Despite the misgivings of several of its members, Meaford council voted Monday, to pass a by-law to earmark part of downtown Meaford a Heritage Conservation District.

By doing so, council also endorsed the Heritage Conservation permit process which sets out the conditions an owner of a heritage building must follow to apply for a heritage permit.

Conditions requiring a permit include changing the appearance of the street façade of the building or seeking demoliton of a heritage building because it can no longer be kept in good repair.

A heritage permit is not needed for interior renovations or for installation of a skylight, solar panel or satellite dish on a roof.

Councillors Deborah Young and Mike Poetker said they felt the terms of the Heritage Conservation District Plan were too restrictive for some of the owners of such buildings.