City of Burnaby staff want council to give them permission to go in and clean up what they call an “unsightly” property that’s been the subject of multiple complaints since 2016.
And if they get permission, the property owner will be billed for it.
A city staff report is asking for council approval at its Monday meeting “for City Staff and/or agents to enter onto the property at 4449 Georgia Street in order to bring the property into compliance with the Burnaby Unsightly Premises Bylaw, No. 5533.”
The report asks for permission to “remove and dispose of any overgrowth, materials or debris contributing to the unsightliness of the property at the expense of the property owner.”
According to the report, city staff have conducted 10 inspections of this property from May 2019 to June 2021
“These inspections have confirmed the property remains unsightly due to overgrown vegetation, particularly blackberry bushes and weeds, some of which are growing on the house itself,” reads the report.
In total since 2016, there have been 10 complaints received from four different individuals about the property.
“Upon receiving the most recent complaint, all attempts by staff to encourage the property owner to bring the property into compliance voluntarily, have proven unsuccessful,” says the report. “As a result of the continued non-compliance, Bylaw Violation Notices were issued to the property owner … To date, none of the notices have been paid and there is currently $2,000 outstanding. Staff have attempted to make onsite contact with the property owner on multiple occasions without success. However, during two separate telephone conversations, the owner claimed to staff that the unsightly conditions would be addressed promptly. Specific follow up inspections after these phone conversations found the property remained non-compliant.
