Local News

2026-02-17

  When an Alder Street property owner applied for an address for his carriage house, city staff realized it had been set up as an illegal suite for more than a decade.

  Staff are now working with the property owner to bring 664 Alder Street into compliance with city bylaws, but delays in communication from the owner have made the process last years.

  Staff first noticed the property was out of compliance after the owner applied in late 2024 for an alias address for a carriage house, which is accessed from an alley along the property’s west side. City records showed the carriage house never received final inspection and approval, after a permit was issued in 2012 to convert an accessory building into a dwelling.

  Last month the city made moves to take action against the property owner, filing a bylaw contravention notice, bringing it to council’s attention. Since then staff have been able to work with the homeowner, and council heard from staff they are now processing a bylaw variance for the property.

  City council didn’t have much to say about the situation, but at the Feb. 12 regular meeting Coun. Ben Lanyon said the situation is a warning for other property owners who might be out of compliance.

  “We need to set a precedent that you cannot play regulatory chicken and then squeak out of it at the last minute,” he said.

  Last year, city staff sent three notices to the property owner between January and June, inviting him to meet to fix the zoning issues, but the property owner did not take action to respond until last month’s threat of regulatory action.