown 'heritage' buildings has become a heated debate in Meaford.

A delegation of about two dozen residents appeared before council last night, trying to block a controversial development on the main street.

Despite appeals from the local chapter of Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, Meaford council voted to amend the Municipality’s official plan.

The amendment would allow the demolition of two buildings on the north side of Sykes Street. It would also allow developer Leno Toncic to replace the two buildings with a five-storey commercial-residential building.

In return for being allowed to exceed the building height limit of three stories, Toncic must preserve the historic facades of the two buildings.

The first phase of the development would include the construction of a three- storey building on Nelson Street, with 45 condominium units. Some on the ground floor would be commercial.

Councillor Tony Bell said only a half dozen downtown buildings should be preserved. These include Meaford Hall, the old fire hall and the present library building.

Councillor Mike Poetker supports the proposed development, but also said that there are some heritage buildings Meaford just can’t save. "There’s a fine line between a heritage building and a derelict building", stated Poetker.

Mayor Barb Clumpus said Toncic is ready to work with Meaford and meet all its conditions for his development.

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