SMITHS FALLS — Downtown Smiths Falls has been formally designated as a Heritage Conservation District, following council’s adoption of a bylaw approving the district boundary along with a finalized conservation plan and development guidelines.
While Smiths Falls has long protected individual heritage buildings, this marks the first time the town has adopted an area-based heritage conservation district under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. The change shifts heritage protection from a building-by-building approach to one that considers the character and streetscape of the downtown as a whole.
Council passed By-law 10666-2026 on Feb. 2, 2026, designating the Downtown Smiths Falls Heritage Conservation District and adopting the Downtown Smiths Falls Heritage Conservation District Plan, prepared by Stantec Consulting Ltd. for the Town of Smiths Falls.
Amendments made before final passage
Before third reading, council approved a series of friendly amendments to the plan aimed at clarifying language rather than changing intent.
Among the revisions, references to average building height were standardized from four storeys to three storeys throughout the document. Several wording changes were also made, including replacing “match” with “fit” when describing how new development should relate to existing buildings, and replacing the term “setback” with “step back” to better reflect how building massing should transition at upper levels.
Additional technical clarifications were made to sections dealing with utilities, side and rear elevations, and glossary definitions.
Council was advised that the amendments did not alter the overall direction of the plan.
Council discussion highlights
During discussion, Coun. Jennifer Miller thanked staff, the municipal heritage committee, and the consultant for their work, calling the plan a significant undertaking and noting an urgent need to protect heritage buildings before further losses occur due to fire or neglect.
Miller also raised concerns that some property owners could view heritage designation as a reason to delay renovations, stressing the importance of adequate staffing, efficient approvals, and continued funding of the Community Improvement Program to ensure the process does not become a deterrent to reinvestment.
She noted the plan includes a built-in one-year review and encouraged future councils to assess whether it is working as intended.
Coun. Chris McGuire, who has served as a long-time member of the municipal heritage committee, acknowledged that some partners had hoped for stronger enforcement tools, but said the consensus was that adopting a plan was preferable to having no plan at all.
McGuire also flagged historical inaccuracies in the plan’s background narrative, particularly related to Smiths Falls’ economic conditions during and after the First World War, cautioning that errors in official documents can be perpetuated if not corrected. He emphasized that while expert consultants are essential, council also has a responsibility to ensure historical accuracy.
Despite those concerns, McGuire said the plan represents the strongest heritage tool the town has had to date and credited municipal heritage committee chair Dorothy Hudson for years of work advancing the file.
Mayor Shawn Pankow thanked McGuire for championing the project and said the plan provides needed direction for council and property owners alike.
“If you don’t have anything to guide you, you have no idea where you’re going,” the mayor said, calling the plan a working document intended to guide collaboration rather than restrict it, and thanking McGuire for helping to leade the charge.
What the designation does
The Heritage Conservation District Plan establishes policies and guidelines governing future changes within the district, including alterations, additions, new construction, demolition, and streetscaping.
The plan states that heritage conservation districts are not intended to freeze buildings in time or require owners to undo previous renovations. Instead, the goal is to manage future change in a way that respects historic character while allowing continued use, reinvestment, and development.
Properties within the district are classified as either contributing or non-contributing, with different levels of guidance depending on the property type and the nature of the proposed work.
Certain types of work require approval through a heritage alteration permit, while minor alterations identified in the plan are exempt.
Appeal period now open
Any person who objects to the designation may appeal the by-law to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Appeals must be filed with the tribunal and the clerk of the Town of Smiths Falls by 4:30 p.m. on March 13, 2026, and must include the reasons for the appeal along with the required filing fee.
If no appeals are filed, or once any appeals are resolved, the heritage conservation district designation and plan will remain in force. Council has directed that the plan be reviewed after one year.
Maps of the district boundary and the full heritage conservation district plan are available through the Town of Smiths Falls.
Keep connected to your community—Read the latest Smiths Falls news.
To watch Smiths Falls council, visit their Youtube channel.
How much is the cost to appeal