10/12/2026
Buckle up - this is a long one but something I feel very strongly about as we move towards the election in a few weeks.
At the All Candidates Meeting on October 8 in Lucknow, there were a number of questions submitted in advance that unfortunately weren’t read aloud because of time constraints.
I wanted to take a minute to share my thoughts on one of them.
The submitted question was:
“Present bylaws regulate the size, lot placement, septic requirements, etc. for single-family dwellings in residential R1 zones, but do not address the appearance of buildings or how they are suited to the neighbourhood. The new Bruce County Official Plan says, ‘Every effort shall be made to strengthen the historic character of the Secondary Urban Communities by requiring new development to complement existing building types and neighbourhood characteristics.’ The old plan had a similar requirement, but Council has never seen fit to put this into our building regulations. Will you support this as an addition to the Huron-Kinloss building regulations?”
My answer is yes, with some thoughtful conversation about how we get there.
There are specific areas in our township where the character of the neighbourhood is a very important part of what makes that place unique. While some will argue that their community is one of those, for now I will focus on two that I think are the best examples - Emmerton Beach and Bruce Beach. There are generations of families who have enjoyed these areas for decades, and the existing cottages and homes have created a character that is worth recognizing.
I don't believe council should be in the business of telling homeowners exactly what their house should look like. But I do believe there is a difference between regulating someone's personal choices and asking whether the design of a new home - or even a significant renovation - suits the neighbourhood where it is happening.
A few weeks ago, while walking in this area, I came across what in my opinion is a stunning new home.
Was it larger than most?...Yes....but it also fits.
It is an all-white, what I would describe as a Cape Cod-style home. In talking to the lovely homeowners, it was clear they had been very intentional about the style they chose and wanted something that suited its lakeside location. They also replanted hundreds of trees along the road and have chosen not to pave the driveway to keep the surrounding area as natural as possible.
Now I can not expect everyone to think this way but it is an example of what this conversation could be about.
Look to the east in St. Jacobs. When the Tim Hortons was built, it had to conform to certain building standards to be built. And it did just that. It was designed in a way that respected the character of the community around it.
Yesterday, I delivered a wedding in the historical part of Galt. The City of Cambridge regulates new build projects and major redevelopments in the historic Galt core through a municipal by-law that implements the Galt Core Heritage Conservation District (HCD). The HCD establishes design guidelines that ensure that new construction and major exterior alterations respect and harmonize with the gorgeous historical homes of the area.
So how do we put that into practice in Huron-Kinloss?
With the Township’s Official Plan up for renewal in the near future, I would like to see us have a conversation about what the Bruce County Official Plan already acknowledges - that efforts should be made to ensure new development complements existing building types and neighbourhood characteristics.
Can we explore the creation of a committee, perhaps something like our existing Property Standards Committee? Could we bring together architects, builders, designers, cottage owners and other community members to identify the characteristics that make certain areas of Huron-Kinloss unique - or perhaps just as importantly, identify those specific things that would be considered out of character?
The conversation could look at things such as building scale, lot coverage, tree removal along the road, primary construction materials, setbacks, and how a new structure fits within the established streetscape.
It could even look at the overall size and capacity of a home, including whether the number of bedrooms is contributing to homes becoming disproportionately large for the neighbourhood.
All things to be looked at with the goal being to create a clear set of characteristics that could become a planning tool for the Township’s building and planning staff to consider when reviewing new home plans or large renovation projects in those identified neighborhoods.
This isn't about deciding whether we like the colour of someone's siding or the style of their windows. It's about understanding what makes a neighbourhood what it is and considering how new homes can fit into that character.
And I think that distinction is important.
