The settlement reached between the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and developer Rainer Hummel, which will allow the historic property at 187 Queen St. to be divided into two lots, is a waste of all the hard work put into preserving its heritage, says resident Gracia Janes.
The property, known as the site of the Crysler-Burroughs house, has had a heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act for 23 years and the home itself has existed in Old Town for more than two centuries.
During a special council meeting on Jan. 14, councillors went into a closed-session discussion for half an hour, then emerged to vote in favour of a settlement with Hummel to sever the property’s land.
Janes, past president of the NOTL Conservancy, presented against the land severance at an August committee of adjustment meeting and expressed her disappointment about the settlement in an interview with The Lake Report.
“This was the final round in trying to protect the heritage of our town,” Janes said.
“We’ve spent so many years, not just the conservancy or the foundation, but the staff and councillors of past days have worked hard to protect our heritage.”
Councillors are ignoring the fact that the settlement will set a new precedent in what protection heritage properties have against developers, Janes said.
“From now on, we won’t be able to save anything,” she said.
Coun. Gary Burroughs, former owner of the heritage home, voted against the severance.
“I feel I didn’t do enough back when I designated the property in 2002. I thought it was protected and, obviously, it wasn’t,” Burroughs told The Lake Report.
Burroughs applied to have the property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act while he was the homeowner.
“Personally, I feel to blame for what’s happened,” he said.
Janes said Burroughs did everything correctly when he applied to have the property designated.
After meeting with the tribunal on Tuesday, Hummel told The Lake Report he is pleased with the settlement.
“It was basically what we asked for originally, so why wouldn’t I be fine with it?” he said.
Burroughs thinks the property will possibly be put up for sale, he said.
“Rainer told us he’s not doing it — he just has (the severance) designed and wants the approval to do it,” he said.
Hummel said he does not wish to confirm anything Burroughs said.
When asked if he could confirm his next steps with the property, Hummel said, “Not at this point, no.”
The controversial severance plan was originally approved by the town’s planning committee and then defeated in a tie vote held on July 30.
The town’s committee of adjustment then rejected the plan in August.
Karen Taylor-Jones, a lifelong NOTL resident, also made a presentation against the severance at the August meeting.
In an interview with The Lake Report, Taylor-Jones said the settlement was a complete disappointment.
Dissatisfied with how council is currently running, Taylor-Jones said the severance has inspired her to possibly run for council in the next election, scheduled for 2026.
“I’m definitely tempted,” she said.
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, who voted in favour of allowing the severance, said he was “not prepared” to pay large legal fees at the Ontario Land Tribunal to fight the land severance application.
In September, councillors were advised by legal counsel to settle with Hummel.
Both the town and Hummel finalized the settlement on Tuesday.
After voting in favour of the settlement, allowing for a land severance and a rezoning bylaw amendment, council discussed a heritage designation bylaw the town will introduce to the public in February.