The Ontario Municipal Board will be making a decision about an amendment to Stratford’s Official Plan regarding the Cooper Site. Amendment 21 is being contested by former owner Lawrence Ryan and local heritage proponents.
A pre-hearing was held at city hall Wednesday morning and will resume on April 12th.
A report in the Beacon Herald says Ryan believes the amendment is an alteration to the original reason given for expropriating the lands from him. The heritage people believe the amendment paves the way to possible demolition of the building.
The amendment says “The city is in the process of determining the future of the existing structure on the Cooper site, which may include demolition, partial preservation, rehabilitation and/or commemoration.”
