By the end of May, the district may just end up achieving what it has been trying to do for the last three years: Getting a downtown property to clean up.
If you are wondering why it took so long, the following list gives a sense of the enormity of the task officials faced.
At least eight bicycles, five motorcycles, an automotive engine block, a variety of automotive engine parts, several wood pallets, an inflatable boat, a large quantity of broken construction bricks, patio deck full of discarded patio furniture and household garbage, indoor furniture, a large quantity of household garbage strewn about, an assortment of building and plumbing material, upright commercial freezer/coolers, and unmanaged vegetation such as trees, bushes and grass, along with derelict boats, a dilapidated trailer, and marine motor parts had been left on the property.
While as much as 85 per cent of the junk has been removed, district is asking the owner to achieve full bylaw compliance by May 31.
If not, the district will clean up the site and invoice the owner for the costs. The district will apply the cleanup costs to the property taxes if the payment for the clean up is not received.
It was in November 2015 that bylaw staff observed a ‘significant quantity’ of unsightly materials being stored or kept on a property on the exterior property on Third Street in Downtown Squamish.
Staff contacted the owners with their concerns but even after several attempts, it became obvious that the owner was unable to comply with the bylaw. In spring of 2016, staff began the process to gain compliance through a court order.
Although the process took some time, approximately 85 per cent of the unsightly and objectionable items have now been removed. There are still, however, materials remaining on the property which result in complaints and has kept the property’s status as “non-compliant”.
Once those are removed, district staff believes the property will be compliant with the bylaws. The owner was not present at the council meeting despite a chance to speak before the council.
