The City of Grand Forks gave the first three readings to an amendment to the Unsightly Premises Bylaw, expanding its scope to include nuisance properties following several community complaints.
Grand Forks Chief Administrative Office, Duncan Redfearn, says is not in regard to one particular property, but several complaints and future development projects.
“It defines dust and allows council to regulate dust and goes as far, in some cases, as council having the ability to mitigate some of these circumstances on properties and putting that cost back onto the property owner.”
Mayor Everett Baker says the amendment compliments the city’s growth and maturity.
“These are necessary things to happen to move forward.” said Mayor Baker.
Grand Forks Station Pub owner Kristie Starchuk presented at Monday’s meeting seeking council’s mediation for a peaceful solution to the 15 acres of silt and dirt located behind her business, and to be done within a timely manner.
“I am here in the hopes that we can come to a friendly, neighbourly and mitigated resolution pertaining to the dust control issues created from the large dirt piles and long acres of loose silt blowing in the wind.” said Starchuk.
“This nuisance [the dust] is interfering with local residence use and enjoyment of their properties.”
Starchuk also brought up health concerns, property damage and cleanliness, environmental impacts and economic loss to businesses.
“As a business, we have negative customer experiences, health and safety concerns, operations and financial issues, branding, imaging and business reputation effects that are happening because of this.”
The property in questions has been approved for much needed housing, according to council, however, getting shovels on the ground has been difficult, now spanning seven years since the project received the green light.
“They are still working on the traffic management plan, I think, which is required by the Ministry of Transportation before anything can move forward.” said Redfearn.
“It’s not moving as quickly as we would like, but there have been some movement.”
The amended bylaw will be up for adoption on June 23.
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