DNV targets nuisance property in Lynn Valley

District of North Vancouver staff is recommending that council declare materials and vehicles on Lynn Valley property a nuisance and impose remedial action.

DNV staff says the owner of 4592 Ramsay Road has failed to clean up the property despite extensive efforts and staff resources over a period of time.

According to a report that will be discussed on October 19, DNV staff say the owner has yet again allowed the property to become unsightly with accumulated materials and derelict vehicles.

“The property falls short of reasonable community standards and is offensive to the community,” staff say.

The property is located on Ramsay Road near a public trail leading to Upper Lynn Elementary School and McNair Park and playground.

It has a history of previous complaints.

Following a warning in 2005, the owner voluntarily cleaned up the property, but three years later, it again became full of accumulated materials and rubbish and the owner failed to comply with warnings.

Council made a similar order to declare the property a nuisance following which the owner cleaned up the property without further involvement by the district.

However, the property has deteriorated again with accumulated building materials, vehicle parts and derelict vehicles in the front, back and side yards, in the carport and under the rear deck.

Numerous vehicles and trailers have not moved for years and are covered in debris and mould, tires sunken into the ground, unlicensed, inoperable, being used for storage and are clearly derelict.

DNV staff says they have made every attempt to obtain compliance, but the owner has made minimal efforts and there remains an extensive accumulation of unsightly materials, derelict vehicles and growths.

Letters to comply have been disregarded, and tickets issued were ineffective to prompt compliance.

Between 2007 and 2020, eight tickets have been issued and all remain unpaid, although two tickets were cancelled after voluntary clean-up efforts in 2008 while six tickets have been referred to the District’s collections agency.

On March 5 thus year, the owner was advised that due to failure to comply, the matter would be referred to a council meeting, but no improvement was seen and the property remains today much like it was at that time.

Staff is now asking council to direct them to remove accumulated material in the front and rear yards, deck, under the deck and in the carport and all discarded materials and other rubbish including but not limited to tires, lawnmowers, vehicle batteries, vehicle parts, tools, tool boxes, buckets, ramps, shelving, cans, containers of unknown fluids, barbeques, tarps, scrap metal, broken ladders, cedar fence panels, stacks of boards, lumber, scaffolding, chains, cut firewood and a white Vanguard truck camper.

DNV staff also plans to impound five derelict vehicles and three trailers.

A black open buggy with roll-over protection, a blue Chevrolet van, a blue Chevrolet pick-up truck with canopy, and rusted Trailerman utility trailer, an enclosed large white commercial trailer with expired plates and a blue van located in carport will be removed.

From the rear yard, a blue GMC truck and a white homemade trailer made from a converted 4×4 truck bed will be removed. Staff also plans to demolish or add siding to the large, deteriorating structure in the rear yard to improve its appearance.