The city will clean up a property on No. 3 Road that has been littered with debris and farm machinery - at the expense of the owner.
In late 2019, city staff was recommending council order a dilapidated house at 12620 No. 3 Rd. be demolished, but council decided to give the owner a reprieve until Feb. 1 to clean up the property and secure the house.
Not enough has happened, however, explained city spokesperson Clay Adams, and the city will now undertake the cleanup and make the house and surrounding area safe. The owner will be responsible for the cost.
Michael Fairhurst, one of the property owners, came to council late last year to explain how he planned to remediate the property. He was given a deadline of Feb. 1 to get the work done.
City bylaw officers and Richmond Fire-Rescue have been out to the property many times in December and January to monitor the cleanup.
So far, the pool has been fenced, the house boarded up, a tree has been removed and items placed in storage, but this isn’t enough, Adams said.
When it was dealt with by council in late 2019, staff recommended council order the house on south of Finn Road to be declared a nuisance and demolished. Some councillors expressed their skepticism whether the owners could clean it up within two months.
Coun. Linda McPhail pointed out the property was before council between 2011 and 2013 with the same issues, adding that it seemed to be a pattern of behaviour.
The 10-acre farm property contains several sheds and outbuildings plus a three-storey house, which has been vacant since at least 2011, according to a city report.
