Crisis averted, for now.
Members of Tiny council heard from the community regarding the historic Labatte homestead at 89 West Shore Dr. in hopes to avert the miscommunication of a demolition during a recent committee of the whole meeting.
“Unfortunately, I believe there’s been a bit of a miscommunication regarding our intentions with our application to delist our property from the heritage registry,” said Michael Roebuck.
“We were just following the regular process to delist our property. Unfortunately, it appears it looked like our intention was to apply for some sort of demolition permit. As a result, the last few days have been extremely distressing for us.”
Property owner Anne Hardcastle-Roebuck, who said she's been a Tiny and Thunder Beach community member for over 65 years, spoke to the traumatic experience of the delisting.
“Anybody who knows me knows that I would never demolish this cottage,” she said. “This has been a very traumatic experience. I believe the delisting process be amended in the future if owners like myself are going to continue to participate in this listing process.”
Also expressing concern in the open deputations were Diane Kilby of Kitchener, who recited the long genealogical tree back to George Louis Labatte, the War of 1812 Métis veteran who was deeded the land for his service.
Added deputant Nadine Lalonde of the Georgian Bay Métis Council, “It may be the oldest building in Tiny Township, and maybe even Simcoe County.”
Many of the concerns raised by deputations and correspondence in the meeting had been quelled once the Roebucks asserted that there were no plans for demolition of the structure.
Planning and development director Shawn Persaud verified that “the request did come in on the demolition or removal of the property on the municipal heritage register” which was the wording on the Ontario Heritage Act, adding that a note of estate management was included.
“Looking back at this motion and the wording in it,” admitted Persaud, “it definitely could have been crafted to accurately reflect what the intent of the owners were.”
Previously, Tiny residents had found themselves taken off-guard when a motion to demolish the historic ‘Loup de Lafontaine’ house of Théophile Brunelle at 4 Potato Court caused widespread outcry for its protection, locally and nationally.
Coun. John Bryant attended the Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) meeting where the Labatte home was discussed, adding that there weren’t mechanisms available for the municipality to have listed properties removed in the future.
Council requested a report from staff and the HAC regarding the listing and delisting process, and that the matter of 89 West Shore Drive return to the HAC for a recommendation that clearly defines the owner’s intent.
The letters of correspondence regarding the Labatte homestead can be viewed within the council agenda for the meeting located on the Tiny Township website.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on Tiny Township’s YouTube channel.
