On July 19, City council voted to refuse the owner of the Crown Shores development any further applications until the site is cleaned up.
The development, located at 700 Willow Brook Road, has been a thorn in the City’s side for six years. Problems have ranged from untidiness of the site to damage of public property, drainage problems and negative impacts on adjacent portions of Nose Creek.
“We have had several challenges in dealing with deficiencies on the site,” said Jamie Dugdale, team leader of planning and development.
“There have been several complaints from both residents of the current phase as well as nearby residents who are concerned with the lack of progress being made by the developer.”
Dianne and Phil Nielsen live on Willow Brook Crescent and they sent a letter to the City explaining their predicament.
“Our home and many others in the Willow Brook neighbourhood and surrounding neighbours have faced the continuing construction mess of the Crown Shores condominium project now for over six years,” stated the letter.
“The place remains an abysmal mess. The dirt piles along the shores are not only an eye sore, they continually blow dirt into our homes… and into the creek… We are tired of the mess and would like the City to enforce the clean up of Crown Shores land.”
Alderman Shawn Howard agreed.
“This council has dealt with this issue for two terms because of the grey holes in legislation,” he said.
“There is not a legal way of ensuring developments are completed within a certain time frame. This site has shown there are ways to get around this and we need to stop approving until they get their act together.”
Citing legal procedures and foreclosure, CPI Crown Capital Corporation declined to attend the July 20 council meeting.
The first phase of the development was approved and issued in 2004 and included 120 units. The second phase of the development was applied for in 2006 but conditions were never met and the file was closed. Phase three was applied for in 2007 but the file was closed due to lack of overall progress by the developer on the site.
Howard said the file has caused a lot of stress in the community, both those in homes surrounding the development and those who have invested in it.
“This is one of those things where I wish we could roll back the clock,” he said.
“This has caused aggravation and heartache for many people and I hope this is a file we can learn from. I think we need to go to the Province to have them give us the tools to deal with this more effectively.”
Howard proposed an additional motion that “Council directs staff to recommend what additional securities would be required on the balance of the CPI site if any further development is considered.”
Alderman Richards Siemens said dealing with CPI has been frustrating.
“I drive by this everyday and I think it is important that we hold CPI responsible for their actions, I would like to see a timeline on this,” he said.
“I think it is time to pull the plug on these guys.”
Staff will enforce the Minimum Standards Bylaw and Unsightly Premises Policy by sending a notice of infraction to the landowner. If no response or action is taken by Aug. 31, the City can either do the work or contract it out. An invoice will then be sent to the landowner for the services provided. If the invoice is not paid, the outstanding unpaid amount is applied to the owner’s taxes.
Alderman Fred Burley said he is in favour of working with developers but this situation has gotten out of hand.
“We went too far here and we need to do something about this right away,” he said.
