A controversial severance plan for a historic Queen Street property that was initially approved by the town’s planning committee two weeks ago was defeated on a tie vote Tuesday night.

Committee decisions are usually rubber-stamped at council’s monthly meeting but Coun. Sandra O’Connor asked for a recorded vote on the issue, which had been approved 5-3 on July 16.

On Tuesday, July 30, Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa and Couns. Wendy Cheropita and Erwin Wiens voted in favour of it and Couns. Gary Burroughs, Tim Balasiuk and O’Connor again opposed it.

Couns. Maria Mavridis, Nick Ruller and Adriana Vizzari were not present for the vote.

The revised proposal by developer Rainer Hummel, supported at the planning committee stage, allowed for the creation of one new lot on the property and construction of an attached garage with a living space above it.

Wiens said he stands by his vote based on the expert opinions presented to councillors. 

“This council takes heritage seriously. This is the first council to have two heritage planners,” he said. 

He said he read the report and listened in on committee meetings and is confident the report was supported by facts.

“(My vote) upholds what we want according to the report,” he said. 

Balasiuk agreed that council hired experts, but said there are “holes” in policies because of how they are written, allowing this issue to “slip through (council’s) fingers.

“Given the fact that this is a property that is designated (as historic), as a whole the home is designated. I feel that there is too much work to be done in the heritage district,” he said. 

“I know that the staff did a great report. I feel that it’s an unfortunate circumstance that the policy is missing but that is the reason I have to vote no,” Balasiuk said. 

Zalepa said he supported the vote of the planning committee, adding that severance like this is “not unusual” and that it has been considered for many other properties in the past. 

“I don’t think there’s a hole in the policy that caused this to happen,” he said.

Zalepa added the property has been analyzed by experts and that policy was followed correctly. 

“We also have outside planners doing a heritage impact analysis, which came to the same conclusion. Four experts giving advice on it is not equal to not following policies. Just for clarity, that’s how I feel about that,” he said.

Failure to follow advice from experts will end up with council in front of the Ontario Land Tribunal “with a big bill again.”

“I’m not prepared to do that,” he said. 

Zalepa said defended the town’s policies.

“I think this was a proper reflection of our Heritage Planning Act and the heritage impact assessment,” he said.