Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson hopes a new cultural heritage resource plan will help sustain local historic buildings while promoting heritage-themed development.

"This is the heritage component," Mr. Ferguson said. "It'll be locked into the official plan so it's important we get it right."

The Ancaster planning sub committee is currently reviewing a city discussion paper designed to stimulate debate on new official plan policies for heritage buildings. In recent weeks, Mr. Ferguson and the committee have expressed concerns that Ancaster's unique heritage is being threatened by new development that exceeds Ancaster's 10.5 metre height bylaw and 35 per cent residential lot coverage.

"This gives us teeth as far as I'm concerned, for doing things in Ancaster," said committee member Pauline Maue.

The city is currently in the process of merging six urban official plans into a single document for the amalgamated city. A cultural heritage plan will become part of the new report. Amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act in 2005 now allow municipal councils to prevent demolition of designated heritage buildings by passing bylaws to buy, lease or expropriate designated heritage properties that could be at risk.

Policies considered for inclusion in the new official plan include heritage property listing and designation, policies for heritage conservation easements, loans for heritage conservation and rules for establishing a municipal heritage committee. Mr. Ferguson addressed Ancaster's 1831 Book House, which is currently a sore point for Hamilton's heritage committee.

Mr. Ferguson warned against forcing property owners to repair heritage buildings at their own expense or imposing heritage designation upon an unwilling owner. Both those policies could change as part of the cultural heritage plan.

"Right now, we will not go against the owner's will (to designate)," Mr. Ferguson said. "Is that the right way to attract investment?"

Currently, the Ancaster official plan contains policies for the heritage village core. Some secondary plans, including the Meadowbrook West, Shaver and Garner neighbourhoods, contain policies for the preservation of built heritage and archaeological resources.