The Cobourg Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee is an advisory committee of Cobourg Municipal Council. It is comprised of six citizens appointed to the committee as volunteers who are interested and knowledgable about heritage matters. One member of Council sits on the Committee.

The Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (otherwise known as LACAC) is purely an advisory body. Its basic function is to provide the Cobourg Municipal Council with advice and recommendations on all matters concerning the preservation of built heritage within the town. While tracing any genealogical information as it pertains to our built heritage would seem a logical extension of LACAC's mandate, we regret that we do not collect or maintain any genealogical information records.

Preserving our Heritage

When a LACAC is established, it becomes a standing committee of Council and an integral part of the municipal structure. The committee functions under the Council and normally reports directly to Council.

Briefly, these are some of the ways in which LACACs can assist a municipal Council:

• examining all the properties and areas that may deserve protection now or in the future;
• facilitating the community's interest and involvement in heritage conservation through a recognized forum;
• promoting heritage conservation within the community;
• advising property owners on appropriate conservation and maintenance practices;
• determining the value of heritage resources for protection through designation;
• providing Council with reliable advice to assist them in making decisions on complex issues;
• educating the community about designated property grant / loans programs;
• educating the community to encourage a conservation ethic and a climate of responsible stewardship of the community's heritage assets.