The Ontario Conservation Review Board has recommended that all 100 acres of the Banting Homestead be protected as heritage land.

"The board is convinced that had Frederick Banting not been a 'farm boy' and son of a farmer who embraced experimentation, he might not have been successful in his approach to diabetes research," board chair Peter Zakarow and vice-chair Su Murdoch wrote in a 25-page report released Friday afternoon.

The recommendation is the result of a two-day hearing in September that explored the merits of a Town of New Tecumseth plan to protect the property from development under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The recommendation is not binding, but does add weight to any municipal bylaw protecting the land should it be challenged in court. The current owner of the land, the Ontario Historical Society Foundation, objected to applying the designation to all 100 acres of the land.

"It's been quite amazing," said New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern. "We're excited - we're elated -  that the review board has added strength to our argument."

The OHSF is in the process of selling the property to Solmar Development Corp., and proposed protecting only 4.7 acres surrounding the existing buildings. The remaining farm fields would then be available for residential development. The deal however has yet to close.

During the hearing, town solicitor Jay Feehely argued that the entire farm, including the fields, was essential in the development of Sir Frederick Banting as a scientist, and warranted protection. The OHSF argued that protecting the farmhouse, barn and other associated buildings was enough to preserve the essence of the property, and Banting's memory.

MacEachern said the town had always felt that it had a strong case for designating the land, and the latest result has confirmed it.

In the report, Zakarow and Murdoch wrote that the farm played a pivotal role in Banting's development, including providing financial and emotional support during his research. They also linked his experience on the farm, particularly his knowledge of livestock, to his research leading to the co-discovery of insulin.

"His involvement with all aspects of farm animal management is considered by many to be the foundation and stimulus to his discovery of insulin," the report read.

The Banting family owned the land until 1999 when Edward Banting willed the land to the Ontario Historical Society. During the hearing, the OHS admitted that it typically is not in the business of protecting land. When the property was willed to the society, a separate foundation - the OHSF - was created to hold the land.

"Although there was some disappointment, certainly we respect and I am thankful for the work that was undertaken by the Conservation Review Board, and there were some very good points made in the report," said OHS president Chris Oslund.

As part of the board's report, it said the OHSF "has demonstrated a reasonable commitment to this property, especially given that this is its first endeavour in property management."

The report also said "it is evident to the Board that the OHS and OHSF hold a genuine regard for the future disposition of the subject property as a place of commemoration and have struggled with defining the essence that would preserve Banting's legacy."

Oslund said that he was happy with that part of the report, because it somewhat vindicated the society, which has often been criticized for neglecting the property. Since 1999, the buildings have fallen into considerable disrepair. At one point a blue tarp was installed as a makeshift roof. The OHS has contended that it does not have the money to fully fund necessary upkeep, despite renting the fields to a local farmer.

Oslund also said he was pleased the report suggested that all levels of government - federal, provincial, and municipal - should co-operate in stewardship of the land.

As part of the report, the board recommended the town also make specific provisions to protect the land, the buildings, and several trees or remnants of trees on the property. The board said that any heritage value assigned to the land is to deal specifically with its association to Banting.

The town also made an argument to protect the land because it was representative of a typical early 20th-century farm.

The next step for the Town of New Tecumseth is to actually pass a bylaw, which it intends to do within the next couple weeks. The bylaw not only protects the property and buildings, but also puts in place minimum maintenance standards that the owners will have to abide by. Beyond that, MacEachern said, there is not much more the town can do unless the owners are willing to co-operate.

"The catch right now is, we focus on the thing we can control, and that is the designation and the minimum maintenance (standards)."

The property is still owned by the OHS, but there is an agreement of sale between Solmar and the foundation, Oslund said.

He said he has not yet spoken with Solmar, and is not sure how the recommendation will affect the sale.

"At this point I don't have any real answers as to what the future holds," said Oslund. "It's really in Solmar's court right now as to how they wish to proceed."

The recommendation is the latest event in a seven-year involvement the town has had with the property.

At one point, the town was looking to purchase the property from the OHS, but that process came to an abrupt end when council found out the property had been sold to Solmar for a reportedly over $2 million, which was about double what the town was planning to offer.

Reaction around the town has been good so far, MacEachern said. He said he has heard from several people who have been pleased with the result.

Bob Banting, one of Frederick's descendants, said the family is quite happy with the results.

The Bantings had requested party status at the hearing, but were denied because the board said they shared the same interests as the town. The Banting's lawyer was then taken as co-counsel with the town.

"There was a lot of work done by everybody, but there is no single person," said Banting.

"We're impressed by the support that we got from all the people in Alliston - all the people that are behind us. Credit should be given to the current council and MacEachern for sticking with it."

The Conservation Review Board is part of the Ontario Ministry of Culture. Its mandate is to review objections to proposals to protect land under the heritage act.