STAVE WEST PLANNING
OWNING THE PODIUM
COMMUNITY AWARDS Citizens, volunteers
Open houses slated
Hatzic track stars shine
honoured
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CCNA
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85¢+ GST
Friday, June 6, 2014
SERVING MISSION SINCE 1908
‘Passive’ stance taken on home grow-op fixes Chamber wants remediation enforcement to protect the value of local housing stock Jason Roessle ABBOTSFORD NEWS
Mission will not be actively involved in ensuring marijuana grow operation homes are remediated, despite requests from local organizations to enact regulations similar to ones used in Chiliwack. Groups including the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce are concerned that housing values are being eroded when homes are left unrepaired after being identified by the RCMP as having been used for drug operations. According to the chamber, Mission houses identified as homes used for drug operations are not eligible for financing, mortgage underwriting (such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) or home insurance, unless there is proof of remediation. Currently, that’s the responsibility of the property owner in advance of the sale.
The chamber said property owners looking to unload their houses sell them for reduced value, often in cash transactions, or without voluntarily disclosing the information. Remediation helps maintain property values, and buyers are drawn to the community. This aids in job creation and strength-
trolled substance property where utilities have been disconnected by a lawful authority and/or unauthorized work has been done on the structure must go through a number of steps to have an occupancy permit reinstated. Those actions include getting a number of inspections completed by qualified people, obtaining permits for all required repairs, and payment of fees (which can be higher than $2,500) and more. But councillors, responding to a staff report on district involvement with inspection and remediation of pot grows, said passive involvement is the right choice for Mission. That approach is based on carrying out regular responsibilities such as issuing building permits and administering the Fire Services Act in commercial, industrial and institutional, indicated the report.
PSIT is a four-letter word in this community... Dave Hensman
ens economic growth, said Lesa Lacey from the Canadian Homebuilders Association of the Fraser Valley, who also addressed council alongside Dave Sawatzky, from the chamber’s government affairs committee. According to chamber executive director Michelle Favero, Chilliwack’s approach is sensible. Any home deemed a con-
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Building soapbox car a retro thrill Dan KINVIG ABBOTSFORD NEWS
For Allan Main, working on a soapbox derby car with his son Quinn is a bit like taking a time machine back to his own childhood. Growing up in North Vancouver, the elder Main spent hours building makeshift cars out of materials scavenged from his dad’s garage and then hopping into the driver’s seat and careening down local hills.
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“My dad was in construction, so there was always wood around the house,” he recalled with a smile. “You throw some two-by-fours with a piece of plywood, and usually you’d find a big spike and spike the wheels onto the two-by-fours. They were never overly well-designed. “The brake would be, you’d nail a stick against the side and pull it against the road. But the nails weren’t as strong as CONTINUED ON 05
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Allan Main and his 10-year-old son Quinn are working on a soapbox car for the June 14 derby in Mission. DAN KINVIG PHOTO