ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Planning and Environment

FROM:

City Building Inspector

SUBJECT:

Warning to Prospective Purchasers of
3125-27 Glen Drive, 3143-45 Glen Drive and 3165 Glen Drive

 

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

Section 336D of the Vancouver Charter provides a mechanism whereby the City of Vancouver can warn prospective purchasers of contraventions of City By-laws relating to land or a building or structure. It provides that if the City Building Inspector observes acondition that he considers is of a nature that a purchaser, unaware of the contravention, would suffer a significant loss or expense if the By-laws were enforced against him, he may recommend to City Council that a resolution be considered directing the City Clerk to file a notice against the Title to the property in the Land Title Office.

BACKGROUND

Occasionally, when the City sewer crews are in the process of constructing a new sewer line, they discover that one or more properties are connected to a single sewer line. This contravenes Part 7 (Plumbing Services) of the Vancouver Building By-law.

Problems can arise from this type of situation when there is a blockage of the sewer line. Often disputes arise between adjacent property owners as to who is responsible for the costs of the repairs.

When this situation comes to our attention, the City crew provides a sewer connection for each property and requests that the property owner obtain a permit and re-direct the sewer line from their property to the City sewer. The City is not in a position to order the work to be carried out as it may only be ordered at the time of redevelopment and/or major construction.

Our Sewer Inspection Branch advises that the sewer lines from the properties located at 3165 and 3143-45 Glen Drive are connected to the sewer at 3125-27 Glen Drive.

The City crew recently installed a sewer connection directly to the properties at 3165 and 3143-45 Glen Drive in order to permit a re-direction of the sewer lines from the properties to the City sewer.

The property owners of 3165 and 3143-45 Glen Drive have been advised of this action and have been requested to obtain a permit for the re-direction of their sewers. In addition, the property owners for 3125-27 Glen Drive have been advised that the sewer lines from the adjacent properties are connected to their sewer.

As of April 4, 2001, the required permits have not been obtained and the sewer lines to 3143-45 Glen Drive and 3165 Glen Drive have not been re-directed.

Although the buildings are not currently listed for sale, it is recommended that a 336D Notice be filed against the title to each of the properties so that any prospective purchaser will be warned that there is a violation of Part 7 of the Building By-law related to these properties.

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