Photo: City of Kelowna
A property on Gibson Road that has been a thorn in the side of neighbors for nearly a dozen years will be demolished in the coming weeks.
Kelowna City Council approved the unusual move after learning that neighbors had complained about the property since the current owner bought it in 2010.
“We were forced to do it,” said planning director Ryan Smith, citing the city has made 24 trips to the property over the years to handle complaints.
He says that there have been a number of violations of the statutes, including outdoor storage contrary to the development, site covering contrary to the development, construction that does not meet the requirements of the BC building regulations, retaining walls over 1.23 meters without a building permit, deviation permit or building permit approval.
“There are many unfinished structures, tarpaulins that cover parts of the roof. We have tried progressive enforcement measures. They weren’t effective.
“There are ongoing life safety concerns … there has been a significant impact on the public and neighboring landowners, and has been for a number of years.”
Smith says the staff have made numerous attempts over the past few years to get the owner to comply with the regulations, to no avail.
“We see this as a last resort.”
The owner has the opportunity to petition the council and propose alternatives. You have 14 days to do this.
Smith says employees don’t believe the owner will be able to make the necessary improvements on their own.
If these options fail, he says that all structures, including the house and retaining wall, will be removed and the property will be graded and landscaped at the owner’s expense.
Photo: City of Kelowna
