A White Rock homeowner’s demand for compensation for his diminished ocean view should not be considered, say city staff.
Council was to hear the recommendation from the director of development services, Paul Stanton, Monday night – after Peace Arch News’ press deadline. It follows a Dec. 19 delegation by Burnaby resident Richard Main, who wants financial redress in connection with a development taking shape at 14955 Victoria Ave.
Main said he pointed out a height-calculation loophole which enabled the property owners to build higher to city officials years ago, but nothing was done about it until six months after a 2009 B.C. Supreme Court judgment against the city.
In a Jan. 9 report recommending the city not consider Main’s demand, Stanton notes that, in 1985, Main “benefitted from the same provision he now has an issue with” in building his 14976 Victoria Ave. home. Regarding a promise Main said he received that the issue would not happen again, Stanton states no city official can speak to future city policies and regulations for building heights.
As well, “the legislation is specific in that compensation is not payable for any loss of property value arising as a result of approval of a zoning amendment or development permit.”
