Heritage register draws fire from council

Wolf Depner - Penticton Western News Published: May 14, 2009

The city's heritage register drew fire as council added the fourth and final batch of identified properties to the list. Council approved the list over the opposition of Coun. Mike Pearce after removing five properties from the final proposed list of 16 properties. Coun. Andrew Jakubeit excused himself from the vote because his business operates out of one of the buildings on the list. The city launched the heritage registry in 2006, adding about 15 properties per year. Identified properties include a mix of public and private buildings. Inclusion on the community heritage register does not equal protection of the property as a heritage site recognized under provincial laws. The register is only a list of properties with identified heritage elements and the register (unlike provincial heritage status) does not preclude their owners from making alterations. But this has not stopped several owners from asking the city to remove their properties from the list. Expressed concerns include dropping property values and the perceived (but false) inability to make alterations. But the register also allows the city to keep tabs on a heritage properties.

Provincial laws -- whether properties are on the register or not — also permit the city to expropriate properties with heritage value.These issues came up again as council agreed to add the shortened list to the final tally. While the majority of council supported the register, at least one member questioned the city's direction. Coun. John Vassilaki — who appeared to belittle the concept of local heritage by noting that he comes from a country where heritage sites are thousands of years old — said the list is too long. "I don't think we have 60 (heritage properties)," he said, adding that this figure might be by 30 properties too long.He also noted that the register does not have any real power. Unless the city is prepared to back up the register, the city is going about it the wrong way, he said. Coun. Judy Sentes acknowledged that the city must do a better job of educating the public about the register. Mayor Dan Ashton echoed this point, noting that identification itself is not a problem. Pearce, meanwhile, pushed for a new approach in adding properties to the list. City officials should seek the explicit consent of owners whose properties have been identified rather than just assuming that owners consent to the addition if they do not object to it.