Not much support for property standards bylaw in evidence at meeting

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Craig Bakay

---

EMC News Central Frontenac Township has three options when it comes to property standards, Chief Building Official Jeremy Neven told a gathering at Kennebec Hall in Arden last week:

Do nothing

Update the existing Safe Properties Bylaw

Create a draft Property Standards Bylaw.

"Right now, we have a Safe Properties Bylaw created under the Municipal Act," he said. "For us to do anything within the current bylaw, a building has to be in an imminent state of collapse simple maintenance doesn't apply."

He said some potential situations can also be dealt with through the fire code but isssues such as roofing, siding, general maintenance, rodents and pests and cleanliness can't be regulated by the municipality without a property standards bylaw.

There are also some issues related to the interior of buildings which could be regulated by such a bylaw.

When the meeting turned to question-and-answer, it was pretty clear that there wasn't much support for a new bylaw.

The following is a sampling of comments made by members of the audience:

"A lot of people moved to the country to get away from codes."

"What we need is a roads standards bylaw."

"We don't need any more bylaws we don't enforce."

"I feel people were happier before we had a lot of rules and things ran a lot smoother."

"We're country people and we don't get the benefits city people get so we shouldn't have the restrictions either."

The only comment in favour of a property standards bylaw came from former Coun. Gary Smith, who suggested "property standards along Road 38 and in the hamlets would attract economic development."

There seemed to be less objection to making a few additions to the existing Safe Properties Bylaw.

"I can see a lot of potential discriminatory problems (with a property standards bylaw) if you're in a very visible location," Neven said. "(And) we may have the vehicle to deal with things already (in the Safe Properties Bylaw).

"However, we won't be doing anything until the seasonal residents return and have an opportunity to comment."

Neven also distributed questionnaires which are also available at the Township Office in Sharbot Lake for residents to provide feedback.




blog comments powered by Disqus