By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
A derelict and unsightly property has been declared offensive to the community by the town and will face remedial action for debris, garbage and remnants of housing encampments.
The property at 210 Co-op Ave, in Oliver has been a nuisance since at least 2022, when four separate calls were made about fires on the property in reference to a structure, debris and a homeless camp.
Oliver town council made the decision to impose remedial action at their June 2, 2025 council meeting.
Location of 210 Co-op Avenue
Town of Oliver photo
The lengthy report explains that the property, which is “represented by Todd Gillard”, poses several problems. The property is located with access off of Co-op Ave, and the property runs from Co-op Ave to the Kinsman Water Park.
The former farmhouse that was on the property was destroyed by a fire several years ago, and despite obtaining a demolition permit in 2022 to demolish what remained of the house, the permit expired after two years with no action being taken.
The remaining buildings have attracted and continue to attract housing encampments.
The report further lays out that the property is littered with demolition waste and rubble, pruning waste, and general garbage. The unfinished demolition work “creates a safety hazard as well as an unsightly appearance from nearby private properties as well as from a public park and riverside public walkway.”
The town did note that to address the unsafe and nuisance property, town staff and RCMP have worked extensively with the property owner over the past three years with no success.
The town’s resolution declares the structural remnants and rubble, demolition debris, fallen and standing dead trees, and general garbage, including remnants of housing encampments, an unsafe condition.
Town of Oliver photo
Wayne Anderson, chief administrative officer for the town explained that how these things tend to go is that the property owner is repeatedly contacted and doesn’t follow through.
“There hasn’t been much in the way of commitment, there was a period in 2023, when there was a compliance order issued and there was some rubbish and material removed but nowhere near the amount that was required. So, there has been a little bit of work done and it has gone silent for the last year and a half.”
In the report, the town explains that as Feb. 13, 2025 the RCMP received a call from the owner complaining about the tents on his property.
Following this on February 19 the owner requested the RCMP remove the trespassers, but police have no authority to do this the town explained.
On Feb. 20, the RCMP then received a call from Oliver bylaw about the transient camp on the property.
When the RCMP went to the property on March 7 regarding the unwanted people on the property, the owner explained to the RCMP that the camp will have to be removed because of future development.
Town of Oliver photo
The former farm property is zoned residential high density two (RH2) and is the subject of a current subdivision application.
The town’s resolution declares the structural remnants and rubble, demolition debris, fallen and standing dead trees, and general garbage, including remnants of housing encampments, an unsafe condition.
The owner must address the unsafe conditions within 60 days.
If the owner does not complete any of these remedial actions, the town is authorized to enter the property and perform all these tasks at the expense of the owner. The town will then recover all the costs incurred as debt payable to the owner, which if not received by Dec. 31, 2025 will be recovered in taxes.
