West Van council wants tougher rules on derelict building sites left abandoned for years

West Vancouver council is looking to crack down on derelict building sites left in a half-constructed state for years, with some properties stalled for over eight years.

Councillors Linda Watt and Christine Cassidy say even though property owners aren't breaking rules, the ugly construction fencing, Tyvek, and plywood create eyesores for neighbours. They want such properties to be landscaped and returned to a "well-maintained residential appearance."

Cassidy said the municipality should have a "three strikes" rule on extensions of building permits. She described visiting one site in Caulfield where "if anybody chose to take a match to that property, two neighbours on both sides will be gone."

Coun. Scott Snider noted a home that had been under construction for eight years while owners continued paying escalating permit extension fees. "I don't think it's really fair to the neighbours around you," he said. Coun. Sharon Thompson said she's known properties to linger for "a decade or more," where they "begin to rot and attract weeds and rats."

Council voted to have staff review the district's bylaws and permit processes. Currently, a building permit is valid for 18 months. After that, holders can apply for extensions in six-month increments by paying escalating fees. One challenge is defining what constitutes a "derelict" home, according to earlier staff reports.