The son of an owner of “unsightly” property on Severn Drive wants a hearing into cleaning up the property to be postponed.
Edward Wong claims there are “inconsistencies and errors” in the documents compiled by the City of Richmond for the hearing, currently scheduled for June 21.
Wong said there are no derelict cars, furniture, scrap metal or shipping containers – which the city said were on his property. He clarified he still has some disposal bins in front of the house, which he has covered up.
The city claimed, in its documents, there were 15 complaints over 13 years, but Wong said he doesn’t recall these complaints.
The order to clean up the property, located close to No. 4 and Williams Road in the South Arm area, was issued on April 22.
This latest demand from the city to clean up the property started in November 2019 and an order to comply with the unsightly premises bylaw was issued in January 2020.
In October, the city went in to start cleaning it up, at which point Wong said he’d do it.
However, in April, the property was found once again to be non-compliant with the bylaw, according to city documents, and another order was issued, which Wong has appealed.
City staff will go to the property next week for another inspection and will update council prior to the June 21 hearing – this will include photos of the property.
City spokesperson Clay Adams said the city hopes the owner has “moved forward with addressing concerns.”
However, in order to be compliant, the owner will need to remove “all discarded materials such as boxes, newspapers and garbage, as well as the derelict vehicles and large bins/containers.”
Wong told the Richmond News he’s covered up the vehicles.
He also said he’s seeking legal advice on the matter.
