6569 Lakeside Drive Oliver
Remedial Action Reconsideration Request –
The property owner at 6569 Lakeside Drive requested consideration to modify the time requirements. Council agreed to provide an additional 30 days to complete the retaining wall, and an additional 30 days to construct access to the upstairs patio, and further to change the requirement to side the shed with cladding to painting the shed which meets the requirements of the BC Building Code. The time requirements re-started June 22nd.
Tanya Walsh says
I understand running out of money and that can make life difficult. However, I have lived down the block from this property for 14 years and have seen very little, if any work ever being done on the property. It is unsightly and dangerous. Certainly some effort can be made to improve the condition of the property.
Dave Mattes says
At the last Council meeting, the owner stated that the house had been under construction for the last 15 years. He said the permits for this address prior to then were for construction/demolition of the previous house located on the lot. Many staff, present and former have worked on this file for many years. Thanks to all of them for getting it to the place it is now. I re-read all the comments and am having a difficult time finding the part where the former Councillors take responsibility. Could you point that out for me?
Publisher: No apology? – should I really do more research to please your “errors” in statements. It seems to do nothing to influencing the outcome or your opinion of former politicians and staff (including your earlier term on council) who seem NOT to want to take any responsibility for this situation.
Patrick Hampson says
Both Jack and I took some responsibility in the first posting for not putting forward a better argument and pressuring the rest of Council, however, the trend in those days was not to embark on a path which would lead to accusations of being heavy-handed.
Dave Mattes says
A bit of clarification. It is not a one month reprieve. Closer to two weeks. The clock started at the previous Council meeting and was reset at this last Council meeting due to some minor errors in the required paperwork. This also gave the homeowner a chance to speak directly to Council. The clock runs for 90 days from the last meeting to get all the work on the list completed. The house was first constructed 15 years ago not 25.
This is the first Council to take serious action on the situation. That includes Councils that Mr. Hampson and Mr. Bennest sat on. Rather than attacking, maybe a small thanks or silence would be nicer. I am sure Mr. Bennest and Mr. Hampson. as former Councillors can relate to the difficulty of making decisions such as this that may put financial hardship on a fellow citizen.
Publisher: A few facts are in order Dave and maybe your immediate involvement vs history can shed some light. When was the first building permit issued?
“This council is the first to take serious action” is a bit like Mike Pence saying Trump has done a great job on Covid 19. – Council took action because you have discharged the old BO blissfully and hired a new Development Services Manager.
The credit to Randy. You assert that the house built in 2005?? All town reports refute that.
Did Mr. Bennest and Mr. Hampson not state they DO take responsibility for the issue which is primarily a staff issue – not a matter of budget or policy.
As to the facts that you state are wrong – I shall review the staff reports of the town of Oliver for reference – rather than what you refer to as inaccurate descriptions of the facts.
As to attacking Dave – you seem to be really good at it.
***
Council published material for meeting of May 25, 2020 – author Randy Houle
BACKGROUND:
The single detached dwelling at 6569 Lakeside Road has been undergoing construction for the past (25) twenty-five years with the owner residing in the basement without an occupancy permit issued from the Town of Oliver. (Is that 1995??)
The owner of the property is Fred Babuik.
The property contains a number of problems, specifically:
• There are several excavations and exposed footings for a garage, retaining wall and window well. These holes are three to five feet deep and unfenced.
• There is no suitable external access for the house and a four to six-foot drop to the upstairs entrances at the front, south side and rear of the dwelling.
• There are loose piles of dirt, which pose both a visual nuisance, and a hazard with the potential for children to be injured on it.
• There are unstable and disorganized piles of construction materials on the property.
• The house and the shed both lack siding. The exterior of the House is exposed house wrap.
Town staff is concerned that the above conditions create unsafe conditions or constitute a nuisance. For years the Property has been essentially an unfenced construction site. Permits for construction of both the dwelling and garage have expired, with no permit issued for the shed.
Reports completed by the Building Official in November 2001, June of 2019 and February of 2020 are included as Attachments 3 to 5, providing a background on the ongoing history of the subject property and permits issued to date.
Nathan McGinnis says
Wow that must be so hard to tolerate!
Ken Hagen says
Our strata complex made a presentation to Oliver Council at the end of May 2019 which was widely reported in local media. To date, no visible progress has been made despite several visits from Town staff.
Granting extensions is what got us here and I believe it is time to say “enough” and finally deal with the issue.
Pat Hampson says
The property owner has had many opportunities to plead financial hardship to the Town and never has.
35 years ago my wife and I had high profile jobs down on the Coast and we built a house which cost more than anticipated. We faced the necessity of having to sell so we swallowed our pride and sold. We moved to a more modest property.
In response to Mr Hack; moralizing does nothing but generate feelings of guilt and creates an environment of entitlement. This is not “Little House on the Prairie”, this is a hard reality and if the owner has been and still is suffering financial hardship then the owner must first is search all options; if none are available then he should sell the property.
An analogy would be a “Go fund me” request where the individual has not taken preventive measures such as insurance thus creating an environment of need.
The neighbours should not be expected to step in; the Town should have taken a harder stance.
Lee Ann Wilson says
Is there anyone out there in the media willing to interview the owner of the property to get a clear understanding of his delima. If he is in need of help is he willing to accept outsiders that can spend some time in areas that can be volunteered. Or better yet are there professionals willing to give a hand? A willing work party?
Publisher: Rather than directing others – phone Randy at Town Hall and get all particulars.
Phone the owner, visit the owner, find out what he needs – anything but more time. Time is of the essence. Do you have time, does he have time? I sense in the community that we all would like to help but – but no direction…..Lee Ann – are you the director?
One suggestion – remove all misc landfill and gravel from property. Dispose of extraneous buildings, sheds etc that do not help to sell the property. Comply with the Town’s direction. Sell the property.
Move to anywhere ,…. maybe a rural area….
Alan Ogden says
Wondering how many commenters on this and the previously connected article are actual neighbours? Live next door; across the street or on the same street?
Publisher: If they were neighbours or not – how does that change the matter. The neighbours to the north were the ones that wrote a letter to council and have been concerned for many years.
Alan Ogden says
I would say that if the close by neighbours were not bothered then how far away do you have to live before you don’t have a say? Or does everyone get to complain?
Publisher: Seems it has slipped my mind what your original point was?
Anna Hext says
That’s ridiculous! This property owner has had 25yrs of ongoing construction??? It’s an eyesore to neighbors ! Along with the fact , it brings other property values down .
Pat Hampson says
I agree with Mr Boychuk. In fact, the first thought that came to mind when I read the words “one month reprieve” was, “here we go again”.
John P Hack says
To the whiners, get out and assist the landowner. Timely completion, is that possibly your only concern in this issue. Allow others to live in peace as you would also want. Ask not what society can do for you, but what you can do to help…
Publisher: Easy to say – when you will not. Hard on those on the street and living adjacent to put up with the situation for a quarter of a century.
John P Hack says
If I was north of the line, I would, as that is what whiles my days away in retirement, volunteering etc. Jack
George Boychuk says
Sounds like 25 years hasn’t been long enough. How many more extensions will there be??