City officials have slapped a private property owner with an order to address an open excavation in north Nanaimo over issues of litigation and safety.
City council agreed Monday to order the owner of 4800 Cedar Ridge Pl. to fill an open excavation within 30 days or face a bill from the city for the work.
The city also ordered the owner to clean up the property, which has derelict foundation forms, rusted rebar, household garbage and discarded construction wood.
Four years ago, Edmonton-based Advanced Window Systems Inc., the landowner, won a development permit to build a multi-family development on the site, but there was no building permit issued and construction hasn’t gone past foundation footings and excavation work.
The property is now listed for sale.
A city report shows there was a complaint about the unsightly condition of the property and an inspection revealed an open, water-filled excavation, considered a safety hazard to the public that accesses the property. The city could be involved in litigation if the hazard isn’t rectified and a person is injured.
There’s also rusted rebar on site that presents an impalement danger and the property had become a dump site, according to Rod Davidson, the city’s acting manager of bylaw, regulation and security.
“There’s quite a large accumulation of garbage that’s being dumped on the site because the access hasn’t been controlled,” said Davidson, adding when these are brought to the city’s attention, it acts relatively quickly.
The News Bulletin was unable to reach the owner for comment.
