WEST Vancouver council will reexamine its construction bylaws after a letter to council and a plea from a resident prodded the district into action.
The review will focus on construction impacts, especially noise, traffic diversion, garbage, dust and other nuisances to neighbours caused by new construction, but will also address the concerns of Claus Jensen, a resident of King Georges Way, who told council he paid $7,000 to renew a building permit when other municipalities charge as little as $40.
A building permit lasts 18 months and to renew it, an applicant has to pay a minimum of 25 per cent of the initial fee. Jensen said there was no reason for such a large fee when the cost of inspections was already covered in the first payment.
"The bottom line (is) I paid $7,000 for an extension of a building permit where I already paid a whole slew of money in 2009. It is simply outrageous and unreasonable," he said during the July 4 council meeting.
He said his project was never stalled, with work continuing the entire time the building permit was active, but it wasn't able to be finished in the 18-month window. Similar extensions can cost anywhere from $40 in Kelowna to $285 in Vancouver, while some municipalities charge up to 10 per cent of the original fee. Jensen called for a flat $200 fee, retroactive to the first of January.
Mayor Pam Goldsmith Jones said the bylaw was put in place partly because of problems with projects that seemed neverending, but asked staff to look into it.
Ironically, the other issue staff are tasked with reviewing are construction impacts on neighbours, partly stemming from long-term projects. Councillors described construction impacts as one of the largest sources of complaints they get, with 100 homes under construction in the district at any given time.
"There are so many occasions where construction will last, as we all know, for 12 months, 24 months and sometimes longer than that, where there is continual intrusion in the neighbourhood not only by way of noise but by way of dust, garbage and the lot," said Coun. Michael Evison during a debate prior to Jensen's presentation.
Coun. Michael Smith raised concerns of traffic impacts, noting recent closures of sections of 21st Street and Queens Avenue which diverted traffic through residential streets.
A revised bylaw is expected by Sept. 30.
