1. THAT Council receive the report from the Director of Planning and Development dated March 10, 2025 regarding the structures and materials remaining after a January 31, 2025 fire (the “Fire”) affecting the two-storey dwelling (the “House”) and the garage (the “Garage”) located on land legally described as PID: 009-415-831 with the civic address of 707 Queens Avenue, New Westminster (the “Property”) and note the concerns, as stated in the report and its attachments, that:
a. the House is substantially damaged by fire;
b. the interior of the House is not protected from the elements – water and animals are able to enter via holes in the roof and walls and blown out windows;
c. there is significant structural damage to studs and the roof, with portions of the roof collapsing;
d. the Garage is completely destroyed;
e. there are copious amounts of combustible waste materials in and around the House that creates a fire hazard for neighbouring structures and the community; and
f. there have been persistent attempts of unauthorized entry into the Property, despite fencing being raised to prevent same.
2. THAT Council, under the authority provided by sections 72 and 73 of the Community Charter, find the House, and the Property generally, to be in and to create an unsafe condition.
3. THAT Council, under the authority provided by sections 72 and 74 of the Community Charter, declare the House, and the Property generally, to be so dilapidated and unclean as to be offensive to the community.
4. THAT Council hereby require the registered owner of the Property, United Revenue Properties (the “Owner”) to submit to the City of New Westminster a complete application for a demolition permit and, upon issuance of such permit, demolish the House and clean up the Property.
5. THAT Council further require the Owner to ensure that all waste, debris and discarded materials be removed from the Property and be disposed of at an appropriate waste disposal facility; and
6. THAT the time specified by Council for the completion of the requirements (the “Remedial Action Requirement”) imposed on the Owner by this resolution be as follows:
a. the application for a permit or permits to demolish the House must be submitted no later than 31 days after the day that notice of this resolution has been sent to the Owner in accordance with Section 77(1) of the Community Charter; and
b. all other work required to fulfill the Remedial Action Requirement must be completed no later than 120 days after the day that notice of this resolution has been sent to the Owner in accordance with Section 77(1) of the Community Charter.
7. THAT Council direct City staff to send the notice to all affected persons as required by section 77 of the Community Charter; and
8. THAT if the Owner fails to comply with all or part of the Remedial Action Requirement within the time required, that Council hereby authorize City staff to fulfill the Remedial Action Requirement by:
a. retaining a contractor in accordance with the City’s procurement policy;
b. posting a notice on the House advising that the City will be demolishing the House in no less than 31 days from the date the notice is posted;
c. together with the contractor, entering onto the Property and demolish the House; and
d. seeking recovery of the cost of acting on the Owner’s default in accordance with section 17 [municipal action at defaulter's expense] and section 258 [special fees may be collected as property taxes] of the Community Charter.